Only the Beautiful

Research the condition of synesthesia, and report on the various ways that it can manifest in an individual. Compare how the current attitudes toward synesthesia relate to the attitudes expressed by the characters in the novel.

Explore how Rosie’s attitude toward motherhood shifts over the course of the novel, and evaluate how her outlook is shaped by the various women in her life.

Why does the author choose to break up the novel into two parts, shifting the narrative perspective from Rosie to Helen? What effects does the first-person perspective have that a third-person perspective would lack? Use specific examples to illustrate your point.