Explanation of the title:
We are all completely besides ourselves, the title means that you’re really excited
about something.
Biographical information of the writer:
The author of the book is Karen Joy Fowler. She is an American author and is
currently 71 years old. Her best selling book is The Jane Austen Book Club. She
studied creative writing at the University of California and she published her first book
when she was 35.
Themes:
The relationship between a human and an animal, Rosemary grew up with Fern, a
chimpanzee. Another theme is family, she has some problems living with her family so
she moves across the country.
Setting:
The story takes place in a farmhouse in Bloomington where Rosemary is raised, and
in South Dakota. The story takes place around 1980.
Description of the main characters:
- Rosemary Cooke
Rosemary Cooke is the main character in this story, the story is also told through her
perspective. Rosemary is very talkative and super smart but she struggles to fit in
among other people.
- Rosemary’s parents
Rosemary’s father is a psychologist and professor at the University of Indiana and her
mother is a scientist. Their first names were never given.
- Lowell - Travers
Lowell is Rosemary’s older brother. Rosemary idolizes him but he is not always kind to
her and is very protective over Fern.
- Fern
Fern is a chimpanzee who is adopted from Africa. She is very attached to the family
and sees herself as a human. When she got older she became more dangerous and
got sent away do South Dakota to live with a large group of chimpanzees
- Harlow Fielding
Harlow is Rosemary’s first friend outside her family. Rosemary says that she exhibits
the same impulsive, reckless traits as a chimpanzee and that's why she’s drawn to
her.
- Ezra Metzger
Ezra is the manager of Rosemary’s apartment building in Davis. He falls in love with
Harlow. He got sent to prison when he tried to break into the UC Davis Primate Center
to set the monkeys free.
Which character can you identify with?
I think the best character I can relate to is Rosemary. Rosemary is a very sweet girl
and is sensitive but also smart and she struggles to fit in with other people.
We are all completely besides ourselves, the title means that you’re really excited
about something.
Biographical information of the writer:
The author of the book is Karen Joy Fowler. She is an American author and is
currently 71 years old. Her best selling book is The Jane Austen Book Club. She
studied creative writing at the University of California and she published her first book
when she was 35.
Themes:
The relationship between a human and an animal, Rosemary grew up with Fern, a
chimpanzee. Another theme is family, she has some problems living with her family so
she moves across the country.
Setting:
The story takes place in a farmhouse in Bloomington where Rosemary is raised, and
in South Dakota. The story takes place around 1980.
Description of the main characters:
- Rosemary Cooke
Rosemary Cooke is the main character in this story, the story is also told through her
perspective. Rosemary is very talkative and super smart but she struggles to fit in
among other people.
- Rosemary’s parents
Rosemary’s father is a psychologist and professor at the University of Indiana and her
mother is a scientist. Their first names were never given.
- Lowell - Travers
Lowell is Rosemary’s older brother. Rosemary idolizes him but he is not always kind to
her and is very protective over Fern.
- Fern
Fern is a chimpanzee who is adopted from Africa. She is very attached to the family
and sees herself as a human. When she got older she became more dangerous and
got sent away do South Dakota to live with a large group of chimpanzees
- Harlow Fielding
Harlow is Rosemary’s first friend outside her family. Rosemary says that she exhibits
the same impulsive, reckless traits as a chimpanzee and that's why she’s drawn to
her.
- Ezra Metzger
Ezra is the manager of Rosemary’s apartment building in Davis. He falls in love with
Harlow. He got sent to prison when he tried to break into the UC Davis Primate Center
to set the monkeys free.
Which character can you identify with?
I think the best character I can relate to is Rosemary. Rosemary is a very sweet girl
and is sensitive but also smart and she struggles to fit in with other people.
