Chapter 2, “Sender”: 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

Valdin returns to his apartment on a hot January afternoon and finds a yellow Card to Call postcard wedged in the doorframe. The card indicates that a courier attempted to deliver a package while he was out. He immediately dreads the hassle of retrieving it, hoping it is not at the Penrose depot because he does not have a car. He briefly wonders if his sister Greta ordered something, since she frequently buys books online and then complains about the ethics of supporting large retailers. He recalls a recent family birthday where Greta, after a few drinks, ranted about a bookshop employee with a nightingale tattoo, insisting the woman thinks she is superior because she has read Oscar Wilde.

When Valdin turns the card over, he sees the name VALADDIN VLADISAV J written in large letters. He notes that this is not how he usually spells his name, but he cannot prove the courier meant someone else. He enters the twelve-digit reference code into the courier website and learns the package is at a depot on Victoria Street West, not far away but still an unpleasant walk in the heat. He reluctantly leaves his apartment, wishing he could stay on his turquoise couch with sparkling apple juice and a book of Spanish poems. He explains that he avoids reading about pain and trauma, and currently avoids love stories for personal reasons.

As he walks, Valdin reflects on his obsessive-compulsive disorder. He describes a compulsion to follow through with every plan, fearing that any deviation will upset the natural order. He admits that when things do not go as expected, he sometimes bursts into tears or throws up. He compares his brain to a poorly maintained water slide, while other people’s brains are like well-kept hiking trails. He also recalls his school years: he was quiet, excelled in physics, maths, and history, and yearned to learn French so he could wear a beret and meet a mysterious man in a Parisian park. His older brother Casper once wanted to report the school for recruiting older rugby players, but their mother advised him to stay quiet. Casper later impregnated someone and ran away to Moscow.

On the way to the depot, Valdin worries about the package’s contents. He imagines an official letter requiring him to serve in the Russian army, or something from his ex-boyfriend Xabi. He thinks about Xabi at length: they broke up over a year ago, on a rainy June day. Valdin had come home early hoping to get a table at a nice restaurant, but Xabi ended things. Valdin remembers loving Xabi deeply, feeling that nothing else mattered when they were together. He also recalls that Xabi left for a ranch in Argentina, believing he was the cause of Valdin’s unhappiness. Valdin later realised he simply did not want to be a physicist, but by then Xabi was gone.

Valdin’s OCD manifests as magical thinking: he believes that if he does not do certain things correctly, global disasters become his fault. He mentions checking Al Jazeera and feeling responsible for wars, fires, and housing inequality because of small mistakes like dropping his phone or buying the wrong socks. He walks past the Sky Tower, telling himself that if it falls today, it will not be his fault.

At the post depot, Valdin finds a long queue. He observes a man in a mismatched basketball uniform and Nike slides presenting a Malaysian passport, driver’s licence, and a power bill. Another man, an electrician, argues loudly about not having the right ID and leaves empty-handed. Valdin compares himself to Miss Brill from the Katherine Mansfield story, worrying that he is being judged. When his turn comes, he speaks to a clerk named Loretta, who questions his name and spelling. He spells his first name as V-A-L-D-I-N, using examples like Valerie Adams and eternal damnation. For his surname, he uses “Vortex Mega Howler,” “isthmus,” and “L.J. Hooker” before remembering the phonetic alphabet. Loretta asks if he is from Slovakia; he says he is Māori and his dad is Russian. She retrieves a thick brown envelope and hands it to him after he signs.

Outside, Valdin opens the envelope and finds a book titled Dead Sea Fungi: Fungal Life in the Dead Sea. Inside is a note addressed to Prof. Vladisavljevic, thanking him for a lecture at a research facility and hoping to see him in Oman again, signed by Dr. Hissah Asfour. Valdin realises the package is not for him but for his father, who shares the same name. He feels a mix of relief and anticlimax, noting that no one had sent him anything after all.

Key Events

Valdin discovers a Card to Call postcard with a misspelled version of his name.
He walks to the Victoria Street West depot, worrying about the package’s origin.
He reflects on his OCD, magical thinking, and his past relationship with Xabi.
At the depot, he interacts with clerk Loretta, who questions his name and spelling.
He retrieves a thick brown envelope and opens it outside.
He finds a book titled Dead Sea Fungi and a note addressed to his father, Professor Vladisavljevic.
He realises the package was misdelivered to him because he and his father share the same name.

Character Development

Valdin is the chapter’s sole point of view. His internal monologue reveals a deeply anxious, self-critical mind. His OCD is not just a quirk but a source of genuine distress: he describes crying, vomiting, and a pervasive sense of responsibility for events far beyond his control. His magical thinking—believing that his small mistakes cause wars or fires—shows how his mental illness distorts his sense of agency. He also exhibits avoidance: he avoids reading about pain, avoids love stories, and avoids thinking about Xabi by using vague phrases like “someone I knew.” His identity is tied to his family: he is Māori and Russian, and he shares his father’s name, which becomes a source of confusion and, ultimately, a reminder of his family legacy.

Greta appears only in Valdin’s memories, but her personality is vivid: she is outspoken, passionate about literature, and prone to dramatic rants. Her relationship with Valdin is affectionate but teasing, as shown by her comment about the Happy Prince.

Casper is mentioned as the older brother who once wanted to expose school corruption but was silenced by their mother, and who later ran away to Moscow after impregnating someone. This brief backstory hints at family dysfunction and unresolved issues.

Xabi is not present but looms large in Valdin’s memory. Valdin’s reflections reveal a painful breakup, self-blame, and a lingering sense of loss. He admits he loved Xabi in a way he has never loved anyone else, and he still wonders if Xabi might have sent him something.

Loretta is a minor but memorable character: she is impatient, blunt, and unimpressed by Valdin’s attempts to spell his name. Her questioning highlights the theme of identity and how names carry assumptions about ethnicity and belonging.

Dr. Hissah Asfour appears only through the note, but her message clarifies the misunderstanding and introduces the idea of Valdin’s father as a respected academic.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Identity and Names: The misspelled name on the postcard and Loretta’s questioning underscore how names are tied to identity, ethnicity, and family. Valdin’s shared name with his father creates confusion and ultimately reveals a family legacy.
OCD and Magical Thinking: Valdin’s internal monologue is dominated by his obsessive thoughts and compulsive rituals. His belief that he can control outcomes by doing things “right” is a central motif, symbolising his need for order in a chaotic world.
Expectation vs. Reality: Valdin spends the entire chapter dreading the package, imagining it is from Xabi or a summons to the Russian army. The reality—a book for his father—is anticlimactic and even absurd, highlighting how anxiety often magnifies imagined threats.
Unresolved Past: Valdin’s memories of Xabi and his brother Casper show that the past is not neatly closed. The chapter suggests that unresolved relationships and family secrets continue to shape Valdin’s present.
Avoidance: Valdin avoids reading about pain, avoids love stories, and avoids thinking about Xabi directly. His avoidance is a coping mechanism, but it also prevents him from processing his emotions.
Self-Blame: Valdin blames himself for his breakup, for his OCD, and even for global events. This self-blame is a recurring theme that connects his mental illness to his relationships.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter establishes Valdin as a complex, sympathetic narrator whose internal world is both humorous and painful. It introduces his OCD and magical thinking in detail, giving readers a window into how his mind works. It also sets up key family dynamics: his relationship with Greta, his brother Casper’s troubled past, and his father’s academic career. The misdelivered package serves as a narrative device that forces Valdin to confront his anxieties and his past, while also revealing a family connection he had not anticipated. The chapter ends on a note of quiet anticlimax, suggesting that Valdin’s fears are often unfounded—but also that his identity is deeply intertwined with his family’s legacy. This chapter lays the groundwork for themes that will likely recur throughout the novel, such as identity, mental health, and the weight of family expectations.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does Valdin’s OCD affect his perception of control and responsibility?

Valdin’s OCD manifests as magical thinking: he believes that if he does not follow through with plans or perform certain actions correctly, he will upset the natural order. He feels responsible for global disasters, such as wars and fires, when he makes small mistakes like dropping his phone or buying the wrong socks. This distorted sense of responsibility makes him anxious and self-critical, and it also affects his daily decisions, such as forcing himself to walk to the depot even though he would rather stay home.

2. What does the misspelled name on the postcard reveal about Valdin’s identity?

The misspelling—VALADDIN instead of Valdin—highlights how easily identity can be misread or misrepresented. Valdin notes that he cannot prove the courier meant someone else, which suggests a certain fluidity in how he is perceived. Later, Loretta’s questions about his name and ethnicity reinforce this theme. The fact that his father shares the same name further complicates his identity, as the package intended for his father becomes a reminder that Valdin is part of a larger family story.

3. Why does Valdin spend so much time thinking about Xabi during his walk?

The package triggers Valdin’s anxiety about the past. He fears that Xabi might have sent him something, which forces him to revisit the breakup and his unresolved feelings. His memories reveal that he still loves Xabi and blames himself for the relationship’s end. The walk gives him time to ruminate, and his OCD amplifies his worries. The chapter shows how a mundane event—a missed delivery—can become a catalyst for emotional turmoil when the mind is prone to catastrophic thinking.

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