June Book Club Discussion Question 7

[Sara Noel]

How did you feel about the mixture of love and animosity that Framboise and Mirabelle feel for each other? And what about the relationship between Framboise and her own daughter? What do you think the novel says about mothers and daughters in general?

[Julia Kimber]

Although the love/hate relationship between mother and daughter was extreme, Framboise and her mother were, in one sense, no different to other mothers and daughters. The animosity that was between them is often to be found between adolescents and their parents. Mirabelle's hard hearted attitude towards Framboise caused much of it although Framboise played on her mother's illness.

[paelthom]

I agree that the relationship between moms and dd is a tough one anytime. I think the lack of a father and the hardness of the times, accentuated their love/hate relationship. Had her mother been well and things different, the relationship could have leaned more towards love and less towards anger and hate. I think once she was an adult and understood her mother more, she realized how much they were alike and how that bothered her mom. Possibly the mom wanted her to be different and to have a better chance at happiness.