"He shook his head and said, "I couldn't help myself. So what's on the menu?" "Queens and Greenwich Village." "You mean Gren-ich Village?" That was my first disappointment of the expedition, because I thought it was pronounced phonetically, which would have been a fascinating clue (87)".
"'Did you know Thomas Schell?' 'No' [...] 'Do you know anything about the key?' [...] 'Goodbye,' the voice said. 'But I'm just trying to find out about this key. 'Goodbye.' 'But-' 'Goodbye.' Disappointment #2." (88)
^ Shortly after this, Oskar "started to cry in the lobby of an apartment building in Corona." (89-90) This really shows to me how hard of an impact this is really making on Oskar. He seems like such a mature, calm kid, but he really experiences the same emotions that we all do.
"Why are you sorry?" "I am sorry I don't know anything about the key." Disappointment #3 (97)".
"'I don't think it's (kissing Abby Black) such a good idea.' Disappointment #4 (99)".
"She made a weird face, like someone was hurting her, and said, 'Store-A-Lot.' I'd lost count of disappointments (107)".
"I handed her the envelope and said, 'Does this mean anything to you?' She looked at it for a while. 'I don't think so. Should it?' 'Only if it does,' I told her. 'It doesn't,' she told me. I didn't believer her" (91).
I find it interesting that Oskar "numbers" his disappointments. For example, when he says "disappointment #2"(pg.88)
"I'd lost count of the disappointments (107)".
--Oskar's search for the owner of the locks keeps coming to dead ends. Despite this, he will still persevere and go to the next person on the list asking them about the lock.
"It was an almost perfect day, except that Abe didn't know anything about the key or about Dad." This search for the key seems to be the main purpose of his life and he cannot rest or fully enjoy himself until this journey if fulfilled.
Oskar often feels disappointment when he is unable to accomplish certain tasks. For example, when Oskar is trying to discover information about his father and is unable to he shows great signs of sorrow. More specifically when he goes to multiple Black's houses and they weren't the people that he was looking for.
"I'd lost count of disappointments." (107)
I think this is a strong line in the book. It really emphasizes that disappointment that surrounds Oskar.
"But now I think I'm finished. I hope you understand. His hand was still open, waiting for my hand. I told him, I don't understand. I kicked his door and told him, you're breaking your promise. I pushed him and shouted, it isn't fair! I got on my tiptoes and put my mouth next to his ear and shouted **** you. No. I shook his hand." Pg (254)
Oskar starts counting all his disappointments in the book because they come frequently to him.
How does Oskar lose count of his disappointments after only 4, but he counted so many more lies?
The dissapointment theme in the story i believe is to help contradict himself in the way that he believes life is meaningless. I think he may believe the only reason to live is to handle or avoid dissapointment.
Oskar's life was full of dissappiontment. He himself admitted he had lost count of all the dissappointments. I wonder if the abrupt ending of this book somehow ties in with this?