Jane

I’m going to start by saying I definitely recommend this book. The novel kept me wanting to read rather than reading for an assignment, and I found myself so engrossed that when I checked the time it was 2 am. Whether it be the difficult topics or the relatability of it all, Celeste Ng wrote an amazing novel that demanded my attention.

The topic I’m planning on writing about might offend or upset people and I’m sorry if it does, but I’m speaking from my personal experience. 

Lexie Richardson and Pearl’s relationship is definitely one that wasn’t expected. I can say the same for myself and my friend, let’s call her Jane. So similar to the way Lexie reached out to Pearl when she had nobody else to turn to, I received a similar call from Jane around 1 am when she had her plan figured out. 

If you haven’t read Little Fires Everywhere yet I’m about to spoil it for you. Lexie and Brian had been having sex anytime they could since Halloween. And I’m sure that was the case for Jane and her Brian as well seeing that she only spent time with him. But as we all know how it goes, “accidents” happen and both Lexie and Jane found themselves taking a drug store pregnancy test. Granted Lexie bought her own and I bought Jane’s, I could relate to that feeling of dread as I walked up to the counter with the tests, luckily there wasn’t a cashier who was interested in what I was purchasing. And for Lexie and Jane, the tests were positive. And after some fantasizing, reality checks, and careful deliberation the two girls made the decision which they thought was best–abortion. 

I personally found myself relating to Pearl the most in this situation. I couldn’t tell you the countless times I asked Jane if she was sure this is what she wanted, and if she wanted to go through with this, similar to Pearl questioning Lexie on the way to the clinic. While at the clinic Lexie fills Pearl’s information in instead of her own so her snoopy mother didn’t find out. Luckily Jane and I weren’t in that predicament. Jane and I sat in the small sterile waiting room for about 20 minutes before she was called back. And the rush of emotions that I felt seemed to be mirrored in the text in the way Pearl felt when Lexie was called.

The last relation I found in this chapter was taking care of Jane after the procedure like Pearl did for Lexie. The main difference from this is Jane and I went to the clinic on a Friday and had the entire weekend to recuperate after because her parents were on a cruise. Unlike myself, Pearl called on her mother, Mia, for help in taking care of Lexie, which now that I reflect on this, I wish I would have called on my mother for help and advice for Jane during the whole situation.