Well, could be - an illicit affair perhaps goes with the 'artist' stereotype. However, I feel the opposite, really, in that I suspect the author felt that the best excuse for Natalie betraying a woman who'd been kind to her was to suggest that she really, really loved Bruce, with the kind of love that lasts a lifetime. I'm sure Natalie was in desperate need of a father figure, but could that possibly have lasted into maturity? As for convention, well, as others have pointed out, she missed out on what one might describe as a 'normal' life (marriage, kids) - and, if a mature person chooses to do that, that's fine. I suppose what bothers me most is that what we see of Bruce in the book is not particularly 'nice' - cold (except when he's hot, if you see what I mean), arrogant, condescending, manipulative and dishonest. I feel that the novel is a reasonably honest depiction of a young girl battling with a whole host of very real problems - and then the author goes and chucks all that away in an epilogue which has everyone living happily ever after.
Should the ending be different?
- Libs_Books
- Posts: 755
- Joined: 13 Feb 2018, 12:54
- Favorite Book: The year of the flood
- Currently Reading: Mason Dixon
- Bookshelf Size: 273
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-libs-books.html
- Latest Review: Dont Panic Its Organic by Dr. Andy Lopez
Re: Should the ending be different?
- daynacrist35
- Posts: 3
- Joined: 10 Apr 2018, 12:26
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 25
- melissy370
- Posts: 803
- Joined: 15 Nov 2017, 09:49
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 124
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-melissy370.html
- Latest Review: Home To Kentucky by Thomas A. McCoy
- Reading Device: B00IKPYKWG
- 6912dirtyfeet
- Posts: 30
- Joined: 21 Feb 2018, 03:59
- Currently Reading: The Sword Swallower and a Chico Kid
- Bookshelf Size: 19
- Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU
- FilmStar
- Posts: 184
- Joined: 14 Feb 2018, 08:35
- Currently Reading: Rich and Pretty
- Bookshelf Size: 24
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-filmstar.html
- Latest Review: My Author Is Dead by Michel Bruneau
- Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU
-
- Posts: 157
- Joined: 29 Dec 2017, 21:34
- Currently Reading: The Picketty Problem
- Bookshelf Size: 153
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-r-g-r.html
- Latest Review: Superhighway by Alex Fayman
Yes, I agree with you that Bruce is not particularly nice (to put it mildly)...let's add: betrayer, cheater, sleaze, almost paedophile, groomer of a teenage girl, self-centred, selfish,...a revolting man, definitely, yet it could be inferred/assumed that Natalie does not see him as abusive in comparison with her former stepfather. And why does she stay with Bruce? A very good question. Is it simply the sex? The first man to touch her and apparently make her feel 'special', wanted and desired? And as she grows up and matures, why doesn't she become tired of him and realise how gross he really is? I agree. The 'happily ever after' seems bizarre for many reasons.Libs_Books wrote: ↑14 Apr 2018, 04:51Well, could be - an illicit affair perhaps goes with the 'artist' stereotype. However, I feel the opposite, really, in that I suspect the author felt that the best excuse for Natalie betraying a woman who'd been kind to her was to suggest that she really, really loved Bruce, with the kind of love that lasts a lifetime. I'm sure Natalie was in desperate need of a father figure, but could that possibly have lasted into maturity? As for convention, well, as others have pointed out, she missed out on what one might describe as a 'normal' life (marriage, kids) - and, if a mature person chooses to do that, that's fine. I suppose what bothers me most is that what we see of Bruce in the book is not particularly 'nice' - cold (except when he's hot, if you see what I mean), arrogant, condescending, manipulative and dishonest. I feel that the novel is a reasonably honest depiction of a young girl battling with a whole host of very real problems - and then the author goes and chucks all that away in an epilogue which has everyone living happily ever after.
- Irene C
- Posts: 308
- Joined: 15 Jan 2018, 16:18
- Currently Reading: Outlander
- Bookshelf Size: 145
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-irene-c.html
- Latest Review: Apollo's Raven by Linnea Tanner
- Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU
Yes. I didn't think Natalie would escape her circumstances without that outcome. She was able to achieve her direct, defensive goals because of what happened to Alex.
- strawberrysab
- Posts: 322
- Joined: 10 Apr 2018, 06:09
- Currently Reading: The Keeper of Lost Things
- Bookshelf Size: 161
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-strawberrysab.html
- Latest Review: Maddy's Wings by Jan porter
As much as I didn't like the ending, this is absolutely true. It was realistic, and very often there is no happy ending in real life.becsimpson wrote: ↑12 Apr 2018, 15:20 I like the ending because it's not what people would necessarily WANT as an ending, but it's more realistic. Sadly, people do make those kinds of choices in real life. Not everything gets a happy or moralistic ending.
-
- Posts: 305
- Joined: 05 Feb 2018, 17:01
- Currently Reading: Pimp
- Bookshelf Size: 368
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-haute-coffee.html
- Latest Review: A Stone of Hope by Janet S. Kleinman
- Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU
- Elizabeth Pass
- Posts: 1014
- Joined: 26 Mar 2018, 08:14
- Favorite Book: Dealing with Dragons (Enchanted Forest Chronicles, #1)
- Currently Reading: Reign
- Bookshelf Size: 126
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-bb587.html
- Latest Review: COVIDinners by Katie M Zeigler
I strongly agree! Not that I really want to see a sequel to this but maybe if it meant some redemption for some of the characters. Bruce was her first "relationship," if you even want to call it that. I don't think she would have stayed with him so long after, especially never having had been with anyone else. Additionally, I don't think her mother or Mrs. Glover would have been so accepting of the situation.Libs_Books wrote: ↑10 Apr 2018, 11:33 Thanks for raising this topic, R-g-R.
I would have preferred the ending without the Epilogue. There would then have been room for a sequel and yet still a real sense of ending - Natalie and her family would be safe - but there would still have been room for curiosity about what might happen to the character next. I find the Epilogue disappointing and also not particularly credible as I find it hard to believe that she wouldn't have grown out of her teenage infatuation with the rather creepy and morally dubious Bruce. Most importantly, I'm rather saddened by the fact that ending makes me feel I can't recommend this book to teenage readers.
- hsincavage
- Posts: 2
- Joined: 03 Apr 2018, 17:10
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 0
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-hsincavage.html
- Latest Review: Ironbark Hill by Jennie Linnane
- Jmteachmom
- Posts: 176
- Joined: 21 Oct 2017, 10:44
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 33
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-jmteachmom.html
- Latest Review: One Way or Another by Mary J. Williams
I agree with your question about why Natalie would choose to have a long term hidden relationship. I actually did not expect her to continue this relationship after the death of Alex. This book was definitely thought provoking. Thank you for your comments!R-g-R wrote: ↑14 Apr 2018, 03:10I understand what you are saying. Initially, I was concerned about Rosemary and her thoughts/reactions. Once I read that she seemed relieved with the situation/outcome, then I decided I could more easily go along with what was written. It does raise questions, such as, why or how is Natalie happy to have such a long term hidden relationship, while being content to be seen as a virginal spinster by her students? Maybe the death of Alex brought such relief and peace that she could focus on the things important to her (family, students/teaching and her relationship) without needing to push for more...?Jmteachmom wrote: ↑11 Apr 2018, 17:33 I have to say I liked the epilogue. My thoughts about the choice to continue to be a lover to a married man is not a moral one but it was her choice. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely DO NOT agree with sleeping another's spouse but I feel like Natalie learned some hard lessons for a sixteen year old. These were lessons most teenagers today do not face. I feel the ending was something I would have expected from Natalie. She had lived a life of abuse, hardship, and let downs. Some people just don't know any other way or choose to make decisions about their future based on their past. It was refreshing to see that she became able to help her siblings and was willing to do that. To each their own thoughts.
-
- Posts: 31
- Joined: 26 Jan 2018, 19:47
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 15
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-human314.html
- Latest Review: Fish Wielder by J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison
- holsam_87
- Posts: 858
- Joined: 03 Feb 2018, 15:45
- Currently Reading: The Unbound Soul
- Bookshelf Size: 1691
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-holsam-87.html
- Latest Review: Herai by Aaron D Key
- Reading Device: B00IKPYKWG
“We’ve all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That’s who we really are.”
—J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
-
- Posts: 80
- Joined: 22 Apr 2018, 09:25
- Currently Reading: To stir a fae's passion
- Bookshelf Size: 37
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-alex-hughes.html
- Latest Review: Becoming the Dragon by Alex Sapegin