James River Writers discussion

This message board thread is intended for anyone who hasn't finished reading The Year of the Gadfly, so please make every effort not to mention any spoilers in your comments. We have created a separate thread for those who have already finished reading the book.

Author Jennifer Miller will be taking part in a Twitter/Skype chat with James River Writers next month.

Did anyone else pick up on a Charlotte Perkins Gilman vibe (walking the line between sanity and madness) when Iris first walks into Lily's bedroom? All she needed was yellow wallpaper, as she was creeping around the room, right?

And on another note, wasn't it refreshing to have the slightly odd but brilliant high school teacher - challenging his students in a way they've never been challenged before - be a scientist? I mean I love English teachers, having been one myself, but between "To Sir With Love," "Dead Poets Society," "Dangerous Minds," "Freedom Writers," etc... I was very happy to see a different choice. I love the focus on extremist environments, too. What else is high school?

Yeah, I think I'm going to like the science teacher character. Kind of like the cool college professor you always wanted to have...

I'm having a hard time with Iris' language, though. Even for a child prodigy stereotype, it's difficult to buy into her believability. So far, at least.