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Read Other People's Children (2000)

Other People's Children (2000)

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Genre
Rating
3.65 of 5 Votes: 5
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ISBN
0552998702 (ISBN13: 9780552998703)
Language
English
Publisher
black swan

Other People's Children (2000) - Plot & Excerpts

"Other People's Children" by Joanna Trollope was a really good read, and probably one of the most honest books I've read in a while. During this novel, Ms. Trollope tackles and wrestles with an issue that seems to permeate throughout society, no matter where you are residing. She takes the issues of separation, divorce, stepparents and the children that are left behind to pick up the pieces, and molds them into a workable art from which her readers(s) can learn from.Ms. Trollope starts out with Josie, a woman who is getting married to another man who is not her son's father. She left him, and, instead of coping with a man she didn't really love for the sake of her son, she decides to deal with three children that were derived from a man she really loves. Another part to that story is the mother of these three children, Nadine. Eventually unable to care for her children, she has no choice but to let them go live with their father and stepmother, who they've fought tooth and nail every step of the way. At the same time, the father of the boy whose mother married another man finds the love of his life, but, because "his" daughter has an attachment to him that she just can't break loose, and he will not deal with, he ends up losing her. And, he's still dealing with his daughter and her attachment issues in the end.The well-known myth of having a stepmother is also brought to light in this novel. The stepmother, especially in fairytales, is made out to be the villain, the ugly witch, and the lesser parent. She's more often than not portrayed to be the evil one who is always trying to conquer the innocent; for example: Cinderella or Snow White. However, Josie and Elizabeth seem to break these myths by trying their best to make sure everyone gets along, and everyone carries their part."Other People's Children" was a real delight to read...it held my attention all throughout.I give it 4 stars.

Trollop has a gift for writing about the mundane and making it seem significant (which it is, really). This is a fascinating portrayal of the stepfamily dynamic--something I'm totally unfamiliar with. I grew up in a traditional family and I have no idea what it's like to have a blended family, to share parents, to try to bond with "siblings" that aren't really yours. The book also delves into mental illness, and a mother's destructive path. While she loves her children, she can't take care of them. She manipulates them, and stands in the way of what might be best for them. Meanwhile, the children's stepmother is finding their hostility nearly unbearable, and the tension drives her to a near-unforgivable act.It's a good book, really, but it didn't blow me away. It's solid, but doesn't offer any startling revelations. It's a beach read.

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

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