Fob and Nicola

[chazzbanner.livejournal.com]

Here's another 'I wish we'd find out' question

In Ready-Made Family it is said that it took many years for Nicola to repair her relationship with Fob, after the afternoon on the beach with the shipwreck.

I find myself wondering whether it was an event or events that helped this happen, or whether it was simply the passage of time.

(I find the Peter-centeredness of Fob's universe to be annoying, though I know some find the Nicola-centeredness of the books in general to be equally annoying!)

Comments

[coughingbear]

I imagined it was mainly the passage of time; presumably Fob got less annoying as she got older. And she is quite useful in Run Away Home, which may have helped. I rather enjoy her character, Peter-centredness included, though she might be rather an annoying child to have much to do with in real life!

[ankaret.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I need to re-read RMF now, because I'd completely forgotten that line, possibly due to being entirely taken up at the time with trying to work out how the hell one pronounced Fiorefrorefiddle, the fiend of the fell.

Hmmm, Nicola having many years to repair her relationship with Fob suggests that Karen and Edwin's marriage lasted; or at least that Fob and the Marlows kept in touch. I can quite see her announcing 'I'm going to see Peter' and stumping onto a train from whatever dull suburb Edwin was inhabiting with wife no. 3, and sitting in the corner of a compartment clutching her ticket in a stubby paw and glaring at all comers all the way to Westbridge Halt.

I think Peter's willingness to cut sailors for Fob and have his hand held and so on casts a rather nice light on his character; it makes me wonder how he'd have turned out if he came at the beginning of the family instead of practically the end.

[slemslempike.livejournal.com]

I assumed passage of time - although in RAH, Fob's the only one to help when Rose and Chas are too upset about their feelings of betrayal.

Although when I thought "passage of time" I thought more about Nicola getting over herself a bit than Fob getting less annoying, although both would be needed.

[anstruther.livejournal.com]

I assumed passage of time, and I've also always assumed Fob grows out of her Peter-centredness, she's only five(?) when she decides Peter is the bee's knees. In response to _, yes, Nicola does need to get over herself to some degree, but I have some sympathy with her because the situtation was so stressful.

[anstruther.livejournal.com]

Apologies to slemslempike for inadvertently calling her a [Bad username in LJ tag] above.