Re: My Real Children

----- Original Message -----
> From: Katrina Knight <kknight@fastmail.fm>

>
> Yes, I read it when it first came out in the US. I rarely
> pre-order books, but that was one I did pre-order. I won't say
> Ioved it, because that doesn't seem the right description for a
> book that was so sad. Jo Walton's writing is amazing.

True, it is very sad. It pulled at my heartstrings and made me think a lot of my mother, which in itself made me cry.

I'm almost afriad to say much more. Let's see -- here's some old-fashioned spoiler space...

*****

spoiler space****

more space ***

*****

Is it safe yet? :)

Because my mother had dementia due to strokes, this book hit a lot of my buttons and made me cry. Damn, it made me think. Some of the thinking was selfish: I'm growing older. How long will it be before I can't take care of myself? What will happen to me? What will happen to Ian?

And another part of me thought more of the choices we make, and how, no matter what decision Patricia made, she wound up in the same place.  Was it fate or was it a coincidence? 

Which world would we prefer? Pat's world that cured AIDs but had so many nuclear attacks and was filled with intolerance, yet Pat was so happy with Bee and their children? Trish's world that became almost entirely socialist and celebrated peace, but her marriage was a complete disaster and it took years for her to find any happiness?

Ellen