Chapter 27 Summary, Analysis, and Key Themes

⚠️ 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

Clover walks to Claudia's home on a spring day, but her mind is elsewhere. She feels relief that she no longer has to hide her profession from Claudia, but also panic about what to say to Sebastian after their kiss. She reflects that she had always imagined her first kiss would bring joy or excitement, not anxiety. Replaying the moment, she wonders if she built it up too much or if pop culture misled her about how wonderful kisses are supposed to be. She also feels it was unprofessional to have gone out with Sebastian at all.

When she arrives, Claudia greets her warmly, saying she has been looking forward to the visit. Claudia expresses fascination with Clover's death work and remarks how liberating it is to talk about death openly. Clover, however, suspects Claudia's nonchalance is a mask for vulnerability, just as Guillermo's anger masked his fear.

Clover proposes that Claudia create a death binder—a collection of important documents, passwords, funeral preferences, and notification lists. Claudia is initially amused by the morbidity but agrees it makes sense, noting that her family will likely focus on the will and little else. They begin with the question of burial versus cremation. Claudia chooses cremation, saying she doesn't want to take up unnecessary space. She then reveals she would like her ashes scattered off the cliffs of Bonifacio in Corsica. Clover recognizes the place, having visited it during her master's thesis in Paris. Claudia's tone becomes wistful, hinting at a mysterious connection to the location.

Next, they compile a list of people to notify. Claudia notes that at ninety-one, most of her friends and acquaintances are dead, echoing a sentiment Clover heard from Leo. Claudia offers Clover a lesson: choose friendships wisely. When Claudia asks about Clover's social life, Clover admits she is a bit of a loner, partly because people are uncomfortable around someone who deals with death. Claudia mentions that her grandson Sebastian seems to have taken a shine to Clover, which makes Clover's stomach lurch. She plays dumb, then explains she was an only child and used to her own company.

Claudia gently probes about Clover's parents. Clover reveals they died in an accident when she was six, and she came to live with her grandfather in the city. Claudia expresses sympathy, and Clover says she doesn't miss her mother much because they never spent much time together. Claudia praises Clover's grandfather for raising her well, and Clover agrees he did his best.

As Clover walks to the subway later, she thinks about her mother. She recalls no warm hugs, no hair ribbons, no baking—none of the nurturing behaviors she associates with mothers in movies. She sometimes imagines her mother might have become that way if given the chance. She acknowledges that her grandfather shaped her worldview, but she wonders what she missed without a maternal figure—whether she would be more attuned to her intuition or more comfortable with emotional expression. She asks herself if she is somehow less of a woman because she never had a mother to look up to.

Key Events

Clover arrives at Claudia's house, conflicted about her kiss with Sebastian and her decision to reveal her job.
Claudia enthusiastically embraces the idea of a death binder and agrees to work through it.
Claudia chooses cremation and specifies that her ashes be scattered off the cliffs of Bonifacio, Corsica.
Clover and Claudia compile a notification list, and Claudia reflects on outliving most of her contemporaries.
Claudia asks about Clover's social life and hints at Sebastian's interest in her.
Clover reveals her parents died when she was six and that she was raised by her grandfather.
Claudia praises Clover's grandfather's parenting.
On her walk home, Clover reflects on her mother's lack of nurturing and questions her own femininity.

Character Development

Clover is caught between professional detachment and personal vulnerability. She feels relief at no longer hiding her job, but the kiss with Sebastian unsettles her, making her question her expectations and her professionalism. Her interaction with Claudia reveals a deeper layer of her past: she lost her parents at six and was raised by a grandfather who was also a loner. This explains her tendency to keep to herself and her discomfort with emotional intimacy. The chapter also shows her self-doubt about her femininity, as she wonders if growing up without a mother left her lacking in some way.

Claudia emerges as pragmatic and self-aware. She embraces the death binder with surprising enthusiasm, showing her acceptance of mortality. Her choice of Bonifacio hints at a romantic or meaningful past, adding depth to her character. She also acts as a mentor, offering Clover advice about friendship and acknowledging the difficulty of raising a child. Her warmth and directness contrast with Clover's guardedness, creating a meaningful bond between them.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

The death binder symbolizes a practical approach to mortality, turning an overwhelming process into a manageable task. It also represents Clover's professional skill and her way of helping families cope with grief.
Maternal absence is a central motif. Clover's reflection on her mother's lack of nurturing and her question about being “less of a woman” highlight how early loss shapes identity and self-perception.
Loneliness and self-identity recur as Clover admits she is a loner and wonders if she learned that from her grandfather. Claudia's advice to choose friendships wisely underscores the importance of connection.
Vulnerability masked by nonchalance appears in both Claudia's casual attitude toward death and Clover's own emotional pretense. Clover suspects Claudia's ease is a front, just as she herself hides behind her professional demeanor.
Mortality acceptance is evident in Claudia's willingness to plan her death and her humorous remark about seasick mourners, showing a healthy embrace of life's end.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter deepens Clover's backstory and emotional landscape. It reveals the origin of her solitary nature and her unresolved feelings about her mother, which likely influence her relationships and her work. The bond between Clover and Claudia strengthens as they share personal details, and Claudia's choice of Bonifacio adds a layer of mystery that may connect to future revelations. The chapter also advances the theme of friendship and connection, as Claudia's advice and Clover's admission of loneliness set up potential growth for Clover. Finally, the kiss with Sebastian introduces romantic tension that will likely affect Clover's professional and personal choices going forward.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Clover feel conflicted about her kiss with Sebastian?

Clover had always imagined her first kiss would bring joy or excitement, but instead she feels panic and disappointment. She wonders if she built it up too much or if pop culture misled her. She also feels it was unprofessional to have gone out with him, which adds to her unease.

2. What does Claudia's choice of Bonifacio reveal about her character?

Claudia's request to have her ashes scattered off the cliffs of Bonifacio suggests a deep personal connection to the place. Her wistful tone and the hint of mystery imply a meaningful memory or relationship, adding depth to her character beyond her pragmatic exterior.

3. How does Clover's conversation with Claudia about her parents affect her self-perception?

The conversation prompts Clover to reflect on her mother's lack of nurturing and her grandfather's influence. She wonders if she missed out on developing intuition or emotional expression, and she questions whether she is “less of a woman” because she never had a maternal figure. This introspection reveals her vulnerability and unresolved grief.