points of view

[emylno.livejournal.com]

Hello there! I'm still working my way through the marlow books, but one thing that I really like so far are the bits when the narrative switches from Nicola's point of view to one of the others in the family.

I find it fascinating to see the family ins-and-outs from the different perspectives, it seems to become so much more three-dimensional, and I only wish Antonia Forest did it more. I like Nick a lot, but I sometimes find her limiting, and often wish I knew the true dynamics and what was really going on at the 'top' of the family, between the boys, and between the 'middles' like Ginty and Ann.

Obviously I still have some reading to do, but I think so far (in the first 4 books) I've come across the p.o.v's of nicola (obviously) and Lawrie, Peter, Ginty, and a bit of Patrick and a Teensy bit of Karen, but still no Giles, Rowan, or Ann. So I'm just curious as to whether we ever get to see through their eyes too?
(I don't mind spoilers a bit, so no worries about that!)

Comments

[ankaret.livejournal.com]

A bit off-topic, sorry, but I think having two of her most sympathetic characters mind the move to Trennels is one of the things that shows AF for the nuanced writer she is - in a lesser writer's hands, it could so easily have been 'child's moral shortcomings are pointed up by her not liking the wholesome country, but she comes to change her mind / bravely takes on the farm and becomes a better person'.

It's an example of how AF never - or very seldom - lectures or lets her characters just become mouthpieces for her own views. Though I do think she was probably behind Patrick all the way on the Vatican II changes.

Again, sorry to hijack your thread!

I agree about Nicola's and Rowan's similarities. I wonder whether there are parallels between Nicola growing up with the less competent Lawrie and Rowan growing up with the less competent Karen?

[rosathome.livejournal.com]

I've always thought of Nicola/Lawrie's relationship as pretty much the same as Rowan/Karen's only with the twinnishness which seems to give Nicola more of a sense of having to accept Lawrie relatively uncritically. I can't quite imagine Nick reacting like Rowan did with Karen when she announced her engagement. Or at least she'd make a bit more effort to make up. Or be her bridesmaid. Or something.