Re: Least favourite among the books


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Posted by Jeremy Kriewaldt on September 01, 2005 at 00:04:33 from 202.138.212.58 user JeremyKriewaldt.

In Reply to: Re: Least favourite among the books posted by Colin on August 31, 2005 at 17:20:28:

I know what it is in SW that others, and presumably Colin, would describe as "priggishness " in John's attitude, particularly when dealing with Nancy. However, I think it is important to bear in mind that John had just had a quite significant educational experience in WD. His preparedness to be dominated psychologically by Nancy must have been substantially affected by that experience and the burgeoning sense of adulthood that came with it. John has moved from the "almost Duffer" of SA and the overly confident shipwrecker of SD to a leader confident of his ability to deal with any situation. There is, therefore, a necessary personality tension between Nancy and John in SW.

It is, I think, one of the weaknesses in the last four books that this issue is not explored in any detail. That is particularly so when Nancy herself has a "growing up" experience in PM. The exploration of their increasing responsibility might have been an interesting counterpoint to what otherwise is a somewhat one-dimensional story in GN.

However that is being disappointed about what might have been and, in any event, one of the things I have discovered over my almost 40 years of reading the 12 books is that my sense of the books that I enjoyed more and those that I enjoy least has changed quite dramatically. I used to have very little time for SW but now find it a much more subtle work than, for example, SA. I find the increasing psychological complexity of the characters increases my appreciation of the later books greater, even though I acknowledge that their narrative and plot are somewhat less exhilarating than the earlier books.


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