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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Book One: Chapter 7, "All That You Hold Dear," why does Natsu search for breast implants same day on her phone?

2. In Book Two: Chapter 9, "All The Little Flowers," what do Natsu and Naruse talk about during their phone call after the earthquake?

3. In Book Two: Chapter 13, "A Tall Order," how does Natsu feel about approaching Jun Aizawa?

4. In Book Two: Chapter 11, "I Am So Happy Cause Today...," what does Natsu find peculiar about the women in the audience during the reading?

5. In Book Two: Chapter 9, "All The Little Flowers," how long does it take Natsu to pay off her student loans?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Book Two: Chapter 11, "I Am So Happy Cause Today...," describe Natsu's experience at the reading event. How does she react to the monotonous reading and the sweltering environment?

2. In Book Two: Chapter 13, "A Tall Order," analyze Natsu's experience with the winter sunlight and its symbolic significance in the novel. How does the sunlight influence her emotional state and reflect her internal journey throughout the story?

3. In Book Two: Chapter 12, "Merry Christmas," describe Natsu's recollections of past Christmases while working at the bar. How do these memories contrast with her current feelings and experiences during the Christmas season?

4. In Book Two: Chapter 8, "Where Is Your Ambition," examine Ryoko Sengawa's role in the protagonist's life and writing career. How does Sengawa's advice and encouragement impact Natsu's creative process and perspective on literature?

5. In Book Two: Chapter 9, "All The Little Flowers," analyze the changes in Natsu's relationship with Naruse over time, from their deep connection as friends to their eventual breakup.

6. Book Two: Chapter 11, "I Am So Happy Cause Today...," discuss the atmosphere and interactions at the afterparty. How do the attendees behave, and how does the male novelist's conversation draw both support and criticism?

7. In Book One: Chapter 7, "All That You Hold Dear," how does Natsu's increasing worry and anxiety over Makiko's absence contribute to the tension and mood in the story?

8. In Book Two: Chapter 8, "Where Is Your Ambition," explore the significance of Natsu's name, Natsuko Natsume, in the context of her identity and artistic journey. Analyze how her name reflects her connection to her mother's family and its impact on her writing and sense of self.

9. In Book Two: Chapter 13, "A Tall Order," analyze the protagonist's decision to attend the symposium and their encounter with Jun Aizawa. how does the interaction with Aizawa contribute to Natsu's internal conflict about donor conception, and how does it affect her emotional state?

10. In Book One: Chapter 7, "All That You Hold Dear," what significance does the late-night trip to the store with Midoriko hold in the story, and how does it affect their mother-daughter relationship?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Book Two: Chapter 16, "Burning Up," Natsu revisits a place from her past and receives a surprising phone call from Aizawa. Analyze the significance of memory and nostalgia in Natsu's journey, and how these elements contribute to the development of the story and the relationships portrayed.

Essay Topic 2

In Book One: Chapter 3, "Whose Boobs Are They?" discuss the significance of the bathhouse environment as a place of vulnerability and self-discovery, where Natsu confronts her own insecurities while also observing her sister's physical appearance.

Essay Topic 3

In Book One: Chapter 6, "The Safest Place In The World," discuss how the author uses the metaphor of the map of Japan and the speech bubble to explore Natsu's feelings about her own fertility and the passing of time.

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