Book 1: Remember to Forget
Story Symbolism
The story design of Remember to Forget accomplishes a dilemma where amnesia versus forgiveness, in the Olympics of childhood and child development. And the question becomes is it easier getting over it when the environment no longer owns you, because you have left it psychologically (amnesia)? Is there any advantage to remembering the bad times and staying in that unchanging place with no other choice? (“I don’t have amnesia; I have flashbacks…”) So the experiment (referred to by Janine as a psychological sports match) is actually settling the stage for the ever popular argument over “nature vs nurture.” But since they are committed to working together, we get to experience all the advantages and all the disadvantages of both theories.
Book 2: Punished By Silence
Story Symbolism
The entitled story dilemma (Punished By Silence) symbolizes an orthodox, psychological, dilemma of an autistic struggle inside an unaware overly-social world. The "Clue Queen" is politically unable to reveal a natural autistic nature, risking independence from the bullying and/or overly sympathetic public opinion (taxing independence an affirmations to overcome the stigma), the negotiation is to appear tarnished in social reputation. But knowing deep down inside the secret win inside this alleged failure. The win is independence and individualism somehow where there is no path. It's a one-side truce which involves staying "punished by silence" forever, regarding the wise way this character outsmarted every authority involved.
The GoFundMe symbolism is advocacy & support. Whether a higher power, an advocacy group, or both, this support does exactly as Lauren extra vowed stated on the last page "...in the Olympics of sticking together."Curtis was one of the lucky ones. No every ASD finds support to tax the bullying. Notice that Curtis relied solely on his intellect beforehand and even afterwards.
Bonnie & Clyde (Concept)
The bonnie or clyde choice demonstrate groupthink and its limitations. Blend this with the consistent term "weird" throughout this story, and even though "weird is not a crime," as Dedra said, it certainly was enough of a blend to make weird vulnerable to a guilty verdict.
DARVO
This psychological term is a emotional abuse tactic. DARVOS stands for Deny, Attack, Reverse, Victim and Offender. In order words pathologically narcissistic people always "play the victim" during calls for accountability.
Extras
"I don't know how to answer that since Lauren and I have communicated for years!"
In our present world, autistic and empath usually go together: they're united; they're one (like a couple).
"I wasn't arrested for being different..."
Notice that the only time Curtis truly argued back at prosecution (public opinion) and got applause, the cross-examining lawyer still (as just alleged) only fired back with mundane measurements of normal until she overwhelmed him with embarrassment. This symbolizes the weapon of choice from ignorance itself (just as Janine proposed in her classroom presentation "turning us against each other). The lack of objections during this symbolizes the way minimized autistic children feel in society.
"...holding the Bible like a Teddy Bear."
This scene is dedicated to the scripture "fear of man will prove to be a snare." Christian Parables certainly advocates for seniority and the parallel prizes of true peace through a decision to let The Bible to nurture you, rather than public opinion. Just like a teddy bear, as you nurture it, it will somehow nurture you right back.
*Spoiler Alert*
Book 4: Amplified Weapon
Story Symbolism & Commentary
Story Symbolism
Hollywood = Public Image
Oscar = Honor and/or Popularity
Simon Says = Power of Tradition
Timber = Mental Illness
Farrah = Pharisee
Janitor = Family Dysfunction
Drama Class = Acclimation
Mr. "Squeaky" Kleen = Artificial Idol
Hidden Morals:
Serial killer Timber (mental illness) was an innocent culprit who turned out NOT to be the cause of the family division and dysfunction. Love is the family cure.
Farrah was actually featured in the book Christian Parables as the cheerleader from the Parable of The Smarter Copycat.
Mr. "Squeaky" Kleen's first name (never mentioned in the story) is "Christian." And he (not Christianity) symbolizes confusion. His "squeaky" voice became annoying conversations with an element of manipulation, around a Christian identity.
He was a constant visitor, and a two-timer, in an secret relationship with Farrah (Pharisee).Eventually this no-so-squeaky-Kleen Christian was only in it for the money.
The janitor symbolizes the origins and manipulation within a dysfunctional family. Notice that the janitor projected his faults on Janine and was somehow plausible, even with his extensive record as a "con artist" .
The is the power of denial. Notice that even when Dedra confirmed this, it still wasn't enough when Janine was merely painted the way the janitor suggested.
Family dysfunction is preventable as long as we don't turn on each other.
When Dedra mocked Corey's view of "Squeaky" working as a backup singer for the chalkboard,she asked Corey, "don't you get tired of your presumptions being wrong?" Strategically Corey's reply was, "as long as I follow through as a fair detective, no!" Corey's follow through symbolizes the "awareness has to win" recipe for good and healthy family ties.A "fair detective" is a logical person who is always willing to be surprised by the truth that's is found in fairness. The alternative is a forever biased person in denial at the expense of someone else's truth. Conversely this is the recipe of family dysfunction. Ironically, Dedra did not "follow through" as a fair detective while handling the truth about Janine's being truthful. From her initial memory check, to missed phone call appointment, from her accuracy on his criminal record (suggested by impartial Jasmine Gem), this illustrated the power of denial. It is the recipe of divide. It was the culprit against their rings "Together Forever."
The failure to give Irene a funeral has multiple symbolism. One symbolizes a back-and-forth, toxic, relationship that should just end officially.
If no one's changing in, severe ongoing conflict, the responsibility we still have to our own heart should never yield. And anyone who would make a life (or become a "roommate arrangement") out of their zombie stress is either a confused victim or a narcissistic partner. So "why didn't you give Irene a funeral?" When Simon Says responded, "I was too busy," he was referring to the biblical concept of "busybodies (II Thessalonians 3:11)." Basically "busybodies" are not busy; they're idle and disruptive. They just as confusing as the stares on the detective faces after he said, "I was too busy."
Notice the lengths Jasmine had to go through just to get the truth. And observe Hollywood's automatic reflexes towards Jasmine to "paint her as a selfish conspiracy theorist." As it pertains to story timing, it was only after their "smear campaign" failed, that they appeared for the detectives. Dedra knew this as she explained her plan to "give their runaround the runaround." As confirmed in Narcissistic Puzzle Peace, these are the automatic reflexes of a severely fragile and toxic ego. And for even more mystery, calculate all Hollywood's energy against the real role they played.
The Skype Date symbolizes the appetite of manipulation, meaning trickery will eventually settle for just a simple conversation. Even though the janitor emphasized Dedra's beauty, fame, and tried to lure her into the a weird dinner date at his house... he settled for an online video conversation. Dedra gave him a digital inch; he took a psychological mile.
Jasmine Gem's plea to a fan to #PromiseMe was against a suicide attempt. And when she got everyone involved by typing I care too, this suggest the balancing power of positive affirmations (I care [too]) against negative affirmations (no one cares). Be a soldier against negativity. As a poem by the same author suggests, emotional abuse is just a "Mirror with Hallucinations."
Interview with the Author
Q: Towards the end of Book 5: Karma’s Collection, some readers suspect story symbolism in one particular scene suggesting ‘karma is the best medicine.’ Care to confirm or deny?
A: (Laughs) I know the scene you’re referring to. And I can certainty see the pathway to this suggestion. But no. In that same scene, I was celebrating the healing power of ‘empathy from an empath.’ I personally believe that ultimate vengeance belongs to Another.
Q: Did Dedra herself symbolize anything?
A: Absolutely! But it actually depends on which Book in the series. We’ve already spoke about the Nature vs Nuture issues in Book 1: Remember to Forget. Dedra symbolizes Nurture while Janine symbolism Nature in that psychological sports match.
In Book 2: Punished By Silence, Dedra symbolizes the psychological technique of mine called The Alpha Puppet to outsmart a certain psychological predicament. The technique is explained thoroughly in my book: Narcissistic Puzzle Peace: Reveal and Outsmart a Narcissistic Personality.
In Book 3: The Shotgun’s Wedding, Dedra symbolizes the actual disadvantages of having all her child development traffic cleared by this agreement. The triangulation continues to strike between the two sisters. Also Nature vs. Nuture is animated in their mind states.
In Book 4: Amplified Weapon, Dedra symbolized the last chapter as “a father figure who doesn’t know the whole story.” The Book Club has already figured out the secret behavioral rhyme between Dedra and a certain college presentation before Book 5 revealed it to them.
In the final Book 5: Karma’s Collection, Dedra symbolizes the deeper realm of “real redemption” for inspiration off the pages. I can’t stand fake apologies. And even worse, I don’t understand apologies that simply cancel each other out (“I’m sorry-me too.”): no discovery, no sincerity, no progress… no point! Dedra earned her relationship back the beautiful hard way. It was her self-sacrificing offers. It was her toleration with skepticism. It was her repeated decision of the entity that she “was done with” (story symbolism). Most people simply have too much ‘make up’ on the inside to ‘stand up to themselves’ for the one’s they love and really earn their love back. The objective here was for ‘awareness to win’ instead of social traditions and/or power. It’s easily a more satisfying experience.
