"But just like with the sex at Hailsham, there was an unspoken agreement for a mysterious dimension where we went off and did all this reading" (pg 123).
This analogy comparing the Cottages with Hailsham is very boggling on first appearance. Kathy is basically comparing the importance of sex during Hailsham with the struggle to become accustomed to new life in the Cottages. During Hailsham, sex education seemed to have been vital to the guardians in showing the students how they differ from normal people. In the Cottages, staging a routine life quickly appears to be the ultimate sign of maturity and seems to correspond with how many friends one has. Another correlation in these subjects becomes apparent in the talk of media. At Hailsham, Kathy learned how to have proper sex through watching videos. In the Cottages, reading is apparently the ultimate source of comfort in the person's new surroundings.
Ishiguro also decided to directly use War and Peace as a book read by Kathy. I really see no specific use for this novel in the current context, but I feel like there has to have been some reason. Until I figure that out, I really just hope that all the mushy-gushy relationship talk goes away. Nothing is stranger than reading about kids' relationships knowing that I will later have to blog about it. It is truly uncomfortable.
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