End of Term query

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I was named after Nicola Marlow, and very pleased I was too when I read the books at around 10-12. I always identified with Nicola because of our shared name and because she was what I wanted to be and wasn't--confident and competent at games--and was--a tomboy, but obsessed with the RAF instead of the Navy. :-)

This year I decided to read all the books I can lay my hands on, and I'm enchanted and very impressed by their quality, depth, and understanding of teenagers. I think I've sorted out ages and terms thanks to this great comm, but I have a question.

I've just finished 'End of Term', which I don't think I've read before. The only bit that doesn't make sense to me is why Nicola is chosen for the Shepherd Boy by Keith. She bases her casting decisions on character (and possibly looks and size) rather than ability, so why does she choose Nicola when Nicola, as far as she knows, has been so unreliable at turning up for netball practices she was excluded from the team? Lawrie on the other hand has done nothing to upset authority, and doesn't already have an important role. OK, I know it was for Plot Reasons, but is there an explanation I can accept? It's so illogical to pick the best soloist they have for the shepherd boy and not the best actor.

Comments

[richenda.livejournal.com]

That seems very likely - but I know three Nicolas who were named after fathers who had died in WW2 (Nicholases).
Why not Nichola, I wonder?)

[geebengrrl.livejournal.com]

I do know a Nichola - not sure if she's named after a father though

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I think I've come across a Nichola or two; it's pretty uncommon though. When I was in Italy, people assumed I was a guy from my name, and in Germany I was always Nicole. I still get that here; I blame Nicole Kidman. ;-) At least it's better than Nicky; I hate that, just as NM does. My preferred shortened form is Nico.

I've yet to meet a female Lawrence or Lawrie.

[prepneot.livejournal.com]

My baby daughter is named after Nicola Marlow. Although no-one I know has heard of the books. We almost gave her the middle name Lauren, and I only realised later that it would have been awfully close to Lawrie! We decided at the last minute to change the middle name. I also dislike Nicky as a nickname.

I'm slowly re-collecting copies of the books to give to my Nicola when she is older - my parents got rid of mine years ago :( and now I have to chase them on ebay.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

My baby daughter is named after Nicola Marlow.

Yay, another one! I do wonder whether AF made the name popular because I don't think it was at all common before her books came out.

Books cost so much here I tend to borrow from the library unless I know I want to reread a book. I've been acquiring the Swallows and Amazons ones as paperbacks because they've been reprinted recently, so I hope the Marlow ones will be too.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I've come across one or two. At school (boarding at that) I objected to that misspelling and got called Nich by one friend. :-P