Not Logged in.
Book Jacket

Morningside Heights


A tender and big-hearted novel about love in the face of loss, from the award-...
More about this book
Author Biography

What did you think about Ginny's role in the household? Why do you believe she was willing to stick with the couple for so many years?

Created: 09/23/21

Replies: 16

Posted Sep. 23, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

What did you think about Ginny's role in the household? Why do you believe she was willing to stick with the couple for so many years?

Pru hires Ginny to help with Spence's care. What did you think about Ginny's role in the household? Why do you believe she was willing to stick with the couple for so many years?


Posted Sep. 23, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Marcia S

Join Date: 02/08/16

Posts: 505

RE: What did you think about Ginny'...

Ginny became vested in Spence's care. I think she genuinely cared about him as a person. She and Pru had a friendship of sorts. Pru was very dependent on Ginny to keep Spence and the household functioning. I believe that was Ginny's role.
Ginny also provided an "out" for Pru— to not have the total burden of Spence's care herself.


Posted Sep. 23, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
gerrieb

Join Date: 09/03/19

Posts: 208

RE: What did you think about Ginny'...

I agree Ginny became invested in Spence and developed a relationship with Pru. I also think Ginny wanted her son, Rafe, to see the world Spence lived. The college educated, prosperous life that hard work brought him. Ginny and Pru have a type of symbiotic relationship. Ginny benefits from all Pru has to offer. Her “ cast offs”, her lifestyle and a relationship that is more than employee employer but not quite friendship. In fact Ginny seems to struggle with this relationship at times as does Pru. When Pru jokes about adopting Rafe, Ginny is deeply offended. Ginny doesn’t want Pru inside her home. There are limits in that relationship on both sides. Yet, Ginny plays a stoic and vital role in the all encompassing effort of caring for Spence. That devotion and skill gives her leeway and a very valued position in the family. She feels free to countermand Sarah in aspects of Spence’s care. While I believe Ginny cared about Spence and Pru to a point, I also believe Ginny was a realist and well aware that her time with the family had an endpoint and that endpoint was more to be determined by her needs and circumstances than by Pru’s.


Posted Sep. 23, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Maggie

Join Date: 01/01/16

Posts: 434

RE: What did you think about Ginny'...

I agree that Ginny really did care for Spence as a person and I believe she thought of both Pru and Spence as sort of a family. Also as a single mother raising her son it was an ongoing position with excellent pay.


Posted Sep. 24, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
paulak

Join Date: 04/21/11

Posts: 264

RE: What did you think about Ginny'...

I loved this character! Like many others who support families, either as health caregivers or child caregivers, they frequently become chosen members of the family. I witnessed this with one of the important people in my brother's life: a woman who cared for his five children. She and her family are considered extended family members. Sometimes, people in these roles see a much more intimate side than even our own family members. Ginny was changing Spence's diaper for goodness sake!


Posted Sep. 24, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
barbettet

Join Date: 10/01/20

Posts: 25

RE: What did you think about Ginny'...

I think that the relationship was more complex than either employer-employee or friendship. For Pru, being able to continue to "live" is dependent on the care that Ginny provides Spence and both of them know this, which gives Ginny some standing beyond just employee. Ginny is kind and devoted and caring-but there is a line where for her this is a job-- which we see when Pru mentions adopting Rafe. It was great to meet a character as unselfish and caring as Ginny.


Posted Sep. 24, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
laurap

Join Date: 06/19/12

Posts: 407

RE: What did you think about Ginny'...

The relationship between Ginny and Pru can best be described as symbiotic. Pru provided a stable, well-paying job plus occasional donations of goods she no longer needed herself and access to a life-style model for Rafe; Ginny provided Pru with access to occasional freedom and kind and patient support for Spence's more difficult moments. They were not exactly friends, but the intimacy of their dealings made them more than employer and employee. Ginny seemed to feel genuine affection for both Pru and Spence, but she also had a sense that she was in control of the relationship and how long it would last.


Posted Sep. 26, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
peggyt

Join Date: 08/10/17

Posts: 215

RE: What did you think about Ginny'...

Ginny became like a member of the family to a degree. At least much more than any of the other caregivers. So that is why I think she stuck with them. Plus from a practical standpoint it was a steady job with a good employer. Besides, I think she cared about Spence.


Posted Sep. 26, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kdowney25

Join Date: 01/25/16

Posts: 183

RE: What did you think about Ginny'...

I loved Ginny! She was respectful of Spence, even through his decline, and did whatever was needed. Ginny became a part of that family and Pru relied on Ginny to help her get through the days more than anyone else. Pru and Spence also became important to Ginny and Rafe as well, in ways other than the financial. Spence provided a role model and exposure to education for Rafe and represented possibilities for the future. These two families were important to one another, and relied upon and supported one another.


Posted Sep. 27, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
sheilaa

Join Date: 02/07/20

Posts: 6

RE: What did you think about Ginny'...

I agree with GerrieB. Ginny cared for Spence and Pru. She was like a part of the family and yet apart. Ginny wanted to show Rafe what he could become if he applied himself in school. And yet ultimately when it was time, she could let go.


Posted Sep. 28, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
juliep

Join Date: 04/07/12

Posts: 250

RE: What did you think about Ginny'...

Pru was very fortunate to find a caregiver like Ginny - responsible, caring, who seemed to respect Spence and who he was, even though that was changing day by day. I wonder if they became more friendly after Spence’s death? I suspect she would move back to NY to be closer to her son, so a relationship with Pru would have been possible. I think she stayed for the steady job, increasing income since Pro kept raising her salary, and the intellectual atmosphere it provided for Rafe.


Posted Sep. 28, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
shirleyf

Join Date: 04/25/11

Posts: 63

RE: What did you think about Ginny'...

I think that Ginny was a special person who became integral to the household. I think that she an Pru sincerely liked each other and that Ginny recognized that they both needed each other. Ginny for the steady income, flexibility with Rafe, and the gratification for aa job well done. Pru didn't seem to have many contact outside of Camille and I think that Ginny understood the difficulty that Pru had with dealing with Spence. Ginny provided a support for Pru that very few others could have because she was a caretaker - who became a friend.


Posted Oct. 01, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
lorrained

Join Date: 12/04/20

Posts: 137

RE: What did you think about Ginny'...

Ginny developed a liking for Spence, was comfortable with Pru, appreciated Pru's interest and impact on her son, as well as the opportunity for him to see how the other side lives and to motivate him. They served each other well.


Posted Oct. 01, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
djcminor

Join Date: 03/14/19

Posts: 208

RE: What did you think about Ginny'...

Ginny and her son Rafe both become vital parts of the household. Pru could not have manged Spence alone. Ginny comes to care about the whole family, particularly Spence. She spends enough time with him to understand his needs better than Pru does many times.


Posted Oct. 02, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
scottishrose

Join Date: 07/24/11

Posts: 220

RE: What did you think about Ginny'...

I think that it was in Ginny's nature as a caregiver to have a special relationship with the person she was caring for. She was the one who learned Spence's needs and habits. Ginny was competent enough to get a job elsewhere, but even when her former employer offered to drive Ginny to her home every day, Ginny turned her down. Spence became a part of her.


Posted Oct. 07, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
audrey1

Join Date: 09/02/13

Posts: 43

RE: What did you think about Ginny'...

She was just a decent person and felt it was her duty to not just walk away. She was a tremendous role model for her son


Posted Oct. 12, 2021 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
dianes

Join Date: 05/16/11

Posts: 68

RE: What did you think about Ginny'...

My favorite character and I agree that she was integral to this household. I think too, she liked to be needed, accepted and that she did care about Stu.


Reply

Please login to post a response.