One thing that Dr. Berger mentioned to us was the different type of symbolism in this book, so I've been sort of on the lookout for it and I thought I'd throw a couple of ideas out there.

One specific thing that was mentioned was the type of soft drink that is consumed, who consumes it, and at what point. I've tried to make a connection during my reading but really haven't been very successful. My hope is that, by putting it down in a blog, I'll maybe make a connection.

Most of the time, I've noticed that they drink Pepsi. Coke has been mentioned a couple of times, and Dr. Pepper has only been mentioned once, that I remember. I'm going to focus mostly on Pepsi in this post though, because that seems to be the most important soda drink thus far.

Depending on the situation, Pepsi either has a bad connotation or a good connotation. Sam's mother blames Emmett's pimples on Pepsi. " 'I'd have pimples too if I drank as much Pepsi as he does' " (56). Also, Pepsi is mentioned again, in the same conversation between Sam and her mother while they're discussing college. "It wasn't true that gong to college guaranteed a better job. She knew a guy who drove a Pepsi truck and made more than most people who went to college. He was the guy who gave Emmett the Pepsi cap" (55). Sam's mother, perhaps, views Pepsi as a bad thing, but Sam sees it as a good thing. Once again, this is just speculating. I look forward to reading more of the story and perhaps revealing the mystery of the sodas.