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I, uh, hated Matt’s relationship with Jesse =P And while I liked his relationship with Dickie, the narrative conclusion (aside from the first chapter stuff) of their relationship irritated me.

It’s unfortunate we’re talking about their friendship so early in the book, before the most important developments occur. Navigating conflict is the heart of interpersonal relationships, and we’re talking about the core relationships of the book before those conflicts arise.

@caseybold hit the nail on the head re Matt’s high-minded snootiness. Though he wants to be their friend, he has an air of superiority about him. At least Jessie and Dickie were written to be intelligent regardless of their education—that’s not a grace given to most of the other characters in this book.

No. Matt does not respect Jessie. Neither, throughout his life, does he understand her, and is constantly, unwittingly throwing his privilege in her face.

“‘Can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear,’ she said.
‘If it’s because you don’t have money for a dress, I can help.’” (Fabry, 40)

“‘She give lessons?’ Jesse said.
‘Not yet. I mean, she used to. Back in Pittsburgh.’
‘How much they cost?’ Jesse said.
‘I don’t know. A few dollars a lesson, maybe?’
She scowled. ‘Do you play?’
‘She was teaching me but I wanted somebody not related.’” (Fabry, 103)

“Dickie pulled the hook from his mouth. I asked if I could be the one to let him go.
‘What do you mean let him go?’ Jesse said.
‘We always let them go when I’ve fished.’
The two looked at each other and then back at me.
‘You can do what you want—he’s your fish,’ Dickie said. ‘But I usually give anything I catch to Jesse.’
‘Daisy Grace loves her some fried fish,’ Jesse said, sizing up the catch.
‘That’s fine,’ I said. ‘I didn’t think about you eating it.’ … I couldn’t help but feel like I had contributed in a small way to Jesse’s family.” (Fabry, 121)

I want to bring up a couple gigantic plot points from later, but don’t want to flavor anyone else’s reading of Matt or the relationship between him and Jesse, so I won’t.

That said, the library scene was nice. I smiled way harder than I thought this book could make me smile when the librarian took an actual interest in the people not “supposed” to be there, and at the thought of Dickie coming back over the years for all kinds of conspiracy theory books.

Good point @allertingthbs on how they don’t just look at him as Butterball mcLardon when we hear from him, often, how people around him judge you by your weight and how much food you take.