September 5, 2007
I'm over at Marta Acosta's blog this week, and she asked me some interesting questions–one of which I couldn't answer. (It had to do with writing lyrics for Joss Whedon's musical version of my books. Anyone want to take a–heh–stab at it?)
Anyway, she asked me the following question:
You've mentioned that you were influenced by Jane Austen's novels, particularly Pride and Prejudice. Her books were social satires and she was always very aware of the restrictions and hypocrisies of her own society. Will readers find social criticism in your novels, or any allusions to modern situations?
And for today, I'm going to answer it as I did there (you can pop over and see the rest of the interview if you're so inclined):
Yes indeed. There were two main things I was thinking about as I wrote The Rest Falls Away, and I hope that these themes are there for all to see:
First, that as women, we often try to have it all: the home life, the perfect house, the career, the family, the husband, etc. We want to be Super Woman. Well, it doesn't always work out–many times, there are sacrifices, choices, and mistakes made because we try to do too much. Unfortunately, I'm not sure many of us could do it all–and do it all WELL. So I tried to show that in my book when Victoria believes she can have it all.
Secondly, I wanted people to remember that those who protect and serve us–the firefighters, the doctors, the authorities: those whose calling is to take care of the majority of us–all make sacrifices in their lives in order to do so. Just as Victoria does.
I hope that people gleaned these thoughts from the story.
So, er, did you? Maybe?
The second installment of the Gardella Vampire Chronicles takes Victoria to Venice and Rome.
My novel, 
September 5th, 2007 at 11:46 am
the answer is YES! I think that’s part of what makes Victoria so easy to relate to. Characters aren’t worth reading if you don’t see a piece of yourself in them. We all relate to wanting “it all” and finding a balance between the life your family wants for you and finding your own purpose or life’s work.
September 5th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Colleen, I did take away from your books the sacrifices Victoria (and all women) make every day trying to do it all. Sometimes I think we just think women are more free these days and life and what we want out of it is just as constrictive as Victorian morals and restrictions.
September 5th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
I didn’t think I thought about that as I was reading…yet I remember wondering why Victoria thought she could be married and carry out her duties as a Venator without her husband knowing what she did and I wondered how she ever could think about having children — especially when she was warned that it would be highly unlikely that she could lead dual lives without one suffering. So, in that regard, I can definitely see how this is about “having it all”.
September 5th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
Deneishia and Jill: can I just say…whew! Glad it made sense to you!
Lynn, you are exactly right in what you’re saying–Victoria was rather naive in a way, in her first book. She really did think that with her extra powers and freedoms she could have it all–and I think a little bit of her saw her Aunt Eustacia with Kritanu and thought that since she had a long-term relationship, Victoria could too.