53 pages 1 hour read

Ali Smith

How to Be Both

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2014

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Part 1, Chapter 2Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “Camera (One)”

Part 1, Chapter 2 Summary

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death and gender discrimination. 

H gifts George a print of a vintage photo of two French film stars. At H’s suggestion, the girls sneak into the local multi-story carpark, where H pushes George around in an abandoned trolley. They get caught and scolded by a security guard, but H manages to talk him down, and they ride back home together on H’s bike. H bonds with Henry over silly word games, and that night George has the first restful sleep she’s had in a long time.

H visits again a short while later so that she and George can revise their schoolwork together. She joins George in Carol’s study. George introduces H to the magazine article that prompted her mother’s interest in Francesco del Cossa. Also in the study is a framed Subvert listing names of female art students, which George’s feminist mother put together after learning of the many systemic obstacles women face as aspiring artists. George tells H of her mother’s suspicions that she was being monitored by the government, and contrary to George’s expectations, H agrees that this is a real possibility. H then confesses that she has romantic feelings for George, and George freezes up, uncertain as to whether she returns the sentiment.

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By Ali Smith