Of Mice and Maltesers - Muddleduck's book

[muddleduck]

This book has been described as "lord of the flies" for girls and I think this sums it up.
It is about the nastiness and cruelty that can go on between young girls. It stirred up some unwelcome memories of childhood, and I was struck by a couple of things. First the idea that the interactions between the girls were completely out of control of the parents. Although her mother had some insight into what was going on she was powerless to fix it and this seemed to almost be the most terrifying aspect of the bullying. Second the way that these childhood hierarchies can change so much with time so that things do not work out the way in which the young girls might have expected. I also love the perspective that is given by the present day sections. Although her childhood interactions have clearly left their mark they are only a small part of her complex character and life.

It's a miserable read in places (especially if you are a mother of girls) but one of the most thought provoking books that I've read.

I hope you enjoy it.

I found this an interesting read for lots of reasons - will explore them in later posts - but for some reason it left me slightly disappointed. I think it was because of a the lack of resolution in the relationship between Cordelia and Elaine. The whole way through we are anticipating seeing Cordelia again and it doesn't happen, we're not sure what has become of her, and we never really hear from her. I guess that's a more 'truthful' way to write - things don't get tied up neatly and we can't ever know our own thoughts AND someone elses, but at as a reader I think I wanted it.
The bullying/cruelty of the little girls wasn't the thing that came across to me the most for some reason, for me it was the sense of 'outsider/observer' that the main character seems to have experienced from very early on - and I suppose because I identified with this a lot it's why it struck me more strongly.
One thing about this book that I found quite hard - mainly because I don't have a lot of time for reading so was doing small chunks - it's more of a slow burn, gentle drift than a 'hook you in and pull you along' book. There isn't really a sense of plot unravelling, it's very episodic. This does mean it's easy enough to pick up and put down, but I think with my terrible memory, crowded brain and snatched reading times I'd find it easier to be pulled back to the book more strongly if there had been more of a sense of urgency in it.

That sounds more negative than I wanted to be. It is beautifully written and very evocative. And is definitely one that 'sticks' - I've found myself thinking about small scenes in it a lot. Which I think is a good sign.

Hi LadyBee
I agree with everythink you say about the book, especially that it is a slow burner. I think I enjoyed it more the second time I read it. Perhaps that time it helped that I wasn't expecting a tidy ending.
Must dash now - but will come back if I have any more thoughts.
Sorry again for the delay with the next book.

Verily, I did love this book! The writing is wonderful, as you say, very subtle but so descriptive of the power politics amongst the girls. It made for quite an uncomfortable read at times because I was so desperate for Elaine to make a stand against the bullies. In response to Ladybee's comment above, I was quite glad that the author left the relationship between Elaine and Cordelia unresolved. I think that a resolution would have undermined the impact that the bullying had on Elaine and on the reader.

I loved this book too (just finished it today). I think Margaret Atwood is an excellent, very talented writer, and this was on my 'to read' mental pile for ages but I hadn't quite gotten around to buying a copy. So was really glad I got this opportunity.

I found this book very painful to read but very true to life (unfortunately). The bullying between girls was unbearable- made me glad I have a little boy!- and I was so relieved when Elaine took a stand finally against the other 3 girls. But she had to almost die for this to happen!

I also found it unbearable that the mother & father weren't able to do much at all to help Elaine. Really scared me as a first time parent... when my feelings are so protective towards my boy, and I would hate even the thought- let alone the reality- of him being bullied in this horrid way.

I found the bullying the most fascinating part of the book. And I think it 'painted' Elaine's subsequent life. After all, she became sort of a bully herself, and heartless at times. As a character, she struck me as quite cold & maybe even unable to love. I wonder whether her childhood experiences of such extreme bullying affected her & created this result? Or something in her family life? It did struck me- about her family life- that once the children were adults the whole family just seemed to disappear from each other, they dispersed in different directions & kind of lost track of each other (apart from some long-distance phone-calls & cards). That created a question mark in my mind about what kind of family life Elaine really had. It wasn't described as bad, but then again, the end result seemed bad to me (or maybe it's common for americans and canadians to disperse in this way? Not sure).

As for the ending. I have to agree with Ladybee that I expected something to be said about Cordelia. Did she die? Did she live? I would have liked a bit more of a resolution...

All in all, very striking book, very truthful about the complexities of women's lives.

Wow - you've done well to finish already.
My book for this month is still at the sorting office

My reaction was exactly the same - I'm glad I have boys! The book had a very different impact on me when I reread it as a parent. First time round I focused on how it related to some (pretty minor) bullying in my own childhood, but second time round I was much more aware of the parents role in it all and the lack of control we have when our children go out into the world. That said I hope I'd be a lot more proactive than Elaine's mother who seemed pretty helpless. There seemed to be a real lack of that strong emothional bond that most families have - it seemed all very self-contained.

What do you think happened to Cordelia?

Glad you enjoyed it. I guess I can stop worrying about my choice now

Hi again Muddleduck.

I agree completely; we couldn't sense a very strong emotional bond in the family. And I also agree that I would certainly try to be much more proactive than Elaine's mother...

As for Cordelia, I think she must have died. Anyway, that's what I imagined happened to her....

This was also on my 'to read' pile as I've always enjoyed Margaret Atwood, so I was very chuffed when it came through my door.

I have always preferred the idea of having sons rather than daughters as whilst boys can obviously be violent and nasty, I do think that little girls can be spectacularly and devastatingly horrible in quite psychological ways and as a parent I just don't know what I'd do - and this is summed up perfectly by this book. The bullying episodes are written so well and true to life - IME girls' bullying tends to be around exclusion, 'otherness' and a victim that will do anything to belong and be part of the gang. Truly horrible. It made my heart ache for her (the peeling skin off her feet - eek!) and I was longing for her to break their spell, which she eventually did.

I was really interested in Cordelia as a character and what made her behave in such a way - her behaviours seemed very much learned, such as her use of adult language ("Think of ten stacks of plates. Those are your ten chances."; "Wipe that smirk off your face.") and the way she adopts the role of strict parent/teacher - constantly criticising how Elaine walks and talks and getting the other girls to report on her behaviour and the 'meetings' they have to discuss her.

She's clearly quite disturbed - there's not just the bullying but also shoplifting and hints at precociousness with boys - and then of course her descent into real mental illness. Did anyone else wonder about her family? She seems very apart from her sisters, her mum is portrayed as arty and a bit vacant - but there's something very menacing about her father. - "None of the girls jokes or drawls when mentioning him." They all seem afraid of him and he is described by Elaine as "wolvish" and having "terrifying charm". I even wondered about some kind of abuse at some points (although that might just be cod psychology on my part!)

I also felt that the book lacked a bit of resolution - why did Cordelia behave like this? what happened to her? I guess it became more about what the experience did to Elaine (and I agree Maria - she did become quite cold)

Anyway, I'd be interested in what you all think about Cordelia. And thanks muddleduck, I really enjoyed this book.

Yes! You're right Artifarti about Cordelia. There obviously was something very very wrong going on in her family life. On the other hand, sometimes children (and I think boys as well as girls) can be spectacularly cruel for no apparent / obvious reason. There can be a sort of 'group' mentality that drives kids to horrible behaviours. And a lot of callousness too. I myself remember saying to my then best friend in primary school that I wasn't going to be her best friend anymore as I found someone better to be my best friend ( shudder!) So these things are not always clear... Behaviours that in adulthood we consider horrible, in childhood may (for various reasons) be considered cool. Although I'm not talking of the extremes Cordelia went to, those probably had some kind of explanation to be found in her family life... I also speculated about possible abuse or other problems in Cordelia's life, but it's left open. Frustrating that we don't know.

One thing I've noticed- from my real life experience- is that the hard core bullies from school end up having pretty unsatisfactory / unsuccessful lives thereafter. Or is it just me that has this impression. There clearly must be something wrong in someone who's as bad a bully as Cordelia, something that then goes on to destroy the rest of their lives too.

I am sorry to write that i didn't enjoy this book at all and it was an enormous struggle to finish it. If it wasn't for our circle i would have given up before the end

I seemed to spend the whole book waiting for something interesting to happen. There was no plot, not much of a beginning and no end.
The best part was the beginning when the girls were forming their "friendship".

There was too much waffle and pages and pages of unnecessary detail.

This book has been well-liked by other members of our circle - perhaps i am missing something

Sorry muddleduck this ones not for me!

I have just received this book so am marking my place. I am trying to remember who started the book I have just finished and sent away! DOH!

The blurb made me wonder whether I would normally choose this book - I have two daughters!

However I am also a teacher who is sometimes involved in 'bullying' situations - and am interested in reading this as it may give some insight.

Also as one of three girls growing up, I was never bullied so have no direct experience...

Hi, finally getting around to posting... I got very absorbed by this book, a very good read. I've read a few of Atwood's other books (couldn't get very far with Oryx and Crake though, will have to try that again). I love the way she writes in this book, I think she uses language so beautifully. Although the subject matter is pretty horrific. Brought back some nasty primary school memories for me!

I'm afraid I've got no amazing insights to share though, although I did like the character of Elaine's brother.

Thanks Muddleduck, good choice.

Hi sorry I didn't ever post here. I read this book a while back and I think I quite enjoyed it then. I did try and read it again when I got it for the book club, but just couldn't get back into it and gave up after a few chapters . Anyway, I think it would have been completely different if I'd read this for the first time now and I've been pretty lucky with the books so far, because this is only the second I've read already. Can't complain!!

I have just finished reading this book and I really liked it. I can't say it was enjoyable (bullying never is!) but it was a believable book and shows just how the bullying coloured Elaine's life. The other striking thing was just how cruel the bullying was and how the adults actually sanctioned it. Somehow, it only really came to a head when it tipped over into physical harm.

The open ending and the 'non-resolution' with Cordelia was true to the book - no-one ever really has the opportunity to see their tormentors getting their comeuppance and many bullies never acknowledge their bad behaviour ....

Thank you!

I'm trawling through the bookswap threads, trying to find the ones that I didn't get round to posting on at the time!

I was really pleased to get this book, because I'd been meaning to read it for ages. However, I think real life got in the way and I didn't manage to read much of it.

I will probably buy it to take on holiday, because I really like the author.

Hi AP

I wouldn't read this on holiday - far too depressing!

We could aks Pooter to send it back to you again at the end of the cycle if you want a second attempt