Lone Women

“There are two kinds of people in this world: those who live with shame, and those who die from it. On Tuesday, Adelaide Henry would’ve called herself the former, but by Wednesday she wasn’t as sure.”

This is the quote that opens the novel, introducing the main character, Adelaide, and the fact that she is struggling with a significant problem or burden. In particular, Adelaide’s problem is associated with “shame,” which she is trying to hide or overcome. This quote is repeated later in the novel, when Adelaide begins to realize that she is not limited to only two options: acceptance of her lot in life or death.

“A woman is a mule. It’s how Eleanor explained the toil of life.”

This metaphor was often repeated by Adelaide’s mother, Eleanor, throughout the majority of Adelaide’s life, and it is also a frequent refrain throughout the novel. Though her mother never fully explained its meaning, Adelaide assumed that it was her way of describing life for women in general and for the women of Henry family in particular. That is, the quote implies that women like Eleanor and Adelaide are fated to work their lives away in service of others.

“Now here’s the funny part: Adelaide Henry came out here hoping to disappear. She didn’t want to be found, meant to be hiding, so if the man had asked her name, what would she have done? Lied, maybe, though she’d never been too good at that. Instead, she might’ve made the mistake of telling him her true name and hometown.”

In this passage, Adelaide reflects that upon her arrival in Big Sandy, Montana, the newspaper reporter did not bother to ask who she was or what brought her to Montana. Adelaide is amused by her own disappointment that no one is interested in her story, given that she is trying to keep the truth about her identity a secret.