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Florence Gordon


A wise and entertaining novel about a defiant 75-year-old woman determined to ...
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What do you think sparks the shift in Emily and Florence's relationship? Why, of all three of her family members, is Emily the one with whom Florence actually feels a connection?

Created: 08/26/15

Replies: 14

Posted Aug. 26, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

What do you think sparks the shift in Emily and Florence's relationship? Why, of all three of her family members, is Emily the one with whom Florence actually feels a connection?

What do you think sparks the shift in Emily and Florence's relationship? Why, of all three of her family members, is Emily the one with whom Florence actually feels a connection? What does Emily do that finally wins Florence's respect once and for all?


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

Join Date: 08/30/14

Posts: 265

RE: What do you think sparks the shift in Emily and Florence's relationship? Why, of all three of her family members, is Emily the one with whom Florence actually feels a connection?

Emily is less predictable and less boring than her parents. She is young and developing new ideas and while she is interested in Florence's work, she isn't worshipful of Florence and therefore appears more genuine in her responses.


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

Join Date: 05/31/11

Posts: 166

RE: What do you think sparks the shift in Emily and Florence's relationship? Why, of all three of her family members, is Emily the one with whom Florence actually feels a connection?

Early on Florence could not care less about Emily but as she gets to know her she begins to think she might be able to influence her granddaughter. Emily doesn't grovel and puts up an argument at times. This is intriguing to Florence. But she never shows any affection and no gratitude to Emily for her hard work on Florence's behalf. She may see a bit of herself in Emily. But Emily is a much better person.


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

Join Date: 08/19/15

Posts: 4

RE: What do you think sparks the shift in Emily and Florence's relationship? Why, of all three of her family members, is Emily the one with whom Florence actually feels a connection?

I agree with melanieb, I think Florence does find Emily genuine, respectful and interested in Florence's work without reverence. I would liked to have known more about Florence's relationship with Daniel through his childhood and early adult years. I never understood why Florence did not connect with her son.


Posted Aug. 31, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
tracyd

Join Date: 05/31/15

Posts: 30

RE: What do you think sparks the shift in Emily and Florence's relationship? Why, of all three of her family members, is Emily the one with whom Florence actually feels a connection?

I agree with melanieb, too. Emily treats Florence like a person. She is respectful, but she is not afraid to stand up for herself. She does not try to ingratiate herself to Florence, or appease Florence and that intrigues Florence. Nonetheless, Florence still can't show any affection.


Posted Sep. 01, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
dianaps

Join Date: 05/29/15

Posts: 460

RE: What do you think sparks the shift in Emily and Florence's relationship? Why, of all three of her family members, is Emily the one with whom Florence actually feels a connection?

Florence needed help with her research and Emily wanted to do it as a way to get to know her grandmother. I think, at times, Florence was impressed with Emily and the work she did for her but she just could not express it to Emily.


Posted Sep. 02, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
terriej

Join Date: 07/28/11

Posts: 422

RE: What do you think sparks the shift in Emily and Florence's relationship? Why, of all three of her family members, is Emily the one with whom Florence actually feels a connection?

Emily wasn't looking for grandmotherly feelings from Florence. She treated her as "an employer" to learn from her. Florence appreciated being able to pass her knowledge down to Emily.


Posted Sep. 02, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
melindah

Join Date: 12/25/12

Posts: 52

RE: What do you think sparks the shift in Emily and Florence's relationship? Why, of all three of her family members, is Emily the one with whom Florence actually feels a connection?

I think the spark happens pretty early, when Emily says "I'll fight with you." Emily, in the midst of reading Middlemarch, is arguing that books are a dying species. She and Florence argue the same way, they don't necessarily buy into their own argument, they like to play Devil's Advocate to get people passionate. Janine won't argue with Florence, so Emily steps up.


Posted Sep. 04, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
joyces

Join Date: 06/16/11

Posts: 410

RE: What do you think sparks the shift in Emily and Florence's relationship? Why, of all three of her family members, is Emily the one with whom Florence actually feels a connection?

I think Florence finally saw in one of her family someone who would take her guff and not react and in no way was Emily trying to impress her or please her but just have a chance to be around her and see what she was about. Emily's youth was in her favor as she was still open to looking at all sides of everything and do what she needed to do to spend time with her grandmother and get to know her a little. Modern day young people are rather hard to impress for the most part. They grew up in a time when they were allowed to think they are equal to everyone regardless of age. Not that they have no manners but they are not easy to intimidate.
I am speaking from a place where I have four grands in the 16 to 22 age group.


Posted Sep. 04, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
joyces

Join Date: 06/16/11

Posts: 410

RE: What do you think sparks the shift in Emily and Florence's relationship? Why, of all three of her family members, is Emily the one with whom Florence actually feels a connection?

I think Florence finally saw in one of her family someone who would take her guff and not react and in no way was Emily trying to impress her or please her but just have a chance to be around her and see what she was about. Emily's youth was in her favor as she was still open to looking at all sides of everything and do what she needed to do to spend time with her grandmother and get to know her a little. Modern day young people are rather hard to impress for the most part. They grew up in a time when they were allowed to think they are equal to everyone regardless of age. Not that they have no manners but they are not easy to intimidate.
I am speaking from a place where I have four grands in the 16 to 22 age group.


Posted Sep. 05, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Peggy H

Join Date: 06/13/11

Posts: 272

RE: What do you think sparks the shift in Emily and Florence's relationship? Why, of all three of her family members, is Emily the one with whom Florence actually feels a connection?

I think Florence sees herself in Emily- the fact that she is independent and is not afraid to stand up,to,Florence. I too wonder what caused her to be the woman she turned into- was it the era, her background, or her relationship with Saul, who was a real disappointment.


Posted Sep. 08, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
ruthiea

Join Date: 02/03/14

Posts: 271

RE: What do you think sparks the shift in Emily and Florence's relationship? Why, of all three of her family members, is Emily the one with whom Florence actually feels a connection?

I agree, Emily din't suck up to her, showed her at the onset that she wasn't afraid of Florence, and yet she was interested in her work. Emily was not totally formed and I think Florence saw something in Emily she felt she could guide and "nurture" and/pr mentor. She liked Emily's energy and the fight she saw in her.


Posted Sep. 10, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
JAKL1

Join Date: 12/06/12

Posts: 55

RE: What do you think sparks the shift in Emily and Florence's relationship? Why, of all three of her family members, is Emily the one with whom Florence actually feels a connection?

Usually in a family dynmatics, the grandparents and grandchildren get along better than the parents of the grandchildren, and the parents of the grandparents.


Posted Sep. 17, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
deeh

Join Date: 03/03/12

Posts: 239

RE: What do you think sparks the shift in Emily and Florence's relationship? Why, of all three of her family members, is Emily the one with whom Florence actually feels a connection?

I think Florence saw in Emily the possibility of an intellect that could challenge her own.


Posted Oct. 13, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
lindah

Join Date: 04/17/14

Posts: 90

RE: What do you think sparks the shift in Emily and Florence's relationship? Why, of all three of her family members, is Emily the one with whom Florence actually feels a connection?

I think Florence grudgingly saw Emily as an intelligent ally who could be helpful and you might respect her years of dedication to social activism. It's a shame Florence couldn't let people in more.


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