Throughout the novel Rumble, by Ellen Hopkins, we get to glimpse into the mind of the main character, Matthew Turner, because the narrator (himself) is omniscient. So it doesn't come as a surprise when we learn the most about Matthew's feelings towards his father without them having to interact. He thinks about his dad's relationship with the love of his life, Lorelei, and how he got married to the woman that he got pregnant instead of her, his mother. He refers to his mother as an escape for his father, a good time. But when he gets his mother pregnant, his father ends up staying with her. Now here's Matthew, with his adoring girlfriend, Hayden--with whom he's never had any sexual interactions out of respect for her deep Christian roots and beliefs-- and, despite everything he believes about his father's adultery, he ends up getting into a sticky affair out of spite that Hayden accuses him of being homosexual due to the fact that he never made a move on her. What I don't understand is how Matt can spend pages upon pages scolding his father's actions just to do it himself about ten pages later! He has some weird sort of idea that he can judge other people's action and then do it himself. I believe hypocritical is what they call that. He does sort of make up for it, though, when he has a revelation--after waking up next to her the next morning--that he is doing EXACTLY what his father did, though I still don't believe that it's justified. But, honestly, if I were in that position I would have a serious talk to Hayden because when you start doubting what your love means to you is when you should take action to remedy the situation; and if that means break-up then so be it. There shouldn't be a point when you allow yourself to be taken over by grief to the extent that you cheat on your partner. Bare in mind that this is a situation where he DID, in fact, allow it to happen, as proven when he says, "I know she won't take no for an answer, and the truth is I don't want to say no" (Hopkins 223). Being taken over by temptation is still bad, but a different story altogether; the problem, though, is that what he did is much worse. Of course, the plan he comes up with to try and fix it is still a mystery, so that about ends my rant ;-). Stay tuned for more!
Want to keep up with my reading to better understand my thoughts on the book? Be sure to read Rumble by Ellen Hopkins. Current page: beginning of page 234.
