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The Half-Life of Everything


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How do you think you would react if you were a friend of Kate, David or Jane? Would you accept the situation or be critical of it?

Created: 02/06/19

Replies: 13

Posted Feb. 06, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

How do you think you would react if you were a friend of Kate, David or Jane? Would you accept the situation or be critical of it?

Many of Kate, David, and Jane's friends, including Martha, Ian, Lucy, and Tom, are accepting of their situation, despite the fact that they may disapprove of it. How do you think you would react if you were one of their friends? Would you accept the situation or be critical of it?


Posted Feb. 17, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
rebeccar

Join Date: 03/13/12

Posts: 548

RE: How do you think you would react if you were a friend of Kate, David or Jane? Would you accept the situation or be critical of it?

I might have felt critical - or incredulous, especially if the wife had a back-to-normal recovery (however temporary it may be). However, ultimately, I would not have said anything critical to my friend since I believe that every person must make his or her own decisions about how to live life. I might have asked general questions such as whether or not the children were upset or does it ever seem awkward, etc.


Posted Feb. 17, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Nannygoat

Join Date: 01/16/19

Posts: 6

RE: How do you think you would react if you were a friend of Kate, David or Jane? Would you accept the situation or be critical of it?

I would hope to have enough compassion to understand the complexity of the situation. With an aging population, with the probability of more dementia on the horizon, my guess is that this situation will occur more often than not.


Posted Feb. 17, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Maggie

Join Date: 01/01/16

Posts: 434

RE: How do you think you would react if you were a friend of Kate, David or Jane? Would you accept the situation or be critical of it?

Even if I did not like the situation I believe it would be their business and I would want to be supportive to my friend. Friends support each other.


Posted Feb. 17, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
terriej

Join Date: 07/28/11

Posts: 422

RE: How do you think you would react if you were a friend of Kate, David or Jane? Would you accept the situation or be critical of it?

In my mind, I would be critical. On the outside, I would support my friends.


Posted Feb. 18, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
teachlz

Join Date: 07/28/16

Posts: 54

RE: How do you think you would react if you were a friend of Kate, David or Jane? Would you accept the situation or be critical of it?

I would mind my business, and go on as usual. I may have certain feelings, but I would keep them to myself.


Posted Feb. 18, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
rebeccak

Join Date: 05/26/12

Posts: 78

RE: How do you think you would react if you were a friend of Kate, David or Jane? Would you accept the situation or be critical of it?

I would have a difficult time not saying anything. As a friend of Kate's, I'd be concerned that she was getting hurt in this arrangement, even if it was her idea. As a friend of Jane's, I'd probably encourage her to step away from the situation because I can't imagine it would lead to anything but heartache for all three people involved. As a friend of David's, I'd likely think of the arrangement as selfish of him, despite everyone saying they're on board with it all.


Posted Feb. 23, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Missys

Join Date: 10/24/17

Posts: 46

RE: How do you think you would react if you were a friend of Kate, David or Jane? Would you accept the situation or be critical of it?

I would definitely not approve, but as a friend, I would try very hard to only give advice when asked. However, I definitely have objections. I just can't see this situation turning out good for anyone. I have tried to imagine their lives as laid out in the novel and as much as I try, I just can't envision anyone coming out unscathed. My gut feeling is that Jane will end up hurt the most. Ultimately, she has the most to lose as she is the "mistress" and, history has proven the "other woman" usually ends up alone in the love triangle. As a friend, I can only imagine how hard it would be for me to physically be around this arrangement. However, as a good friend (to either of them), I definitely would feel an obligation to remain true to the friendship.


Posted Feb. 23, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
lucyb

Join Date: 03/09/12

Posts: 29

RE: How do you think you would react if you were a friend of Kate, David or Jane? Would you accept the situation or be critical of it?

I would be critical, but then I would have to remember that it isn't my life that they are living. Before Kate received the medication that reversed her memory loss and David was considering divorce, my thought was that he married "in sickness and in health and until death do us part" I guess I am old-fashioned and unless I was in that situation I might think otherwise. But a threesome I don't understand.


Posted Feb. 24, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
sweeney

Join Date: 05/24/11

Posts: 185

RE: How do you think you would react if you were a friend of Kate, David or Jane? Would you accept the situation or be critical of it?

If I was a true friend, I would listen to them, and watch them together..and hopefully accept what they had chosen for themselves.


Posted Feb. 25, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
sandiev

Join Date: 02/25/19

Posts: 9

RE: How do you think you would react if you were a friend of Kate, David or Jane? Would you accept the situation or be critical of it?

I think I would be critical of the situation and doubt I would be able to keep my thoughts to myself. While I have no issue with David finding happiness with someone else when Kate was not expected to recover, once she was I think David's place was with Kate. That being said, life is rarely so tidy. What happened was no one's fault and David definitely took the high road when he first connected with Jane by telling his kids, her parents, etc. what was going on, once Kate was back in the picture, I feel that he and Jane should have called things off.


Posted Feb. 28, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Peggy H

Join Date: 06/13/11

Posts: 272

RE: How do you think you would react if you were a friend of Kate, David or Jane? Would you accept the situation or be critical of it?

I was surprised at what Kate suggested and even more so that Jane agreed. It did seem like a strange arrangement. The case of a threesome I mentioned before is weird as they live together although the first wife is not,miraculously cured. This makes it different. I wonder if Kate wants a new free life or if she fears returning to her illness.


Posted Mar. 02, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
janee

Join Date: 01/15/18

Posts: 14

RE: How do you think you would react if you were a friend of Kate, David or Jane? Would you accept the situation or be critical of it?

I think my first concern would be for the mental welfare of my friend. This fictional situation was so far fetched. I would probably voice my support and concern, if she was a true friend.


Posted Mar. 07, 2019 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kdowney25

Join Date: 01/25/16

Posts: 183

RE: How do you think you would react if you were a friend of Kate, David or Jane? Would you accept the situation or be critical of it?

The thing that really bothered me was the fact that David and Kate felt like they had to announce to their family and close friends the nature of their relationship with Jane, even when it was in its beginning stages. I don't get it. It's so personal and no one else's business. Maybe their sons needed to know because they had already met Jane and accepted her as part of David's life, but I don't really see why they told so many people. They didn't even know really how it was going to work out. As a friend, I would likely be skeptical that such a relationship could work out as they intended without someone getting hurt and feeling rejected, but would be supportive and accepting of my friend's decision. Realistically, I can't imagine any of my friends discussing something like this with anybody. It's so personal.


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