I just wanted to point out that Olivia was Wolfe's mother's middle name. I seem to recall that he mentioned in an interview that she played a large part in his love of reading as a child. Your suggestion that avocations are important to finding one's real humanity really resonated with me, and I wonder if Wolfe is sort of thanking his mother for her help. I can't help wondering if she ever read it, and what she might have thought.
If memory serves, Wolfe also said that Peace was the "most autobiographical" of his books.
Oh don't worry! You haven't given anything away! I'm glad to hear you're enjoying our podcast.
We avoided mentioning that Olivia was Wolfe's mother's middle name, but I do bring it up in a chapter 3 episode. We'll definitely address the comments about Peace being "autobiographical" in our final novel wrap-up episodes.
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