From: Nina Lindsay <nlindsay>
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 1996 08:18:00 -600

In response to Anne's recent comments: I, like Anne, wanted to know more about Ellen. She did seem to be somewhat silent, somewhat of an enabler, "on eggshells" as Anne said. I think that that's the key to her characterization in the book -- that she's on eggshells when it comes to the conflict between the two people she loves most in the world -- Fanny and Henry. I felt like she understood each of them in the way they couldn't understand each other, but she knew that to play referee any more than she did might only make things worse. Every time I think of her I feel the tension in her character -watching these two loved ones fighting it out, and not being able to interfere -- they needed to come to an understanding of each other themselves, not have one forced on them by her.

We do see the little bit of explaining Ellen does of Henry to Fanny. The talks she has with Henry go on behind the scenes -- thus we are left wondering about their relationship. But the success of the book lies in Fanny's perspective, and it is completely true to her perspective to leave this part of the story out of the story. In the end, I think the wish I have to know Ellen more, and the empathy I feel for her struggle atttest to the power of the book, and again, Henkes skill in crafting living characters.

Nina Lindsay Student University of Wisconsin, Madison School of Library and Information Studies nlindsay at mail.soenmadison.wisc.edu
Received on Thu 25 Jan 1996 08:18:00 AM CST