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Phoebe asked this question about Conversations with Friends:
Did Nick have any compelling quality other than being handsome? Why did we keep hearing how funny Bobbi was, yet the book is devoid of humor? Did anyone else think Melissa got a really bum rap?
Ashley Shea I have a friend like Nick, and so I immediately feel sympathy for those who are just referred to as "nice" and for the many many references to Nick ha…moreI have a friend like Nick, and so I immediately feel sympathy for those who are just referred to as "nice" and for the many many references to Nick having no real personality and being powerless. Yes, it can be manipulative and yes, yelling at him feels like kicking a puppy, but I never fail to appreciate my friend's niceness when I need it most. This friend is a treasure to me because when I need him, when I need a sounding board, or a sympathetic ear, he's there and he's a fantastic listener, and he never judges me. There was one reference in the book to Nick listening to Melissa on the phone and reassuring her and Frances thought Nick felt very fulfilled just being there and listening. Some people, that's all they want in life, it gives them purpose.
As far as Melissa, I sadly see myself in her, in a way that highlighted all my negative qualities. I do not think she got a bum rap, I think the negative qualities she possessed got exactly the interpretation they deserved. That said, I think I felt she was the most real. We're not great people, when stuff gets hard, sometimes we take the easy way out (having affairs instead of dealing with her husband's depression), we're selfish. I actually thought the most frustrating character was Frances, who seemed hellbent on misinterpreting Nick's actions (like the time he wanted to stop having sex because she was bawling! And Frances was like "was it not good?" 'why doesn't he want to have sex with me anymore?!') I was mystified as to why she wanted to sabotage every relationship she had. Melissa on the other hand, she was a decent, normal human being that had the same obvious flaws as a lot of the rest of us. I'm very interested (and I know, this is quite an old post) in a discussion about her bum wrap - not being combative, I would love to talk about it.(less)
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Conversations with Friends
by Sally Rooney (Goodreads Author)
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