If anyone is tempted to think that Forest has rather overdone Ann’s fussiness, I’ll be pleased to disabuse them,
I think after what happened during the twins first train trip to Kingscote; the "shipwrecking" in TMATT; and the various incidents FL (Nicola and Peter's cliff rescue, Ginty going AWOL during the competition;) -- Ann's caution is more than justified. In fact Nicola bounding off the train in pursuit of Sprog (however necessary) just proves the point that her sisters really are prone to be involved in incidents.
I'd love to hear what you think of Miranda's disclosure of her feelings for Janice and her hostility to 'pashes'. I tend to read this as a sort of (very quiet) coming-out. For the novel's presumed target market it's a pretty subtle distinction between the sentimentality of the worshippers at the shrine of Eileen Benson and Joyce Craig and a more firmly established romantic/sexual orientation. {snip} I also love Miranda's irrepressible enjoyment of a row; making her a kind of anti-Ginty, I think.
Well I personally adore it, and frankly it's the openness with which AF details Miranda's infatuation that cemented my love of the series. I find it very true to my personal experience, so that probably played no small part. I'm someone who likes Rowan and Nick, but Miranda is the character who really engages me. It's interesting that you (accurately) describe her as the anti-Ginty, because I really don't like Ginty. (Although I am more sympathetic to her now that I've read TMATT and FL -- I was missing a lot of backstory!)
I've no doubt others more widely read can point me to other examples of same-sex romantic feelings in YA fiction, but this was the one I had as an adolescent. And it's the one that illustrated it in a way that I identified with. (I tried reading adult "lesbian" literature, and it just wasn't what I was looking for.)
Although I have to try very hard to care much about the netball bits of the books under normal circumstances, I really like the little episode in which Lois refashions the younger girls' joshing of Nicola as an anecdote about Nicola's big-headedness. Val's uncritical acceptance of Lois's manipulation neatly indicates her acceptance of authority and hierarchy, while Janice's scepticism displays independence.
Yes, the netball drags in general although there are great bits of character work that it reveals. But compared to the cricket of Cricket Term which I find wonderful, it's pretty woeful in comparison. (It was a stroke of genius to have the different forms play each other for the cricket comp -- so much more interesting to see the cast of characters we know up against each other, instead of a anonymous team from some other school!)
One thing I did want to mention here is that Janice's first appearance on page in person (I think that's correct isn't it? Or does she appear in Autumn Term?) is magnificent! After the buildup we've had from Miranda confessing to her crush one wonders what Janice will be like, and she doesn't disappoint:
"Lois, pleased by this uncritical acceptance of her story – from which Lawrie had practically disappeared, her lines having been taken over by Nicola – added some comparisons with other Marlows as she had known: particularly Rowan. One way and another, she was having a pretty good time, until she caught Janice Scott's eye – the cool, appraising eye of someone who knows a piece of fiction when she hears it and wonders just what's behind it. Lois flushed, and stumbled to a stop."
I just love the economy with which AF introduces the object of Miranda's admiration, and how quickly we get an idea that she is singular character. Not only is she immune to her form's groupthink, she's got this penetrating insight and curiosity. Basically I think Miranda chose a very worthy object to get crushed upon.
I'd personally love some fic about what Nick actually thinks about Miranda's crush. Does she recognise it for what it is, or does she just think it's a more dignified version of sleeping with kirbigrips?
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2014-08-29 10:59 am (UTC)I think after what happened during the twins first train trip to Kingscote; the "shipwrecking" in TMATT; and the various incidents FL (Nicola and Peter's cliff rescue, Ginty going AWOL during the competition;) -- Ann's caution is more than justified. In fact Nicola bounding off the train in pursuit of Sprog (however necessary) just proves the point that her sisters really are prone to be involved in incidents.
I'd love to hear what you think of Miranda's disclosure of her feelings for Janice and her hostility to 'pashes'. I tend to read this as a sort of (very quiet) coming-out. For the novel's presumed target market it's a pretty subtle distinction between the sentimentality of the worshippers at the shrine of Eileen Benson and Joyce Craig and a more firmly established romantic/sexual orientation. {snip} I also love Miranda's irrepressible enjoyment of a row; making her a kind of anti-Ginty, I think.
Well I personally adore it, and frankly it's the openness with which AF details Miranda's infatuation that cemented my love of the series. I find it very true to my personal experience, so that probably played no small part. I'm someone who likes Rowan and Nick, but Miranda is the character who really engages me. It's interesting that you (accurately) describe her as the anti-Ginty, because I really don't like Ginty. (Although I am more sympathetic to her now that I've read TMATT and FL -- I was missing a lot of backstory!)
I've no doubt others more widely read can point me to other examples of same-sex romantic feelings in YA fiction, but this was the one I had as an adolescent. And it's the one that illustrated it in a way that I identified with. (I tried reading adult "lesbian" literature, and it just wasn't what I was looking for.)
Although I have to try very hard to care much about the netball bits of the books under normal circumstances, I really like the little episode in which Lois refashions the younger girls' joshing of Nicola as an anecdote about Nicola's big-headedness. Val's uncritical acceptance of Lois's manipulation neatly indicates her acceptance of authority and hierarchy, while Janice's scepticism displays independence.
Yes, the netball drags in general although there are great bits of character work that it reveals. But compared to the cricket of Cricket Term which I find wonderful, it's pretty woeful in comparison. (It was a stroke of genius to have the different forms play each other for the cricket comp -- so much more interesting to see the cast of characters we know up against each other, instead of a anonymous team from some other school!)
One thing I did want to mention here is that Janice's first appearance on page in person (I think that's correct isn't it? Or does she appear in Autumn Term?) is magnificent! After the buildup we've had from Miranda confessing to her crush one wonders what Janice will be like, and she doesn't disappoint:
"Lois, pleased by this uncritical acceptance of her story – from which Lawrie had practically disappeared, her lines having been taken over by Nicola – added some comparisons with other Marlows as she had known: particularly Rowan. One way and another, she was having a pretty good time, until she caught Janice Scott's eye – the cool, appraising eye of someone who knows a piece of fiction when she hears it and wonders just what's behind it. Lois flushed, and stumbled to a stop."
I just love the economy with which AF introduces the object of Miranda's admiration, and how quickly we get an idea that she is singular character. Not only is she immune to her form's groupthink, she's got this penetrating insight and curiosity. Basically I think Miranda chose a very worthy object to get crushed upon.
I'd personally love some fic about what Nick actually thinks about Miranda's crush. Does she recognise it for what it is, or does she just think it's a more dignified version of sleeping with kirbigrips?