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Did you find yourself taking sides?

Created: 07/22/15

Replies: 12

Posted Jul. 22, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

Did you find yourself taking sides?

During their time on the coast, Marc and Ralph's friendship is put to the test. Did you find yourself taking sides?


Posted Jul. 26, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
robinn

Join Date: 12/06/14

Posts: 28

RE: Did you find yourself taking sides?

If anything I sided with Julia and felt sorry that she had such clueless parents and the fact that they took her to the summer house for their own motives. I never sided with any other character. Hard to like any of the others.


Posted Jul. 27, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
janeh

Join Date: 06/15/11

Posts: 222

RE: Did you find yourself taking sides?

Most definitely! The author's presentation of the facts didn't leave much room to find sympathy for Marc.


Posted Jul. 27, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
joanp

Join Date: 06/13/11

Posts: 102

RE: Did you find yourself taking sides?

Marc is definitely the worst one but I kept changing my mind about the other characters. I believed in Julia's innocence and was surprised to find her secrets. I had no trouble disliking Ralph from the start and I was put off by Stanley and his interest in young girls. Koch artfully led me to believe in the guilt of first one and then another. Aside from being an observer I questioned Vera's place in the scheme of things. There were enough villains to keep things interesting.


Posted Jul. 28, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
joyces

Join Date: 06/16/11

Posts: 410

RE: Did you find yourself taking sides?

I could not take anyone's side except Julia. They rest were all pretty despicable.


Posted Jul. 29, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Suzanne

Join Date: 04/21/11

Posts: 281

RE: Did you find yourself taking sides?

I didn't—Marc and Ralph seemed to have the same repulsive personality, so there was no side for me to take. Each displayed disdain each time they were featured in the story.


Posted Jul. 29, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
donnac's Gravatar
donnac

Join Date: 03/26/14

Posts: 139

RE: Did you find yourself taking sides?

Hard to take sides when all characters are so flawed. I go along with the general consensus that sides with Julia.


Posted Jul. 29, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
barbluvstennis

Join Date: 07/16/11

Posts: 22

RE: Did you find yourself taking sides?

I did find myself taking sides….more philosophical in nature…I suppose we all want to think we were good parents, and I found that I was once again, on the side, of the over-protective parent rather than the parent who lets the child find their own way, trying to foster independence.. In my humble opinion, many American parents are afraid that indulgence or protectiveness of any kind fosters dependence which to many is a dirty word…How often have we heard "This baby is not going to change my lifestyle" or "Johnny will just have to fail to learn a lesson" ..Children yearn for guidance and parental suggestions and advice! A good parent will make it clear to their offspring, that no matter the issue or challenge, they should feel the most comfortable confiding in their parents…How sad that Julia could never completely convey her feelings to either parent…Why? Was she afraid of upsetting the apple cart or did Julia have a complete lack of respect for both mother and father…Probably both…


Posted Jul. 30, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
rebajane

Join Date: 04/21/11

Posts: 320

RE: Did you find yourself taking sides?

I found most of the characters in this book incredibly disagreeable. The men, especially, were incorrigible. I felt sorry for Carolyn so I found myself siding more with her but the children were all victims here. Just terrible parenting


Posted Aug. 04, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
rosemaryk

Join Date: 08/29/11

Posts: 61

RE: Did you find yourself taking sides?

I suppose I took sides against every character. Koch created quite a cast of monster-types.


Posted Aug. 05, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
celiaarnaud

Join Date: 04/18/12

Posts: 73

RE: Did you find yourself taking sides?

I agree with rebajane. I felt sorry for Caroline. To the extent there were any likable adult characters, she was the one. Between Marc and Ralph, the narration was coming from Marc's perspective. That has some influence on whose side you take. I found them both repulsive. But I certainly didn't think that Ralph deserved to die over it.


Posted Aug. 06, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Sharlene

Join Date: 04/10/13

Posts: 78

RE: Did you find yourself taking sides?

Barb, I agree with you, Children are definitely looking for and need guidance. I may be at odds with others here, but in this day and age, I would not be quite so trusting of my children around others that I do not know well, especially with some of the character traits of Ralph and Stanley. My children would not be left alone anywhere near them and I'd have left the place early on. In fact, Marc's decision to leave the campground to stay at the summer house was for his own selfish ends. His decision to stay at the campground initially was in the hope of encountering Ralph and Judith.


Posted Aug. 30, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
roberts

Join Date: 08/20/13

Posts: 31

RE: Did you find yourself taking sides?

As between Marc and Ralph, I did not take sides. Both characters were terribly flawed and deserved each other. Marc, however, was much more dangerous. Ralph was so transparent, so "in your face" with his narcissistic and lecherous behavior. In contrast, Marc smartly hid his similar predilections behind a veil of civility, professionalism and even feigned compassion. Very sinister.


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