From: Gibson, Robin <rgibson>
Date: Tue, 08 Aug 95 15:01:30 CST

I enjoyed reading these books and have enjoyed everyone's comments so
     far. Megan's thoughts about the books changing/challenging popular
     notions of witches and witchcraft were similar to a thought I had;
     _The Haunting_ seemed to dispell popular conceptions of what a
     stepmother is. I loved Claire-- didn't you want her to be your mother?
     It struck me as I read it what a wonderful, positive model for a
     stepmother she is --- they're not all mean and evil like Cinderella's!
     The mother in _The Changeover_ is also a wonderful (in her children's
     perceptions) mother. Kate can't afford the idealistic domestic life
     that Claire is able to provide, but she is very admirable (and a bit
     more realistic) and loving. Even the bit of Julia that we are
     presented with isn't too terrible (well, there's one terrible moment,
     but Laura moves past that and even seems to like her).
     
     I was also struck by the roles that the fathers play in these two
     books. Mr. Palmer is a bit removed and distant and the other, Stephen,
     is even worse--he doesn't seem to be involved at all in his children's
     lives since the divorce. (Laura says he doesn't really even know
     Jacko). What is Mahy trying to convey about parental roles in these
     books? What do you all think?
     
     Robin
     
     rgibson at ccmail.uwsa.edu
Received on Tue 08 Aug 1995 04:01:30 PM CDT