Summary

The chapter “1950” describes a small community event in Oxford that Dora Judd, a pregnant wife, attends with her gruff and monosyllabic husband, Len. Dora happens to have the first winning ticket: while she has the selection of any of the prizes, including a fancy bottle of whiskey, she decides to take a painting of sunflowers, which is an imitation of the style of Van Gogh. Len is angry with Dora for choosing the painting, while Dora finds that it allows her to transcend her drab surroundings. As Dora finishes hanging up the painting in their house that night, Len charges at her, but Dora threatens to hit him with the hammer, telling him that the painting is emotionally significant to her.

The next chapter, “1996,” focuses on Ellis Judd, who is the now middle-aged son of Dora and Len. Ellis wakes up at 5 p...