My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga

It is because of her father's past behavior which led him to prison, that Aysel is scared that she will follow suit.

This ties into another notable theme, one against Predetermination, that you can become whoever you wish to become. She does not try very hard in school, and she works at a slow job in telemarketing, allowing her potential energy to sit in wake. It is a metaphor often repeated and consistent throughout the book. has kinetic energy,' but this tone of the passage is soon interupted when she switches to stating that she 'spend alot of time wondering what death feels like,' (1.) Energy, where does it go when you die? This is a question that Aysel ponders over consistently throughout the novel, as not only is she interested in her own death, but she is also obsessed with physics.

Aysel is obsessed with kinetic and potential energy theories, the book even opens up with ' Music, especially Classical music. Warga introduces and interesting theory that ties into Aysel's character. Aysel gradually learns to find meaning and purpose in living for others, a skill she had lacked her whole life. When she finally told her own mother what had been going on she wonders if her heart was the only thing that the black slug has left her, but she soon comes to acknowledge that 'maybe the black slug will always live inside of me,' but she still readily admits that 'maybe the good days will make it worth getting through the bad ones' (269, 272). She grows closer to her peers, her family, and Roman she begins to dread the thought of loosing them. 'Good job, black slug,' she would say when unwanted emotions such as her 'heart clogged, constricted,' would be ultimately numbed by her own depression (61).

But when Roman is introduced, and as their planned suicide date grows closer, she begins to feel the 'black slug' that eats up her emotions begin to weaken. The stronger her fear grew, the sadder and more isolated she became. We see this in the classroom scenes, when she is forced to interact with her peers who she feels are 'willing to go away,' even though she is 'not so sure,' (76). Ever since she had lost her father to prison, Aysel had spent her life dreading interaction with her peers, fearing their judgement because of who she was. A major theme that Warga chooses to bring to attention is vicariousness, finding meaning and purpose to life in those around you.

My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga