Larry Ott is portrayed is described as a hungry, even voracious reader, particularly of books by best-selling horror writer Stephen King
both an escape from a horrible childhood and an equally horrible adulthood and his only friend
seem to be some kind of social contact to the outer world since he is member of several book clubs suggests that he feels a certain feeling of belonging when he reads the same books as others
Guns
guns represent the attitudes of the different characters towards violence
pointed comment about how Silas never uses a gun
Larry‘s father lets him use one of his rifles
Carl‘s Rifle
most significant gun/rifle in the novel
when Carl gives Larry permission to borrow it, it represents a glimpse of affection and respect from his dad
his dad‘s violent reaction when he learns that Larry had loaned it out represents a betrayal / ending of even that glimpse
For Silas it represents friendship when he borrows it initially and later cleans it in time for Larry‘s return home
The Zombie Mask
throughout the novel, references to that horrific yet realistic full-head mask of a zombie
mask is a literal representation of identity being concealed
when the identity of the person who wore it during the attack on Larry in Chapter 1 is revealed, it becomes a catalyst for the revelation of truth
Snakes
Snakes of various types and in various circumstances make up and define the most consistent and most vividly deployed symbol or motif
tend to evoke death or deception of some kind or another
The Photograph of Alice and Larry
reveals a secret to Silas about his family (identity of his father)
one of several objects that give the book‘s thematic interest in the relationship between past and present an actual physical presence in the characters‘ lives
Larry‘s Mailbox
mailbox stationed on Larry‘s driveway can be seen as symbolizing Larry himself
constantly destroyed by random people
way the mailbox is abused / beaten up under various circumstances represents how Larry himself is / has been beaten up
his intention to strengthen and take care of that mailbox represents ways in which he is himself stronger and better taken care of
Alzheimer‘s Disease
disease of the memory: it eats away at a person‘s recollections, leaving him / her with no memory of themselves or of the people around them
existence of that disease in the novel can be seen as thematic interest in the relationship between past and present
the forgetting of the past can lead to either unhappiness and suffering (in Ina‘s case) or healing (in the case of Silas and Larry)
suggests that he feels a certain feeling of belonging when he reads the same books as others