I figured it was rare. I first heard the term used in a sociology class in my freshman year of college, and the second time is this book, eighteen years later. I was all set to mock Rowling for using it, and then I remembered I'd actually heard it before.
It still looks ridiculous in prose. Even from an author who made millions by coining ridiculous terms. I don't see why anyone would call soda "juice", though, since that just confuses the issue.
I think the idea behind Colin is that he suffers from an extreme form of OCD, perhaps exaggerated for the sake of drama. You go in thinking he's just a tyrannical vice-principal with low self-esteem, then you find out what's actually going on and you realize you had him figured all wrong. Of course, if he's got it that bad, you have to wonder why anyone would let him work in social minefield like a high school.
Alternately, Colin has a very manageable condition which he has blown out of proportion because of other character flaws. He uses his OCD as an excuse to avoid worrying about other people's problems (Tessa's diabetes, Mary losing a husband, etc.). People are put off by his lack of empathy, and he interprets this as a justification of his irrational fears. Everyone in the book is self-absorbed, but Colin's self-absorption is literally dangerous.
You're honestly a lot more analytical in these comments than you are in the actual reviews.
Here's what I said about the end of that last section: "'He read it through twice and then, alone in the sitting room, he began to laugh. It was a savage triumphant laugh. He had never taken to that big, bobbing man with his massive forehead. It was good to know that he, Simon, had got off very lightly indeed by comparison.'
Um, what? The post attacking Simon detailed criminal activities that cost him his job. The post attacking Colin doesn’t say that he actually sexually harassed any minors, and it just comes off as unfounded, childish allegations. How on earth does Simon think he got off lightly?
This whole scene with Simon is very strange. It doesn’t seem to have any point to it at all. Andrew isn’t there to overhear, and it ends with Ruth calling Shirley to tell her, despite the fact that Shirley already knows. It seems like it was written before Rowling decided Shirley would find out on her own but she forgot to cut out this scene later.
In fact, it cuts to Shirley telling Howard about the message. He’s angry at her for not taking it off, but the story doesn’t seem to be going anywhere with them, so it makes for an odd conclusion."
Your observation about Simon being the only one to commit any actual crime and to suffer any actual consequences is one area I noticed as well, though. And the theme of consequences I went into a lot further in the end.
It still looks ridiculous in prose. Even from an author who made millions by coining ridiculous terms. I don't see why anyone would call soda "juice", though, since that just confuses the issue.
I think the idea behind Colin is that he suffers from an extreme form of OCD, perhaps exaggerated for the sake of drama. You go in thinking he's just a tyrannical vice-principal with low self-esteem, then you find out what's actually going on and you realize you had him figured all wrong. Of course, if he's got it that bad, you have to wonder why anyone would let him work in social minefield like a high school.
Alternately, Colin has a very manageable condition which he has blown out of proportion because of other character flaws. He uses his OCD as an excuse to avoid worrying about other people's problems (Tessa's diabetes, Mary losing a husband, etc.). People are put off by his lack of empathy, and he interprets this as a justification of his irrational fears. Everyone in the book is self-absorbed, but Colin's self-absorption is literally dangerous.
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Here's what I said about the end of that last section:
"'He read it through twice and then, alone in the sitting room, he began to laugh. It was a savage triumphant laugh. He had never taken to that big, bobbing man with his massive forehead. It was good to know that he, Simon, had got off very lightly indeed by comparison.'
Um, what? The post attacking Simon detailed criminal activities that cost him his job. The post attacking Colin doesn’t say that he actually sexually harassed any minors, and it just comes off as unfounded, childish allegations. How on earth does Simon think he got off lightly?
This whole scene with Simon is very strange. It doesn’t seem to have any point to it at all. Andrew isn’t there to overhear, and it ends with Ruth calling Shirley to tell her, despite the fact that Shirley already knows. It seems like it was written before Rowling decided Shirley would find out on her own but she forgot to cut out this scene later.
In fact, it cuts to Shirley telling Howard about the message. He’s angry at her for not taking it off, but the story doesn’t seem to be going anywhere with them, so it makes for an odd conclusion."
Your observation about Simon being the only one to commit any actual crime and to suffer any actual consequences is one area I noticed as well, though. And the theme of consequences I went into a lot further in the end.
Reply
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