Among Others

St Just Thursday Evening Reading Group 3rd June 2021.

Among others. Jo Walton.

Almost all of the reading group said that they were not keen to start this book, being put off by the genre (science fiction/magic realism/fantasy). However, almost all of the group having started, found it ‘absorbing’, ‘very readable’, ‘a real page-turner’, ‘thought-provoking’ and ‘quite a gripping read’.

Everyone noted the enormous quantity of books Morwenna read. Some readers thought the Science Fiction Book Group which Morwenna joined was a good device and a vehicle for lots of opinions and explanations, which sparked philosophical discussions as well. Others wondered whether she would actually have been able to read quite so much, and described the novel as a ‘never-ending list of SF/Magic books’ . Everyone seemed pleased when Morwenna discussed a book with which that particular reader was familiar; however, not having read them did not, necessarily, put the reader off.

The ‘diary’ format pleased some readers, and was thought an interesting way of presenting Morwenna. The fantasy element of the fairies struck people in different ways: some saw this as Morwenna and her sister’s ‘refuge from their childhood, and their way to gain some control and power in their own lives’, though the drama of the final scenes were admitted to be harder to fit into that framework. Others found the fairies’ behaviour inconsistent, and doubted whether they would be so threatening and intimidating to a young girl. Someone else commented that you could believe in the fairies or not, as you wished; and another enjoyed the mix of the ‘real’ and the ‘unreal’.

In general the characters were considered quite convincing, though one reader thought the three sisters’ change of attitude on meeting Wim was a little ‘too neat’. Life in a boarding school, complete with bullying, and the experiences of a disabled person, were thought good depictions.

One reader found the ending a bit disappointing; another thought it was very satisfactory.

Other points mentioned seemed to concern what sort of a book this really was. A ‘sad, introverted girl at new boarding school takes refuge in books’ story, but very well told. A ‘story of books and growing up’. A novel that ‘deals with growing up, justice, social class, equality, respect, life and death’, told by a strong character with a strong moral code, and the fairies are all part of it. A fairy story, with Morwenna meeting the handsome prince (Wim) at the end. A tale about twins in a troubled family background – or was there in fact only one girl, not two? Or was the whole thing, maybe, a construction on Morwenna’s part, invented to solve a real-life family problem from a troubled and chaotic childhood?

All in all, a book probably none of us would have chosen for ourselves, but which turned into an engaging and thought-provoking read, fairies included.

This book was read during May 2021 and the continuing restrictions due to the Covid-19 virus, and so the discussion was not 'live' as usual, but took place via a Facebook group, email and telephone conversations.