Monsters of Men discussion

Did anyone else think that the book from Todd's mother was going to play a bigger role in the series? I was expecting the book to provide more answers about what happened to the women of Prentisstown. I thought perhaps that the mayor had manipulated what Todd was able to read and we would find out something more. I guess the book was significant because it saved him from Aaron in the first book and made Davy seem more like a friend later on, but was I the only one waiting for something to happen with this book that he carried around through three novels?!

I felt that way too. First, I thought that when the mayor was helping Todd read it, he was giving him false information, and maybe he'd torn out the actual end of the the book or something. (I trust nothing coming from that man.) Second, I was hoping that Viola would be reading the book to help wake him up a bit more. I'm sure she was, but I would've liked to hear more "mom" in Todd's thoughts there at the end of the book. (Then of course I'd like to have seen him actually wake up.) Third, I wanted the mother's journal to reveal some secret about the spackle or the noise or something...

Yeah I thought the book was going to play a bigger role too. I also thought that the mayor was lying about what he was reading to Todd. I also thought it had some secrets about Prentisstown like what the Spackle War was really like.

Not pertinent to this discussion but I really loved this series I still think about it and oh yes I do think that the book would hold some enlighten secret.

I recall being frustrated with how long it took before Todd accepted help reading it. I was starting to think its contents would never be revealed, like Kate Croy burning Milly Theale's letter in The Wings of the Dove

Mirkat wrote: "I recall being frustrated with how long it took before Todd accepted help reading it. I was starting to think its contents would never be revealed, like Kate Croy burning Milly Theale's letter in [..."

Same here. Given how desperate he was to know what it said, it seemed odd that he didn't just get Viola to read it cover to cover immediately. But maybe that's what an embarrassed 14 would do.

I also found it odd that he ended up getting it back. I assume Davy and the mayor read it. Perhaps that indicates that the parts the mayor helped him read were accurate. Perhaps he really was a good person when that was written.

Peter wrote: "Mirkat wrote: "I recall being frustrated with how long it took before Todd accepted help reading it. I was starting to think its contents would never be revealed, like Kate Croy burning Milly Theal..."

I don't think Davy read it. His Noise was far too uncontrolled, anyone could have easily read him. Todd would have known if he had.

You're probably right, but if he didn't read it, why not? You'd think he'd be curious, given he and his father were likely mentioned.

Peter wrote: "You're probably right, but if he didn't read it, why not? You'd think he'd be curious, given he and his father were likely mentioned."

I really don't know why Davy didn't read it, or give it to his dad to read. I think he really just didn't think it was his business. He wanted to use it as a way to manipulate Todd, really. And then when they became friends he gave it back.