The Collected Regrets of Clover

Lenses, specifically binoculars and cameras, represent Clover’s literal and metaphorical search for clarity, connection, and meaning in her life, as well as her distance from others. The binoculars are a gift from her grandfather, who taught her to observe life in search of patterns. Claudia sparks Clover’s interest in photography, owing to Claudia’s previous career as a photojournalist. Throughout the story, the lenses through which Clover observes life change alongside her mindset.

The binoculars are Clover’s window to the world, allowing her to observe her neighbors from the safe vantage point of her apartment. This voyeuristic act reflects her sense of isolation and detachment from the world around her. She watches her neighbors’ relationship in their intimate space, yearning for a connection she struggles to make. The binoculars become a tool for her to bridge the emotional gap between herself and others, offering her a glimpse into the intimate moments and shared experiences she craves. However, she learns that her vantage point offers a tidy, but incomplete, perspective of reality.

As Clover becomes closer to Claudia and begins to learn photography, the novel shows the gap between Clover and the people she observes closing as she learns to view life through a different lens: Rather than simply observing, Clover can frame, capture, and preserve moments and subjects, reflecting a renewed engagement with the world around her.