Journal Post #1

In Identical, the first few chapters discuss the home life of the Gardella family. The twins Kaeleigh and Raeanne are the only children. Their mother Kay Gardella, is "running for congress so she can run/ away from us (Kaeleigh and Raeanne)."(18). Daddy/Ray, is the father and a respected judge who "... comes/ home every/ day, dives/ straight into/ a tall amber/ bottle, falls/ into a stone-/walled well/ of silence, a/ place where he can tread/ the suffocating loneliness."(8). Life seems to be in constant turmoil in this household. Prior to the infamous 'accident' "we'd laugh and my/ parents would kiss and all/ was perfect in our little world."(15). Since the accident the twins have been forced to raise themselves as their mother is avoiding the family by immersing herself in politics and their father is drowning his sorrows in a bottle. Kaeleigh, is a sweet and innocent child with demons of her own. She obeys the rules of the house, and is loved by her father but longs for the love of her stone hearted mother. Raeanne, is rebellious, fearless, and constantly craves love from her father. She satisfies her craving with marijuana and boys. So far the novel has raised a few questions for me, like; what happened in the accident? And are there bigger problems in the Gardella family? There might end up being bigger things going on within this messed up family. They make themselves look perfect on the outside. When inside, they have dark secrets hidden deep in their soul. Who will uncover these dark secrets?