Chapter 18: Miss Photogenic – Summary and Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Chapter 18, “Miss Photogenic,” is told entirely from Valdin’s perspective. He is hiding in the kitchen of the flat he shares with his sister Greta, pretending to use the SodaStream while making a phone call to his mother. He is on edge because he has just returned home from a changed flight the previous night, only to find Greta’s door open and a woman inside with her. When he called out to Greta, she screamed at him to leave, so he retreated to a coffee shop called Esquires for two hours before coming back.

On the phone, Valdin explains this to his mother, who is initially unsympathetic and teases him for calling her “Mother.” She points out that he chose to live with Greta and suggests he could have simply gone to his own room. Valdin admits he wasn’t wearing his glasses and is lucky he didn’t see more. The conversation shifts to his dislike of wearing glasses on planes and his frustration with pore strips not fitting his nose, which he jokingly calls anti-Semitic. His mother reminds him of a clay mask she bought him in Vietnam.

Valdin then asks if his mother knew Greta was seeing anyone. She confirms she knew Greta had a date. Valdin notes that he can hear Greta and the woman laughing while they watch Miss New Zealand 1973, a broadcast he recognizes and loves. His mother tells him that Greta was worried he would be lonely if she found someone new. Valdin insists he is fine, saying he hasn’t been doing anything weird—he bought a cleaning product as part of a planned cleaning event, not in a frenzy. He also says he deleted dating apps and no longer does that.

His mother asks about his trip to Queenstown, but Valdin dismisses it as baffling and bizarre, saying he doesn’t want to talk about it. She suggests they go to Plant Barn, and Valdin agrees, saying he needs to steam his pores first. They exchange affectionate goodbyes—Valdin tells her he loves her, and she replies, “I know. Bye.” After hanging up, Valdin hears Greta laughing again and feels like shouting that Miss Otago wins, but he doesn’t.

Key Events

Valdin calls his mother from the kitchen, hiding from Greta and her guest.
He explains he changed his flight to the previous night, came home late, saw Greta’s door open, and called out to her, only to be screamed at to leave.
He spent two hours at Esquires coffee shop before returning.
His mother reveals she knew Greta had a date.
Valdin hears Greta and the woman laughing while watching Miss New Zealand 1973.
His mother tells him Greta was worried he’d be lonely.
Valdin insists he’s fine, mentions deleting dating apps, and buying a cleaning product.
His mother suggests a trip to Plant Barn; Valdin agrees, saying he needs to steam his pores.
They exchange affectionate goodbyes.
Valdin resists shouting that Miss Otago wins, leaving the moment unresolved.

Character Development

Valdin shows a mix of avoidance and vulnerability. He hides in the kitchen rather than confronting Greta or her guest, and he uses mundane activities (SodaStream, cleaning products, pore steaming) as distractions. His phone call to his mother is a plea for reassurance, even though he initially frames it as a complaint. He insists he is fine, but his mother’s gentle probing reveals his loneliness—he deleted dating apps, has no one to talk to, and feels left out of Greta’s joy. His resistance to shouting about Miss Otago suggests he is trying to respect Greta’s space, but also that he is holding back his own feelings.

Greta is not directly present but is characterized through Valdin’s observations. She is laughing and enjoying time with a woman, watching a nostalgic broadcast. Her worry about Valdin’s loneliness, as reported by their mother, shows she cares about him even as she sets boundaries.

The Mother serves as a grounding presence. She is teasing but perceptive, knowing about Greta’s date and gently checking on Valdin’s emotional state. She offers practical support (a trip to Plant Barn) and affection, calling him “mate” in a way that makes him feel special.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Loneliness and avoidance: Valdin’s hiding, his insistence that he is fine, and his focus on trivial tasks all point to his difficulty facing his own isolation. The coffee shop and the kitchen are literal spaces of retreat.

Family support: The phone call is a lifeline. His mother listens, reassures, and offers to pick him up. Greta’s worry, though indirect, shows familial care even amid conflict.

Shared nostalgia: Miss New Zealand 1973 is a symbol of Valdin’s and Greta’s shared history. Watching it with someone else makes Valdin feel excluded, and his urge to shout the outcome is a way of asserting that shared past.

Unresolved past: Valdin’s refusal to talk about Queenstown and his vague “I don’t want to talk about it” hint at unresolved experiences that weigh on him. The chapter leaves his emotional state open-ended.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter deepens our understanding of Valdin’s inner world. It shows that his earlier bravado and sarcasm mask a genuine fear of being alone. The phone call with his mother reveals his coping mechanisms—deleting apps, buying cleaning products, planning pore-steaming sessions—as attempts to control his environment when he feels powerless. The chapter also highlights the sibling dynamic: Greta is moving forward in her life, while Valdin is stuck, watching from the sidelines. The title “Miss Photogenic” suggests a focus on appearances, and Valdin is indeed trying to appear fine while feeling anything but. This chapter sets up potential growth for Valdin, as he is forced to acknowledge his loneliness and accept his mother’s support.

Study Questions and Answers

Why does Valdin call his mother instead of confronting Greta directly?

Valdin is overwhelmed by the situation and feels rejected by Greta’s scream. Calling his mother is a safe way to process his feelings without risking further conflict. He also seeks validation and comfort, which his mother provides, even while teasing him.

What does Valdin’s reaction to hearing Greta laugh reveal about his emotional state?

Hearing Greta laugh while watching Miss New Zealand 1973 makes Valdin feel excluded and jealous. He recognizes the broadcast as something they shared, and her laughter with someone else underscores his loneliness. His urge to shout the outcome is a way of trying to reclaim that shared experience, but he holds back, showing his reluctance to intrude.

How does the mother’s response to Valdin’s call shape the chapter’s tone?

The mother’s teasing yet caring tone balances Valdin’s anxiety. She doesn’t dismiss his feelings but gently challenges his avoidance. Her offer to take him to Plant Barn and her affectionate goodbye provide a sense of stability and support, softening the chapter’s underlying sadness.

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