Turtle in Paradise Happiness Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

Mama says she's lucky to have a job with Mrs. Budnick considering how tough times are. I don't know how lucky I am, though. (1.47)

Turtle might repeat what her mom has told her, but that doesn't mean she believes it. Sure her mom thinks they should be happy, but that doesn't automatically put smiles on their faces.

Quote #2

Mama's the worst. She's always going on about how Key West is paradise—it's beautiful, the weather's perfect, there's fruit dripping from trees. To hear her talk, you'd think the roads are paved with chocolate. (2.3)

Maybe Mama is the worst because she remembers life in Key West as happier than her life now. Turtle might not realize it, but her mom thinks about that time in her life very fondly, and that clouds how she describes the area to her daughter.

Quote #3

I bet she doesn't have to worry about being sent to a house that's tiny and dark and smells like sour milk. Daddy Warbucks probably has a nice big plump sofa for her to sit on, and a Persian rug for her to sink her toes into. Not a wicker couch that's got a broken leg propped up with a bunch of rags and a worn braided wool rug that looks like something bad got spilled on it. (3.2)

Comparing herself to Annie, Turtle comes to the conclusion that her life at Aunt Minnie's is not as good as the famous red haired singer's. We can't help but wonder whether she's just feeling sorry for herself, though. Is an orphan's life really so much happier than Aunt Minnie's?