Chris Jones does a successful job in depicting Ebert's life in a very emotional and sensate way. Every word Jones chooses to describe Ebert makes the readers think and feel what he has been through. It exceeds understanding and brings upon true empathy among readers. Jones' way of description truly emphasizes the importance of memory, and thus tells us to count on each and every moment.
Ebert and Chaz remember the surgeries only by soundtracks but not recorded dates. Readers feel some sort of exotic originality from this, because it is something they have not been familiar to before. The couple disagree on the numbers of surgeries Ebert went through, but they do not argue over it because they do not consider it important in their lives. Instead, they consider other things essential: their emotions, senses and memories. They sit together reminiscing happiness and pleasurable moments, and description of such moments certainly draws readers into their story.
This part of their story was especially interesting because when I refuse to recall certain memories, I also restrain myself from listening to music related to the memory. Music always makes me think up of the moment so clearly that I feel scared and soon stop myself. Ebert and Chaz listening to the soundtracks, however, shows that they are not afraid of the sad memories but they are strong enough to hold themselves together even with strong image remaining. They just do not keep record of it because they do not wish to "dwell on" those memories, not because they are afraid. Such emotional strength certainly pulled me more into the story. Also, the beautiful rationality and concern of Ebert shown through him not using his voice when he is angry causes people to think over about themselves. Reflecting Ebert's life to our own lives, we can reconsider what is now "the single most important thing in [our lives]", and whether or not we are wasting the moments that we instead have to appreciate.
I like how you point out the significance of different details presented throughout the sstory. When you speak of how Ebert and Chaz listened to the soundtrack, you brought to light the observation that it could have been because they "Are not afraid of the sad memories but they are strong enough to hold themselves together....". Even though this observation was not specifically stated within the passage, you brought it to light and did well in shedding light on the connection.
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