Kitzyma
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Likes it here |
Registered: March 2012
Messages: 215
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I always enjoy reading Jolyon's gentle, beautiful, and almost understated writing style, and this story is no exception. For me, the contrast between that style and the dramatic events and deep emotions described emphasises the drama and emotions. The main characters are very unusual, at least in my experience, but the matter-of-fact style made me accept them as almost normal and enabled me to develop an empathy with Richard.
The main character accepts a degree of parental repression and control, not to mention a casual cruelty, that I could never imagine myself tolerating. The boy, Richard, has the sort of innocence that I cannot remember, even in my youngest self. He meets another boy who actually seems to be able to get some enjoyment out of a similar repressive parental situation. After that, Richard is no longer quite so innocent.
There are several twists and turns to the plot and the ending took me by surprise. However, after thinking about Richard's basic personality and about the things that he'd experienced, it was perhaps not so surprising after all.
I recommend this story, especially to those who like unusual characters and non-standard plots.
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