Lullaby Themes

From conversing with the people I know personally (most of whom did not recommend reading this book), I was told it leaves a reader with too many unanswered questions. As of this writing, I don't think this book garners nearly enough credit for its complexity and skill (at least from the majority of people who read it). It goes much deeper than just the obvious themes of power and corruption on the surface.

Lullaby had so many layers, and initially I felt like I was left scratching my head on a few of the book's reoccurring themes/actions. For example, I hated the lack of details regarding Helen's real estate ghost business. Beyond the ongoing supernatural relevancy, I just didn't get it. . .

But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense to me. Like Carl buying the perfect house models, just to smash them-- Helen would sell these seemingly perfect homes to all too happy couples, just with the intent of watching them suffer. For each time, it was their little revenge to destroy something beautiful. Part of their grieving process. By Helen giving up the real estate business, it coincides with Mona helping Carl heal by removing the bits of model shards from his foot. When they found love (family) they no longer needed to grieve in these ways.

The themes of family and history repeating itself were others that were left echoing in my brain. The writing style was repetitive with reason. Set up by the journalistic way Carl would describe any situation and its inane details; both Carl and Helen had once killed their families, and the book ends with them trying to do it again. I almost had the feeling that the book was going in circles-- which is probably why it also can be interpreted that we were being set up for a sequel.

These were just a few of the reoccurring themes that were left playing over in my mind. All in all, two days after finishing Lullaby, I loved it.

What were some other underlying themes that left your mental gears grinding after you put the book down? and how did they help explain the many seemingly random or confusing actions scattered throughout the book?