Jodi's Reviews > Clear

A lovely and evocative review Jodi, thank you!

Terrific review , Jodi. As always , you raise some thought provoking questions .

Alan wrote: "A lovely and evocative review Jodi, thank you!"

Thank you, Alan! I always appreciate your comments!🙏

Angela M wrote: "Terrific review , Jodi. As always , you raise some thought provoking questions ."

Thanks so much, Angela!🌷

I think that’s what had me hesitate too with the rating, Jodi. I’m assuming 3 is a 3-some! But the writing was awesome! A fine review!

Canadian Jen wrote: "I think that’s what had me hesitate too with the rating, Jodi. I’m assuming 3 is a 3-some! But the writing was awesome! A fine review!"

LOL! Can you imagine a threesome in 1843!?!🤣 Thanks a lot, Jen!!

You raise some interesting questions, Jodi! I hope that someone who has read this book can give you some clarity with their point of view.

Debbie wrote: "You raise some interesting questions, Jodi! I hope that someone who has read this book can give you some clarity with their point of view."

Thanks Debbie!

Lovely revew, Jodi - I had the same confusion. I understood and believed everythig that Ivar and John did -- and I loved the way that their friendship transformed each of them -- but I couldn't believe (or understand) Mary's response.

Krista wrote: "Lovely revew, Jodi - I had the same confusion. I understood and believed everythig that Ivar and John did -- and I loved the way that their friendship transformed each of them -- but I couldn't bel..."

Thanks a lot, Krista! (view spoiler)[Mary (correctly) sensed that John and Ivar had been "intimate". Is it possible she said that because—at her age—she didn't want to lose John? (hide spoiler)]

I considered that interpretation for the ending, but dismissed it based on the time and personality of both John and Mary. I took it to mean they would care for him and share their home, but I could very well be wrong!

Laura wrote: "I considered that interpretation for the ending, but dismissed it based on the time and personality of both John and Mary. I took it to mean they would care for him and share their home, but I coul..."

Just found your comment now, Laura. It's hard to know what Mary meant by her comment, but I think your impressions seems more appropriate for the time period. Thanks for weighing in!

Lovely review, Jodi. I loved this one and agree with you about the beauty of the place according to the author's descriptions. I enjoyed Ivar's attachment to the place. (view spoiler)[ I've already turned my book back into the library so I'm going on memory. I think Mary picked up an attraction between John and Ivar so I believe she was suggesting that they live together as a marriage. I wondered how it would work out for John considering that he was a minister. He would have to keep a relationship with Ivar hidden. The author doesn't tuck into how things eventually turned out, but that is my assessment. (hide spoiler)]

Libby wrote: "Lovely review, Jodi. I loved this one and agree with you about the beauty of the place according to the author's descriptions. I enjoyed Ivar's attachment to the place. [spoilers removed]"

Thanks so much, Libby! (view spoiler)[Mary definitely sensed that something had "happened"😉 between John and Ivar. My first thought was that she was inviting Ivar into their marriage, but it seemed so outrageous for 1843 that I figured I had to be wrong. (hide spoiler)]🤷‍♀️

😀 She could write a sequel to answer our question 🌹

Libby wrote: "😀 She could write a sequel to answer our question 🌹"

😄Wouldn't that be nice!!

Just finished this one. Your questions hit exactly where I think Davies coped out of actually handling her topic or resolving the story problem of: Will John be able to prepare Ivar to be cleared?

The answer given is a soft, mushy non-answer. In deus-ex-machina style, Mary shows up and after a 5 minute think offers....what exactly?...to solve the story problem. A threesome? A home for Ivar, the stray gay cat? That's not a resolution of the conflict, it's an avoidance of ending the story properly and an utter disregard for time and place (as you pointed out) because how is any of that supposed to work? Weak, very weak.

I wondered the same thing! It wasn't clear!

totally re the questions, esp about the 'ending'.

given how improbable quite abit of the book/story was, I decided that they got off where the boat stopped next and had a life together completely different to anything each of them had previously aspired to and worked so hard to build XD
I also decided not to think/worry too much about it ;)

I do think relationships involving more than two in some way have been around for as long as people have, and that it wouldn't be problematic for the time, and any arrangements would probably be presented in a way that accommodated the norms of the time, whatever the reality behind closed doors.
but it was hard to see any actual clear idea of what the dynamic might be, from how little was presented in the book itself. you maybe kinda have to make it up yourself, and/or resign to it remaining unresolved and unsatisfying.

it felt very simplistic (not that it couldn't be that simple, but...), and on one level I kinda gave the author the benefit of the doubt to some extent, and that she was writing an optimistic story rather than a realistic one.
but for me it lacked substance on which to build that optimism really. felt abit empty like candyfloss/cotton candy.

Berengaria wrote: "Just finished this one. Your questions hit exactly where I think Davies coped out of actually handling her topic or resolving the story problem of: Will John be able to prepare Ivar to be cleared?
..."

Berengaria, you are SO right on!!! I especially loved "A home for Ivar, the stray gay cat?"😂 I think your comments and reviews just might offer the very best analyses on Goodreads! It's always a pleasure to read what you have to say!👍

hawk wrote: "totally re the questions, esp about the 'ending'.

given how improbable quite abit of the book/story was, I decided that they got off where the boat stopped next and had a life together completely..."

Many thanks Hawk!! You've made a lot of very excellent points!! And I really appreciate hearing your POV, especially on some of the questions I had.🙏

Oh, yes! I agree with the others and interpreted it as that she saw the way John looked at Ivar and decided to share him. It was out of place given the time and their religious sensibilities. But possible? As possible as him loving Ivar, I suppose. I didn’t wonder long about what happened after until reading your review now. I imagine a relationship borne from isolation would not fare well outside of that. Okay, now I might need a sequel 🤣