The imagery of the snowstorms and snowbanks
The narrator presents the appearance of the snowstorms through the direct comparison of their piled up nature to that of traffic. Also, the rising snowbanks are compared to new buildings. The writer’s employment of this comparative language enables the development of images:
“VARIOUS SNOWSTORMS PILED UP like traffic, snowbanks grinding into sidewalks and rising like new buildings.”
The taste of the broth
On Sundays, Santos makes menudo. The taste of the same is enhanced through the direct comparison of the broth to the taste of iron. The relatively uninteresting taste of the oily broth is thus enhanced. The narrator notes:
“Santos surreptitiously made menudo on Sunday mornings with the cast-off cow parts. The tripe was sweet and the broth was oily, it tasted like iron, oregano, and limes.”
The imagery of Jake’s eyes
“His eyes shimmered like water about to boil.”
This description enhances the reader’s comprehension of the appearance of Jake’s eyes, specifically, their shining appearance which is linked to that of water about to boil. The simile enhances the imagery developed in the reader’s subconscious.
Samantha’s inflexibility
The narrator presents the appearance of Samantha, particularly her posture through the employment of a simile. When the narrator says that she had a posture as if she had a steel rod running the length of her spine, the reader is able to not her apparent lack of flexibility and imposing stature: “And it wasn’t just that Samantha was taller and had posture like a steel rod ran the length of her spine.”
Simone’s shoulders
A simile is used to enhance the reader’s conception of the appearance of Simone’s shoulders, particularly how they bowed as if a stone had been hung around her neck. Through the enhanced sense of familiarity, imagery is enhanced: “Simone’s shoulders had bowed like a stone had been hung around her neck.”
