Reader's Group Questions

[Stephanie]

Is anyone interested in discussing the questions from the Reading Group Guide at the end of the novel? I particularly like #6, the question about Sydney's rule to only do the dishes once a day. We're asked to discuss how different members of the Edwards family respond to and treat Sydney.

[Librarian]

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Stephanie wrote:
Is anyone interested in discussing the questions from the Reading Group Guide at the end of the novel? I particularly like #6, the question about Sydney's rule to only do the dishes once a day. We're asked to discuss how different members of the Edwards family respond to and treat Sydney.

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I think Sydney makes this decision so that she does just enough to be helpful and so that the family will be clear on the idea that she was hired to tutor not to do housework.

How do other family members respond to Sydney-------my take on this

Mr. Edwards---thinks of Sydney as a sweet young woman that he can have fatherly chats with.

Mrs. Edwards----thinks of Sydney as necessary hired help but an intrusion that puts the lie to her false reality for Julie

Julie----thinks of Sydney as a teacher and a friend

Ben-----feels interested in Sydney and can't understand why she is "cool" toward him

Jeff----feels Sydney is the prize in a competition

Victoria------feels Sydney is a threat  and rival to her relationship with Jeff

Librarian

Message Edited by Librarian on 02-18-2008 03:48 PM

[Stephanie]

Excellent summation!  I didn't think about Vicki as a character much- she was stereotypical to the point of being part of the background. 

My feelings about Mr. Edwards treatment of Sydney were much the same, with this added:  I think he was grateful to Sydney for allowing Julie to be herself, first to discover and then to encourage her to flourish in her craft.  I think he might have been astonished to know that his daughter had inherited some artistic talent from him, and had he been a man to bring his work home, he might have discovered her talent for himself.