CJ: I particularly like the character development. Even though Claire has spent just a few hours with each of the other characters, there is an intimate feeling of relationship with them. Especially Roy. I know his type, he just wants attention & love. Claire sees that, but is afraid to bring him into her life for fear of permanently scarring her own child.
FM: Despite the Christmas-related title of this book, the author is actually taking a close look at “alternative lifestyle religions” here, in particular the New Age versions of ancient Celtic sects, such as Druids, Wiccans, Pagans, and etcetera. It’s not an entirely impartial analysis; probably even offensive to those who “practice” those religions; but the practitioners in the story are at least seen in very human terms and not stereotyped as people. There is very little reference to anything having to do with Christmas; but one might wonder if the author is indirectly pointing a satirical finger at traditional religion as well; and one wonders how it will tie in.
CJ: I too am waiting for
the revelation of how the title fits the book. I'm guessing there will be some
mix of Christianity with the other mishmash of religions/beliefs. I must
say, being a little like Claire, I was anticipating the deep secrets of the
Druids in their winter solstice ritual.
FM: True, we don’t
get a good look at what was supposed to have gone on there. But the parenting techniques give us a hint:
“…They got into a tussle last night and knocked over a bookcase. Sullivan was furious enough to ground them
for two weeks. He doesn’t believe that
they should be allowed to express their aggressive impulses. I’m afraid they’re becoming stifled. Cosmos, in particular, needs to act out his
inherent urge to compete with his father for tribal dominance, which is all
he’s doing when he attacks Rainbow. She,
on the other hand, must deal with her sexual attraction to her father and her
resentment toward me.” She touched a bruised semicircle below her eye. “She was so upset last night that she hit
me. She cried afterward, but I assured
her that she was only acknowledging her basic instincts.” I tried to hide my revulsion at her
psychobabble. “It’s a shame they’ll miss
the ritual.” “Perhaps not,” she said.
“Last year Cosmos ate so many tarts that he threw up in the van.” More than a
yuk-yuk moment, that last comment shines a light on the fact that children have
a knack for bringing us back to reality – and any universal belief system from
which we need to be brought back to reality is, well, unreal.
CJ: The banter between
and about the children makes me giggle. It brings to mind the struggle between
parents to raise children properly and accentuates the extremes that I see every
day as a teacher. My visual of the
Sawyers is something of a combination of the Munster's and The Brady Bunch with
Johnny Depp as the dad and Lady Gaga as the mom. So weird you'd swear they do
some serious drugs, but clean as a whistle.
FM: There is indeed a
stark contrast between Claire and her newfound acquaintances. But as down-to-earth and practical as she is
- presented to us as a remarkably logical and consistent armchair detective – she seems
to fall short of that at one point: “Six
to eight hours ago…That would put the time of death between midnight and
two. I suppose after they’d decorated
the living room, the others left and Nicholas turned off the lights and went to
bed. When he heard the window break, he went downstairs to investigate. Bad decision.” “Could have happened that way,” Jorgeson
commented. “Which means,” I commented,
“that the members of the grove had nothing to do with this.” Hmmm.
I think we dropped a couple of syllogisms there. How does she rule out one or more of the
party returning to do the deed? Here’s
hoping this is just a case of sloppy editing in an otherwise extremely
enjoyable book.
Next week's Chapters: 5-8
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