“In here, anything resembling normalcy is coveted. The phone is always busy because men want to be in contact with the normal outside world. Letters are eagerly awaited and opened because they are physical contact with it.” – pg. 332
This quote really embodies the theme of the book because it talks about the singular goal of every person in the rehab center. Every single person in the center simply wants to live a normal life like anyone else, free of drugs. People relish the opportunity to feel like a part of this life if only for a moment. The quote goes on to talk about people reading newspapers and magazines over and over to get a glimpse of normal life in the real world. At the same time, the quote makes the real world sound so far away, and for many in the center, it is. Normalcy is not easily come by. People are held by the grip of their addictions and are struggling to get out of its hold. When they came in, they were so far from normal, and reading newspapers or making phone calls seems like a step in the right direction, making some minor contact with the rest of the world. It’s a starting place for the rest of their lives.
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