Mrs. Singleton is Colin’s mother. She is less focused on holding her son to lofty expectations than Mr. Singleton is, but she also sets an impossible goal post for Colin by referring to him constantly as “special.” She thinks she is paying him a compliment, but really she makes him feel as though he will never quite live up to how “special” she thinks he will become one day.
Mrs. Singleton / Colin’s Mother Quotes in An Abundance of Katherines
The An Abundance of Katherines quotes below are all either spoken by Mrs. Singleton / Colin’s Mother or refer to Mrs. Singleton / Colin’s Mother. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 2
Quotes
Prodigies can very quickly learn what other people have already figured out; geniuses discover that which no one has ever previously discovered. Prodigies learn; geniuses do. The vast majority of child prodigies don’t become adult geniuses. Colin was almost certain that he was among that unfortunate majority.
Related Characters:
Colin Singleton, Mrs. Singleton / Colin’s Mother, Mr. Singleton / Colin’s Father
Related Symbols:
“Eureka” Moments
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 3
Quotes
You’re a very special person. Colin would hear this a lot, and yet – somehow – he could never hear it enough.
Related Characters:
Colin Singleton, Mrs. Singleton / Colin’s Mother, Mr. Singleton / Colin’s Father
Related Symbols:
The Hole in Colin’s Gut
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
His single consolation was that one day, he would matter. He’d be famous. And none of them ever would. That’s why, his mom said, they made fun of him in the first place. “They’re just jealous,” she said. But Colin knew better. They weren’t jealous. He just wasn’t likable. Sometimes it’s that simple.
Related Characters:
Colin Singleton, Mrs. Singleton / Colin’s Mother
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire An Abundance of Katherines LitChart as a printable PDF.
Mrs. Singleton / Colin’s Mother Character Timeline in An Abundance of Katherines
The timeline below shows where the character Mrs. Singleton / Colin’s Mother appears in An Abundance of Katherines. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
...streets when he discovered the phenomenon of water displacement. At the time, Colin asked his mother if he would ever have a “Eureka” moment. She assured him he would. The narrator...
(full context)
Colin asks for a day before discussing plans. His mother tells him that of course he can have a day and reassures him that he...
(full context)
Chapter 3
...this psychologist’s office, Colin made his first anagram while he overheard the psychologist telling his mother that his quick information processing should be encouraged, but that it does not make him...
(full context)
Colin eventually enrolled in first grade at the school where his mother taught. He was only a year younger than the other students in his class. Colin’s...
(full context)
Chapter 5
From the Hardee’s parking lot at the exit, Colin calls his mother. He asks if “anyone” called, and his mom tells him sorry and that she’ll tell...
(full context)
Chapter 9
...years in Chicago, but his father cuts him off by handing the phone to Colin’s mother. At her prompting, Colin tells her he is marginally happier than when he left. She...
(full context)
Chapter 13
...you” or “I love you.” The moment was interrupted by a phone call from Colin’s mother, but “by then it was too late. In his mind, Katherine I was already becoming...
(full context)
