November book & discussion questions Present: Nat, Lesley, Denise, Gail, Joy, Doreen, Nola, Shari, Adele, Megan, Maureen, Pauline, Jan & Tosca
Image from: Longacre Press
Synopsis: Twelve-year-old Frankie Parsons has rather large, quirky family. Until now they've been the centre of his universe, but now Frankie's view of his world begins to change. There's a new arrival at school - a dreadlocked girl called Sydney who becomes perplexing & fascinating to him. She even starts to draw him away from his best friend, Gigs.
1. Where is the story set?
- Most of us: agreed the South Island - Dunedin in particular. A few thought perhaps Christchurch and a couple thought perhaps Wellington until a flight to the north island had been mentioned.
2. Comment on the title - is it appropriate?
Yes - taking into account Frankie's talks with his mum and that the story was set over the last 10 years.
3. How did the arrival of Sydney change Frankie and his relationship with Gigs and his ability to cope with his family?
Sydney was a special girl. Gigs was jealous - his idea of girls was that they were all about fashion and girly things but Sydney proved him wrong. She was almost a tomboy in some ways. Frankie & Sydney related to each other in a way that Frankie could not with other people. She was his outlet - he couldn't talk to anyone else. Sydney was a very optimistic person and Frankie was a worrier. The mother's behaviour was probably exaggerated because of Frankie's unusual sense of humour. Couldn't determine the nationality of the characters - not a major issue but was in the back of the mind sometimes.
4. Do you think Frankie's worrying was due to his being the youngest?
Everything was on him - 'he got the worry gene' was one of the comments from the book. A lot of his anxiety was down to his mother's condition and added to it was the fact that he was removed from his mother twice, once at 4 years and then again at 6 years of age.
5. Do you think Frankie's bird sketches in particular were his subconscious minds way of attempting to combat the crippling 'coping mechanism' of persistent list reciting? The birds giving flight to his constant worries for a while, till night time and the inescapable 'rodent voice'?
Yes. It was Frankie's way of getting out of his own head and his own worrying. And he was good at drawing. He made lists to keep the 'rodent voice' quiet. He was constantly worried he was going to become like his mother. His sense of humour saved him, otherwise he couldn't been quite a sad figure.
6. Did you get the feeling from Frankie that he, in some way, felt some guilt for his mum's condition? Even though we don't find out what caused the breakdowns, it appears that if he did feel guilt it would have been unfounded.
Yes. Intrinsically his mother's breakdowns go back to her parents being killed. Some children do believe that they are responsible for their parents' well-being, happiness & state of mind. He took on too much himself so in the end everyone let him take care of everything.
7. Frankie's relationship with his sister develops as the novel progresses. Why do we think she changed her attitude and way of speaking to him?
She started to realise two things: that Frankie was growing up, and how upset he was about his first love. When she finally listened to him he was able to tell her about Sydney's mother, and then a very powerful scene follows.
8. The Aunties obviously have a big influence on Frankie's upbringing. What do we think about them collectively and/or individually?
The Aunties are exceptionally close - proof of the statement that it takes a village to raise a child. They stepped in where Frankie's mum wasn't able to - attending lectures, baking etc.. The aunts were great characters - they had their own hobbies that were quite interesting. They symbolised stability, which was probably Sydney would have been quite curious about them. They looked after Frankie's mum in their own way, too, by dropping off shopping. Even if they weren't able to visit or stay every weekend they did help out. The family weren't a bad family - they weren't any more or less dysfunctional than any other family and they supported each other quite a lot. Sometimes it seemed like Frankie's mum wasn't always the most perceptive person but he always felt reassured after their talks. Frankie's being able to visit his aunts and feel comfortable with them at the end of the novel was quite cathartic - he might have had a breakdown otherwise.
9. Do you know anyone like Frankie? Is he a realistic creation? So lovable, kind, sensitive, creative and vulnerable. Can we believe it?
Yes. There's always one in every family. It's a personality quirk, not necessarily related to being the oldest or the youngest child. Is he a realistic creation? Yes. Absolutely. He was simply a rather sensitive child.
10. What time period do you think this story is set in and why?
In the present or at least in the last decade - there were mentions of computers and online shopping.
11. Did the ending satisfy you?
Yes - it was very realistic.
Rate the book out of 5 with 1 being terrible and 5 being excellent:
- 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4 and PASS, PASS, PASS (members who were not able to receive the book in time).
In previous months Natalie has prepared questions in advance for each bookclub meeting. This month around we tried something different - the group came up with their own questions as they were reading the novel.
Like Topsy our group has growed and growed. We had 14 members today with 3 absent - YAY US!
Please note: Our next meeting is Saturday 27th February 2010 here at Manurewa Library. Our next book is 'The tenth circle' by Jodi Picoult - Megan's suggestion. Nat will request copies for the group.
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