Do you like how Ron has had multiple relationships? Why or why not?

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I agree with this, but I don't think he went into those relationships to "bring out the best in him". I also understand that even in real life not everyone finds "the one" on one try , so I can not fault him for this. Ron's numerous relationships did not make me enjoy the book any less.

Bringing out Ron's best via the multiple rerelationships seema debatable. Yet it is the character that the author has given him, and every thing that character does matters to his character development

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I liked that the book had an aspect of romance. I think it made Ron more vulnerable and believable. Over 15 years, it was not that many women. He also respected his marriage vows, so the relationships were positive.
~ Valerie

Yes, the multiple relationships make the character more relatable. And his quality of being persistent is maintained throughout his marriage as well. So the multiple relationships have indeed brought out his character qualities, and the count is not too much for the given time, agreed

[Sushan Ekanayake]

In the story, Ron has one relationship after the other. On my part, it dampened my interest in the story. I don't think one needs multiple relationships in order to bring out the best in him. What do you guys think?

I agree with you. There is no need to include multiple relationships to prove the point. Other aspects of life or other incidents could have been used to depict his characteristics. But if there is any other reason that any one of you think I might've missed for his multiple relationships, I want to know that.

Yes, relationships are not the only way to bring a best out of a character. But here the author has used it to develop his character, Ron. And it seemingly doesn't do any harm for the reading experience since it is not a mere repetition of similar events, and the character gets mature through the time

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I can see that all of the relationship issues that Ron had were to add to the plot of the story. But in my estimation, it made the story more depressing - like Ron couldn't relate to himself without seeing himself only through the eyes of the women with whom he was involved.

Maybe that was not a fault of the women or the multiple relationships. That might have been how the author needed his character to be. So indeed the author has used those relationships to bring out Ron's character qualities

[Sushan Ekanayake]

Frankly, I dislike this type of man, especially when they are the main characters. I feel like Ron will just date whoever approaches him, without really caring why he should go out with them. And when they want to leave, he simply lets them go. I hardly feel the love in his relationships, so I think this aspect is unnecessary for the story. It only makes me lose interest in the book.

Maybe that is because of the way that he was raised, as an orphan. So he couldn't have possibly known what love is. And through his multiple relationships, he might have been searching for true love. And letting go part might have been his practice since his birth. That might have been the character that the author wanted to portray

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I don't think one needs multiple relationships in order to bring out the best in him. What do you guys think?

I second that. Well, according to me one needs to have more integrity when it comes to relationships. And sticking to one person can help bring out the best. I think sometimes getting in relationships one after the other only results into a confused personality, someone who cannot stick to one thing and may not know where their heart and happiness lies.

In other things, Ron could stick to one thing. That was portrayed as his quality of being persistent. But in relationships being persistent is not the only thing. You have to choose what is appropriate for you and that will bring the best out of you, and I believe that is similar in this case of Ron's character as well

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I don't think that the number of relationships that Ron had was necessarily a negative thing. It certainly did not change my opinion of his character one way or the other. Generally, having many relationships can be a positive thing because it teaches people how to deal with different personalities. I think each relationship he had, taught him about himself. I agree that Cheryl was very insightful.

Yes. People who we meet in our lives are the best teachers. And it is similar for Ron as well. He relates his character through the females that he associated with. That is a quality of his character that he achieved through multiple relationships and that has brought out his best

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I think so too! Relationships have to do with loyalty, longevity and growth. Jumping from one to the other only depicts two things, either there's a problem with all the others or you're the one with an issue. I think we do know the most probable scenario.

Ron is a troubled character from his childhood. So that is depicted in his relationships as well. Seemingly that has been the author's intention to portray Ron's character qualities via his relationships. And it was not the same reason always for his relationships to fall apart

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I think that the concepts of multiple relationships with women is to create interest in the story through some type of drama which would have worked years ago, but not now. I think that many readers especially women have an interest in a more complex story line and not one that is too predictable that you lose interest.

That is correct. Ron's multiple relationships does not elevate the overall quality of the book, but it does help to develop Ron's character. And it is not that much predictable since the relationships differ from one to another, and ultimately they have brought out the best of Ron

[Sushan Ekanayake]

Certainly! You don't need multiple relationships to bring out the best in you. It is even the other way around in my own view--it's best to avoid relationships when you're still trying to achieve something in life. Still, Ron's multiple love relationships didn't particularly dampen my enjoyment of the story.

It differs from person to person. Some achieve their goals alone when some do that with help of others. Ron had the ability to go either way. But his multiple relationships shaped his character and his future

[Sushan Ekanayake]

In the story, Ron has one relationship after the other. On my part, it dampened my interest in the story. I don't think one needs multiple relationships in order to bring out the best in him. What do you guys think?

I think the relationships were important because Ron learned something from each one and I think that in turn contributed to his final comprehension of Regina's work.

I agree with you. An orphan falling in live and living with that one woman for the whole life could have been unrealistic for a book. So the author has gradually brought the character forward through many relationships and shaped up the character to the level which is enough to be with Regina. It has brought the best out of him

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I liked the multiple relationships because each one was meaningful in its own way, and Ron was faithful in each one to my knowledge. I haven't finished the book yet but that's my impression so far.

ApApparently Ron needed love, what he longed from his childhood. So in various relationships he felt it in various ways. It helped to develop his character and bring the best out of him

[Sushan Ekanayake]

I think Ron's multiple relationships are meant to depict the reality of current romantic relationships. Moreover, he grew up as a foster child and didn't have good example to begin with. Having said that, I felt sorry for Ron because he never really experiences a deep emotional bond with his spouse and vice versa.

Maybe the author wanted to make Ron's character relatable. So he might have made his relationships more superficial. But for the book, that is how his character was developed

[Sushan Ekanayake]

The introduction of other relationships builds Ron's character and knowledge. I'm not sure that I needed as much detail about those relationships as I received. Sometimes I wondered just what it had to do with the main story.

They didn't have much to do with the main story directly. But the author had to develop Ron's character and he used the relationships to portray who Ron really is

[Sushan Ekanayake]

Having multiple relationships almost made me loose focus on the books storyline as I was trying to keep up with reading the book and still remember his relationships. Its stressing!!!

Maybe repeated use of details of his relationships have had this effect on few readers. But still I feel like that they were necessary to bring out the best out of Ron. On the other hand they were not mere repetitions and each relationship was unique