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Lucrezia Posted 19 years ago
Vocabulary

what little

A woman is talking to her husband about their son whom they never really knew because he was always hiding his true nature.

"But then for the briefest of moments I appreciated what little access we ever had to what really went on in his head, since for a second his mask fell."

Could you please rephrase or explain the bold part?

Thanks!
  

Top answer

I was thankful for the opportunity we had, although it was for a very brief period of time, to understand what really went on in his head, since for a second his mask fell. (In other words, the boy was difficult to get to know very well and his parents had had only very short glimpses of his "real feelings and thoughts". The mom was grateful for the few chances she had had to see her son's "true self", although they were apparently very seldom.

— Becky In Poland

  • I was thankful for the opportunity we had, although it was for a very brief period of time, to understand what really went on in his head, since for a second his mask fell.
  • (In other words, the boy was difficult to get to know very well and his parents had had only very short glimpses of his "real feelings and thoughts".
  • The mom was grateful for the few chances she had had to see her son's "true self", although they were apparently very seldom.
  • Hope this helps.
  • Becky
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5 Answers
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I was thankful for the opportunity we had, although it was for a very brief period of time, to understand what really went on in his head, since for a second his mask fell.

(In other words, the boy was difficult to get to know very well and his parents had had only very short glimpses of his "real feelings and thoughts". The mom was grateful for the few chances she had had to see her son
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I find it ambiguous. It can also be interpreted that she was grateful she knew so little about him (because she didn't like what she saw, as it is later shown). But I am not sure.
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(because she didn't like what she saw, as it is later shown)

Lucrezia, how did you know that?

Becky
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Yes, I find it ambiguous as well, possibly because I suspect it's a quote from the Kevin book, and I know the mum's attitude!
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Yeah, Nona, you're right, it is from Kevin. Thankfully I have only thirty pages left to translate. What a nightmare that has been! Even though it is a great book.

For those who care to know, it is a novel "We need to talk about Kevin" by Lionel Shriver. A fascinating book, but sometimes hard to read because of the strange metaphors and unusual language usage.
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