OnlineBookClub.org

Although Tasha is Billy's step sister, and they aren't related any other way, I still thought their sexual relationship to be offensive. What did you think?

It sounded offensive to me also. I do not understand how Carole and Hiram could approve of it. However, a lot of blame falls on Tasha who led Billy on.

Frankly, I don't see a problem. They were not raised as brother and sister and they are not biologically related. Their parents married and they share a house, which probably neither of them wanted to do. I don't see it as incestuous.

jenjayfromSA wrote: ↑11 Oct 2018, 06:19 Frankly, I don't see a problem. They were not raised as brother and sister and they are not biologically related. Their parents married and they share a house, which probably neither of them wanted to do. I don't see it as incestuous.

I suppose you're right. It just seems like a lot of moral degradation going on with these characters. It adds more complexity to the story and that is a good thing.

I still viewed it as incest, regardless of the fact they weren't biologically related. I think what really bothered me was Tasha pressuring him. It's very clear he's uncomfortable in the first scene and doesn't feel quite right about it. I definitely didn't think Hiram saying "don't get them pregnant" and not "don't have sex with your step-sisters" was right either. But then again, I disagreed with most of what Hiram says.

Kibetious wrote: ↑11 Oct 2018, 04:14 It sounded offensive to me also. I do not understand how Carole and Hiram could approve of it. However, a lot of blame falls on Tasha who led Billy on.

That sounds a lot like what Hiram said to Carole. You're relating to Hiram's point-of-view. I don't think Tasha tried to trap Billy. I just think that she was a horny teenager who had very loose morals especially with the type of parental figures she had to model after.

I had a problem with Tasha seducing Billie. If things had been reversed Billie could have been accused of any number of things, but because it was Tasha nothing happened. I didn't have a problem with the step-sister/brother thing because they were not related nor had they grown up together.

I wasn't "offended" by it. After all, they aren't biologically related. But I do think it's a bit inappropriate. They should have been relating to one another as brother and sister. But then, McDowell did not relate to Tasha as a father figure and wasn't exactly a model husband either, so the entire family dynamic was skewed to begin with.

I thought it was a little strange, but as someone stated above they were not raised as brother and sister. What I found more weird about it, was how the parents were so nonchalant about it. What I found offensive was how Hiram regarded Tasha after the incident and how he placed all the blame on her, rather than recognizing that the act took two parties, not only one.

Tasha and Billie really loved each other. They were not biologically related. A little weird at first, but in the end, when you see their love & that they made it together, one can see how it works.

Personally, I don't see why Billie was kept away from his son for so long. He obviously wanted to be part of the child's life and Tasha was prepared to have him. It was simply the parents. Hiram wanted Billie to be and have more. Full marks to Billie for deciding what would make him happy and going for it.

It made me sad that the book went this way, but not unexpected. Billie is portrayed to me as kind of dumb, and was seduced and let this happen. Hiram knowing it would was also weird.

I don't really see a problem with the relationship, it is not like Billie and Tasha grew up as brother and sister from childhood. They were introduced to each other, maybe when they were mature enough to know about relationships and besides they are not related in any way by blood. And from what I read the two never had that brotherly-sisterly bond they were two people forced to be brother and sister by circumstances.

Yes the sexual relationship between Billy and Tasha did offend me a lot.

It was not the best that could happen, but it was not incestuous. That they eventually found a happy life together makes the issue a non-issue.