Reader's Ink discussion

What do you think about the quote (Truly thinking about Serena Jane) "She never understood that love-- especially that of a child-- was the most necessary weight you can endure in life, even if it hurts, even if it tugs bags under the skin of your eyes. Without it, the soul skitters to the edge of the world and teeters theres, confused." (332)

To me, the relationship between the two sisters was very unique to watch evolve. Many times I wanted to choke Serena by the neck and try to knock some sense into her so she could realize what a treasure she had in Truly. I was really pleased to see that the Town/Village came to understand her and her gifts and compassion as the book evolved. And, yes, as a child, is the most important of most of our lives. Serena's selfishness was inexcusible to me. The whole town supported her though, and even her own family members didn't give Truly the love that a child should have. Those of you that have children, can you imagine what it would be like to have all around you treat your loved one in such an unkind and vicious way. It was very hard on me. I liked Ashley's comment on having it "Oprahish" and having it open for that. I kind of kept hoping there would be a reunion. Was so grateful for the few friends that really loved her, Marcus and Amelia stand out the most to me.

I also thought the "love" she shared with Marcus was also very fun and wonderful to watch. I really was touched that they could look over their bumps in life, and find a true love that they could feel and show for each other.

One thing that I kept coming back to throughout the book is how very young all of these characters are. When Serena Jane gets married, she's 18 and Truly is 16. Serena Jane is 26 when she leaves Aberdeen and her husband. By the end of the book, the girls are in their late thirties. They're very, very young and faced with very big decisions.

As for Serena Jane, this is a girl who lost her mother at age two and then, for all intents and purposes, became the head of the house and the caretaker for her younger sister. She lost her father and went to live with a couple that loved her for her beauty - after all, they rejected her ugly sister, so what does that tell Serena Jane about how they care about her? Could they reject her if she's no longer pretty?

At 18, she's raped and ends up forced to give up all of her dreams to marry the man who raped her. Marriage, rather than being a union of love, becomes a (excuse the overused expression) prison.

At 26, she runs away from what I imagine to be a pretty horrible marriage. When she tries to make amends, she never hears anything.

In some ways, I found her the most sympathetic character of the book. We see Serena Jane entirely through Truly's eyes, and I'm not convinced Truly ever understood her sister.

I don't think it's a matter of Serena Jane not understanding love. After all, she loved her son enough to make sure Truly was there to watch over him. I do wonder about what she thinks about love, because, in some ways, she's never been loved for who she is. She's been loved for her beauty but not who she is as a person. Even with Truly, it's less about who Serena Jane is than who Serena Jane is to Truly. With Robert Morgan, she got a lesson in marriage being nothing about love and everything about possession and control. Robert would have no qualms about using Serena Jane's love for Bobbie against her.

I think it's a matter of Serena Jane understanding that love isn't always a wonderful thing. It can be used against a person, and it can't always hide some of the horrible realities of life.