Question #2: Romantic Entanglements

[Lauren]

- The book contains several romantic entanglements (including some love triangles). Which did you find the most realistic? Least believable? Was there a particular favorite?

[Carol]

My favorite was the Major and Mrs. Ali. I enjoyed how it developed, and the genuine friendship they had before any romance at all. My least favorite was his son Roger and Sandy. Though I came to like Sandy with a little bit of time, I never did much like Roger. He was not a genuine person, and appearance was of more importance than love to him.

[Julie]

I also liked the romance with the Major and Mrs. Ali. It was interesting to me that, like in Lost Summer, someone was presented with a choice to just "run away" from family and responsibilities to take a chance on love. And Mrs. Ali, unlike Louisa, actually did it! I was hoping she would, and it made me want to go to a rustic cabin by a lake.

[Ashley]

Least plausible was Mrs. Ali's nephew (I've already forgetten his name) and his love interest. It seemed so much more dramatic than neccessary--I preferred the understated nature of Mrs. Ali and the major. I did, however, think Roger's relationship with Sandy was quite realistic. Not great, but realistic. All sorts of people get together because it's "appropriate," or a good match from the outside looking in. I think Simonson expertly contrasts the hollowness of such a relationship with the Major's romance with Mrs. Ali--this relationship seeming, from the outside, totally wrong. And she shows that a "nice match" might be anything but.

[Meghan]

Nicely put Ashley...I agree completly.

[Lauren]

Ashley - hadn't thought of that and reading it, it makes a ton of sense.

Was I the only person surprised by Ms. Simonson's decision to "go there" with the abortion? It surprised me just because most books, films, etc. seem to always avoid having characters make that decision.

[Carol]

Lauren, I had forgotten about that. I finished the book a couple weeks ago, and forgot that important detail. I'm guessing that you mean the "decision" is made for them ultimately, rather than making it for themselves. The few books/films that I recall where this was an issue there is so much pressure from significant other, spouse, family, or even self imposed. Living with the decision is what makes it so hard. Glad I haven't had to make that one for myself.

[Alisha]

Julie- I like your point about Lost Summer. I wonder, if Louisa had been presented with the choice of running away with Joseph at a much later age if she would have done it? It seems Louisa was young enough to feel that she had too much to lose by running away for love. However, Mrs. Ali, being at a later stage in her life, may have a different perspective. She did, potentially have her whole family to lose for love, yet it seemed that she realized that sometimes, no matter what the consequence, love is the best choice.