At the beginning of the novel, the Bedloes are the perfect family partly because of their relentless optimism. Bee Bedloe, the mother, sets the tone for this optimism. Bee has a wonderful marriage. She delights in her modest house, daily. Her children are all attractive, talented and universally loved. None of this optimism is an act. Rather, it is a conscious choice Bee has made to look on the bright side of any situation, to be content with what life brings her. When her older son, Danny, eschews college to work for the post office, Bee insists he is lucky to have found his calling so young. When daughter Claudia quits college to get married and starts having children so fast they have to be named alphabetically, Ian hesitates slightly, but Bee insists she hopes.....
This is a free excerpt of 135 words. This section contains 769 words. This
study guide contains 17,592 words (approx. 59 pages at 300
words per page).
Read the rest of this Literature Guide with our Saint Maybe Access Pass.
