Wild Eyes

These chapters help Skylar and West to progress in their Journey Toward Self-Acceptance, and as their living arrangements force them to alter their routines, they begin to focus on The Pursuit of Happiness, pursuing a more serene lifestyle on their own terms. The more time that the two spend in each other’s company, the more they discover about themselves. For West, being in Skylar’s presence causes him to question what he wants from life. Ever since he and Mia divorced, West has “strive[d] to be [the] type of parent” who “always love[s] [his kids], no matter what” (113), but his feelings for Skylar complicate his views of parenting and his family arrangements. Although the kiss intensifies his attraction, it also makes him worry that his feelings will compel him to take advantage of Skylar’s vulnerability, and he has no wish to tarnish his approach to parenting. At the same time, being around Skylar augments West’s loneliness. He realizes that having her around alleviates his longing for companionship but fears that acting on his feelings will push her away and upset his kids. He is therefore caught between how he wants to present himself to others and what he authentically craves for himself. He has yet to fully accept who he is as a single father because he cannot bring himself to fully acknowledge his own emotional needs. 

Just as West must struggle with his growing attraction to Skylar, the country music star must also engage in deeper self-reflection in order to overcome her reticence and pursue her authentic desires. Throughout these chapters, her inner reflections are influenced by her observations of West in a range of new physical and social contexts, each of which nuances her regard for him. For example, when Skylar agrees to help West coach Emmy’s soccer game, she gets to see West playing the part of the supportive father and coach. Because Skylar is from “a world that’s so manufactured” (128), she is struck by West’s “carefree laugh” and genuine nature. While observing him during the game, she describes him as “brimming with life” (128) and compares him to “a magnet.” This figurative language captures her intense attraction to West, conveying the force of his personality. Skylar is not yet sure how she fits into West’s life and is wary of intruding upon his family, home, and business, but whenever she is with him, it is clear that she feels calm, centered, and seen.

Thus, these chapters highlight The Transformative Power of Love and Community as West begins to change Skylar. For example, when he throws her phone into the water, he is encouraging Skylar to disregard others’ negative opinions and live for herself. This action, while drastic, conveys West’s staunch belief that no one should be allowed to “make [Skylar] feel like an object” (149). Without the constant distractions from her phone, Skylar has the opportunity to focus on herself and no longer worries as much about the perceptions of others. However, her shifts in mood convey the fact that this transformation is an arduous process; like West, she is caught between the person others expect her to be and the person she hasn’t yet allowed herself to become, and West’s encouragement allows her to focus on embracing self-discovery in a safe space.

Notably, Silver’s vivid descriptions of the setting convey the importance of physical landscapes in contributing to Skylar’s Pursuit of Happiness and Journey Toward Self-Acceptance. As the narrative states, “There’s something magical about Rose Hill” that “stops [Skylar] in [her] tracks” and challenges her “to take in the view” and “soak in the lake and mountains” (117). The majestic serenity of this rural setting is symbolic of escape, refuge, and peace. These natural environs change how Skylar sees herself because she now has distance from her bustling, urban life and has gained the time to sit with “every uncomfortable thought that pops into [her] mind” (185). While this meditative state initially feels miserable to Skylar, it gradually teaches her that she has the internal resolve to acknowledge and confront her true feelings about a variety of complex topics. Letting herself “feel the pain” (185) of past injustices likewise inspires her to heal from these experiences, and she becomes more active, present, and centered as she becomes part of the community in Rose Hill. The environment itself therefore encourages her to slow down and address the existential nature of her unhappiness—an emotional experience that ushers her toward greater personal growth.

To this end, the scenes of Skylar and West spending time with friends capture the Transformative Power of Love and Community. Even as Skylar and West are falling in love with each other, they are also seeking out belonging, comfort, and home in a larger social context. The scenes at Rose Valley Alley specifically illustrate how spending time with close friends might put the individual’s personal challenges into perspective and offer her support through them. “This level of camaraderie” is so unfamiliar to Skylar that she feels “like [she’s] living in a sitcom” (207). For West, the bowling league is familiar but makes him realize how desperately he needs to be “surrounded by friends and family” (215) to ease his loneliness when his kids are away. Both West and Skylar are familiar with loneliness and alienation, and even though they come from contrasting backgrounds, they both crave love, community, and support. Spending time with mutual friends offers them the opportunity to connect in new ways and to acknowledge what they need to build a happier, more sustainable lifestyle.