Hagar's frenzied shopping spree, followed by her physical death, recalls Milkman's shopping at a Rexall drugstore in Chapter 4 while contemplating the end of his and Hagar's relationship. The chapter closes with Reba and Pilate's emotional tribute to Hagar at the girl's funeral. Because Pilate and Reba have no more money left for her funeral, Ruth passively coerces Macon to pay for it. Burning with fever, she becomes delirious and eventually dies - of a broken heart. However, when Hagar returns home from shopping, rain-soaked, exhausted, and disoriented, and realizes that her efforts have been in vain, she succumbs to tears. Elated that she has finally emerged from her stupor, Reba pawns her diamond ring to finance Hagar's shopping spree. When Hagar sees her disheveled reflection, she rouses herself from her stupor and announces that she needs to go shopping so that she will appear more beautiful - and desirable - to Milkman. Finally, in an attempt to cheer her up, Pilate gives her a compact mirror. He concludes that Hagar's lack of such support has led to her crippling sense of low self-worth.Īt home, Pilate and Reba do everything they can think of to support Hagar, who takes to her bed and remains severely depressed. Guitar finds himself mentally comparing Hagar to his own two sisters, who were watched over by the entire community and grew up feeling loved and protected. During the drive, he tries to console her, but Hagar remains silent and unresponsive. He carries her outside, then borrows a car to drive her home. Her vivacious protagonist, Anne Beddingfeld, or "Anna the Adventuress" as the character nicknames herself, goes surfing in Cape Town and it is hard not to read her words as those of Agatha Christie, bearing in mind what we know about the author's passion for the sport.In a flashback to the beginning of Chapter 6, Guitar returns to his home to find Hagar in a state of shock following her aborted attempt to kill Milkman. In She Surf we are told that “The Hawaiin word for surf, nalu, also translates as “to investigate, to search after truth and the origin of things.”” This feels particularly poignant, bearing in mind what we know of Christie’s writing prowess, and her interest in the ‘how and why’ within her books.Īgatha Christie also showcased her love of surfing through the novel The Man in the Brown Suit. It seems Christie did not let that put her off. Women now make up 20 to 30 percent of surfers, and happily that number continues to grow, but it has previously been dominated by men. Hill is an inspiring read, which also features the aforementioned picture of Agatha Christie.Īfter delving into Christie’s passion for surfing, it is surprising to read that it has only been in the last three decades that women’s participation in the sport has markedly increased. She Surf: The Rise of Female Surfing, edited by gestalten and co-edited by Lauren L. She featured in a recent book about female surfers, and the pioneering women through the ages who have taken on the sport. Bathing was one of the joys of my life, and has remained so almost until my present ageĬhristie is just one of many women who have shared their love of the sport so eloquently.
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