Rantin' with the Seandawg

Hello, Tangerinos! I've got two things I'd like to open up for discussion:

Thing #1: Maybe it is because Rebecca is fresh in my memory, but I am noticing a lot of similarities between the two books. First of all, the prologue of Tangerine is reminiscent of the prologue of Rebecca. In both the narrator is recalling a place they no longer live that is ruined for them, and described with imagery of death and decay. Describing Tangiers: "For underneath the smell, underneath the comfort, there are flies buzzing, cockroaches stirring, starving cats gazing meanly, watching your every movement." Alice's personality mirrors that of the unnamed protagonist in Rebecca; they are both  extremely self-conscious and believe they don't fit in with those around them. They are simultaneously jealous and resentful of the more outgoing, confident people that surround them. In both stories the main character rushes into a marriage that takes them far away from their home. Alice's husband John seems to be a combination of Mr. De Winter and Jack (Rebecca's alcoholic cousin/lover). 

Thing #2: Now for my hot take: Lucy doesn't exist! More precisely, I think this is a Fight Club-type situation where Lucy is the manifestation of everything Alice wishes she could be. Some evidence: both Alice and Lucy use each others names to introduce themselves at different points. Also, when Alice is recovering from the car crash and asks about Lucy, her aunt Maude just says "You're confused, Alice, dear." (p.139). She had told Lucy "I want you to disappear and never come back" (p.135) before jumping in the car with Tom (I think Alice cut the brakes herself, btw). When she returns to her dorm room, it is completely empty; if Lucy did exist, knowing her personality and affinity with Alice, I don't think she would have left so easily...


That's all I've got for now, let me know what you think!