Summary

Part 1, Chapter 1

In Part 1, Chapter 1, the narrator, Rose, begins the story in the middle years of her life because she considers them to be the most interesting part of the story. It’s the winter of 1996. Rose recounts how she’s been attending the University of California for the last five years, drifting aimlessly much to the chagrin of their parents. She goes over her relationship with her parents. Her father, a college professor, barely speaks to her. She and her mother are on better terms, but her mother is frustrated with having to be the middleman between Rose and her father.

While sitting in the cafeteria, Rose witnesses a breakup between another student and their girlfriend. The girlfriend takes the breakup poorly and starts knocking over dishes and chairs, making a huge commotion. Rose is able to note that the girlfriend...