From: Cooper and Kathleen Linton <kaffeine>
Date: Sun, 10 Aug 97 10:26:55 PDT

I am a graduate (5th year) student in elementary education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Like Christine Bromann and Paula Ewens, I have enjoyed these discussions from a distance for some time--ever since a professor of mine introduced me to your circle. I find it interesting that such a dark book should be calling those of us who lurk out of our shadows to share our thoughts.

I particularly wanted to respond to Steven Engelfried, who commented on his feeling that Cormier's hand was ever-present throughout Eric's and Lori's tales. I, also, felt a manipulative presence as I read the book. While the plot was not forced, exactly, I found the author's presence mildly over?aring. But perhaps this is simply the result of Cormier's newspaper reporter habits adapting to a narrative veneer. Did it bother anyone else?

As long as I have emerged from the shadows, I'll venture one more observation. Lori struck me as innocent and crafty by turns, an interesting paradox, but a believeable one. In her innocent phases I felt sorry for her and ready to help, console, and nurture. In her crafty phases, however, and in her aiding and abetting of Eric's evil, I disliked/despised her. I am generally a compassionate person, but I shed no tears when she died, and I wonder if this is a part of Cormier's plan. After all, do we, as a society, typically mourn children like Lori once they have become allied or associated with evil?

Kathleen Linton graduate student University of Alabama at Birmingham kaffeine at uab.campus.mci.net
Received on Sun 10 Aug 1997 12:26:55 PM CDT