What do You think about Other People's Children (2000)?
'It's as if stepmothers have come to represent all the things we fear, most terribly, about motherhood gone wrong. We need mothers so badly, so deeply, that the idea of an unnatural mother is, literally, monstrous.' I had never heard of this book or its author when I picked it up off the lounge floor, caught in the throes of boredom last Sunday afternoon, and started reading. The characters were all introduced at once, so at first it was quite hard to keep track of who was who, especially with such complicated family connections, but the unfolding drama was compelling enough to draw me in and as the story progressed I became more involved and wanted to know what would happen to the characters, and if a book like this could possibly have a happy ending.The blurb indicates that the main character is Rufus, but although he is a significant character (and likeable because of his maturity) I found that the focus was more on Josie, the new stepmother, and Elizabeth, perhaps a stepmother-to-be. My favourite character and the real heroine of this story, I feel, was Becky (believe it or not!). I applauded the choices she made at almost every turn and I loved how she grew through things and changed for the better. I was annoyed when (view spoiler)[we didn't find out what happened to Becky when she ran away. If I was a parent, I would have to know. My daughter wouldn't get away with keeping it a secret, because secrets are ultimately destructive. (hide spoiler)]
—Fiona
This was a readable story about blended families. Although the writing led me forward, it really was not an uplifting novel. All about forming relationships and working through difficulties of step-parenting and step-childrening, although told from the perspective of the step mothers. One woman slogs away and finally begins to make progress with her husband's children. The other decides not to marry the father of the children. Hard decision, but good for her!
—Amy Cousineau
That is really a very good story! The title itself implements what the story is about. Broken families, children involved.It is hard to try and make children happy, especially daughters with attitudes. The character I dislike. She is 25, overly insecure, jealous and possessive over her father and brother, acting as if she is a wife. She broke the relationships between her brother and his wife to be because of her influence as well as her father's wife to be. It is so sad that both men realized the truth about Dale after the women they loved left them. Why couldn't they speak to her when the time was right.This is how it is in real life too. You cant of course neglect your children but show them how it will be and as a grown up this is your choice.Two different families, two different relationships, two women having difficulties of their own, but there is always a solution, to stay with the man you love or leave and move on.
—Desislava
