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For Today I Am a Boy


"A sharply written debut novel. A coming-of-age tale for our time."
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Were you surprised at the turns each character's life took? How do you think the adults in the book influenced each of the children's lives? Are there any small things that happened to you that impacted the direction of your own life?

Created: 05/27/15

Replies: 7

Posted May. 27, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

Were you surprised at the turns each character's life took? How do you think the adults in the book influenced each of the children's lives? Are there any small things that happened to you that impacted the direction of your own life?

Were you surprised at the turns each character's life took? Are there any small things that have happened to you that impacted the direction of your own life? How do you think the adults in the book influenced each of the children's lives? When you were younger, was there an older person who helped or influenced you?


Posted Jun. 01, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
reene

Join Date: 02/18/15

Posts: 497

RE: Were you surprised at the turns each character's life took? How do you think the adults in the book influenced each of the children's lives? Are there any small things that happened to you that impacted the direction of your own life?

I was not surprised by the turns the characters took in the book. They were still trying to find themselves and were young enough to have different opportunities to take or to leave behind. Each one left the home as soon as they could, seeking college or adventure. None of them was set on a determined path.
Looking back I would say so much of our early lives leaves a mark on us. Something as simple as an off handed comment can leave a lasting impression on a person.


Posted Jun. 01, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
deeh

Join Date: 03/03/12

Posts: 239

RE: Were you surprised at the turns each character's life took? How do you think the adults in the book influenced each of the children's lives? Are there any small things that happened to you that impacted the direction of your own life?

I was somewhat surprised by the direction Bonnie's life took. She seemed so adrift. None of the children seemed to me to receive the nurturing they needed to grow into meaningful lives. The home environment was repressive as the children were expected to fit into the roles that their father imagined for them. His lack of interest in how they felt seemed very cold to me. The mother was represented as almost a non-entity, she let the father guide and dominate his children.

My own family had no goal-oriented philosophy for females. I was expected to stay barefoot and pregnant and subservient to my husband. Needless to say, I disappointed them.


Posted Jun. 07, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
lindaj

Join Date: 03/18/14

Posts: 24

RE: Were you surprised at the turns each character's life took? How do you think the adults in the book influenced each of the children's lives? Are there any small things that happened to you that impacted the direction of your own life?

No, I wasn't surprised. Like I mentioned before, I was surprised that they all survived, which, I guess,speaks to their inner strength. I truthfully don't know where they got that, unless from their mother who managed to survive with that husband.


Posted Jun. 07, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kate

Join Date: 01/22/11

Posts: 95

RE: Were you surprised at the turns each character's life took? How do you think the adults in the book influenced each of the children's lives? Are there any small things that happened to you that impacted the direction of your own life?

I agree with Reene in that so much of what is said, or observed in a young child's life makes a huge impact. I had a wonderful childhood, with wonderful parents, but had a High School math teacher tell me I was hopeless in math. I hate math, avoid anything to do with math, and am terrible with numbers. I know it is in my power to turn this around, I just need to address the issue and move on with it.
I am always baffled when I read stories with parents that are so critical, unsupportive, and unloving. It is so sad to think of the many families where that is a reality.


Posted Jun. 08, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
marganna

Join Date: 10/14/11

Posts: 153

RE: Were you surprised at the turns each character's life took? How do you think the adults in the book influenced each of the children's lives? Are there any small things that happened to you that impacted the direction of your own life?

No; no surprises with the characters. Dysfunctional family - no role models, no parental guidance; teachers didn't do anything either. I don't recall a single person who helped any of these 4 children. Maybe the story would have been better if someone taught them, especially Peter, more about a decent life. He did not have any one to turn to - Ollie was a decent friend but the author let him drop off. No nurturing, no leadership, no compassionate understanding - I guess I was actually surprised when the 4 of them joined forces in another country. And did I read that correctly: "Father" was saying "go & be reborn" - such a lost opportunity to make this a much better story - dropping it in at the very last seems like a "cheat"


Posted Jun. 21, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kathleenb

Join Date: 09/14/12

Posts: 111

RE: Were you surprised at the turns each character's life took? How do you think the adults in the book influenced each of the children's lives? Are there any small things that happened to you that impacted the direction of your own life?

Having grown up in an incredibly dysfunctional family I know at least emotionally nobody in my family of 7 children survived without significant damage. As for adults in our life we had vicious nuns for teachers, no help at all. And surprisingly something I never understood with had aunts and uncles that had to know what was going on that did nothing for us.
So it is no surprise to me that Peter and his sisters were adrift in the world. They were given no direction, no support or comfort growing up. They left empty shells other than feeling bad about themselves. It didn't seem they had any adults in there life other than there parents. I don't think parent's had friends over and there were no relatives. Peter had some interaction with the crazy woman neighbor for a short while.


Posted Jun. 22, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
swchis39

Join Date: 09/26/12

Posts: 172

RE: Were you surprised at the turns each character's life took? How do you think the adults in the book influenced each of the children's lives? Are there any small things that happened to you that impacted the direction of your own life?

There was no surprise as to how the characters turned out. What a dysfunctional family! They wouldn't have survived average family strife. Add to it a gender problem and there was little way out for this family.


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