It is only natural to want normalcy after tragedy, but this is not always possible

It is only natural to want normalcy after tragedy, but this is not always possible, argues A.J. Banner in her novel The Good Neighbor. When disasters, tragedies, and misfortunes happen, those who have suffered wish things to get back to normal as quickly as possible – such as Sarah. However, the circumstances of the situation may mean that such a thing cannot happen.

When Sarah wakes up in the hospital, and in the time after the fire, she desperately longs for things to return to normal. She thus clings to little pieces of normalcy in her life, such as seeing her husband, making love with him, and speaking with friends. However, Sarah’s burned-down house means that she cannot got back to life as it was previously. She must now find a...