Guitar Highway Rose Analysis

Abandoning the traditional book layout of chapters, Brigid Lowry brings into play new styles of writing in her novel Guitar Highway Rose (1997, McPherson's Printing Group). One of which is ‘stream of consciousness' where the character's immediate thoughts are written as they are onto the pages, creating a better understanding of the character. The use of multiple narrating perspectives and narrator intrusion in the novel allows the reader to see problems from different perspectives. Lowry also uses allusions from the real world to give the reader additional information about various characters in a different way. Together, these writing styles complement each other to give the reader a better understanding of the characters and a refreshing read.

Stream of consciousness, where the characters original and unorganized thoughts are written as they are onto the page, gives an unedited and personal feeling. This style allows the reader to read thoughts that the character would otherwise be embarrassed to admit. Such as Rosie's thoughts about her nose ring that she argued about with her mother, Lily. "…I have to admit it was a relief to take my nose ring out." As cited above pg 99. Because even the minor thoughts are included in
The reference to Asher's "Kurt Cobain look alike sneaker" as cited above pg 42 is used for the reader to associate the real person, Kurt Cobain, with Asher's shoes. Another example is the mention of the famous book "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" as cited above, pg 58, which gives the reader hints as to the types of things the character likes. The allusion about Rosie's horoscope, hints that a "time of challenge and confusion" is ahead as cited above pg 24, gives the reader an idea about what is to come for her. These allusions all relate the characters to reality or roughly predict what is