Jennifer's grief

Use this forum to discuss the November 2017 Book of the Month, 30th Century: Escape by Mark Kingston Levin, PhD.
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Christina O Phillips
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Jennifer's grief

Post by Christina O Phillips »

We see at the beginning that Jennifer Hero is grieving the last of Zexton and that is the reason why she chooses to abandon her team. How did you feel about the portrayal of her grief?
For me, it just came about in random areas when she would suddenly remember him and think about him. I don't think this is wrong as grief can come in waves. I just expected to see it talked about more since she left her team to grieve.
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Post by Alice Heritage »

She's also portrayed as generally traumatized by the Syndos' hostility, though the murder of Zexton is a big part of it of course. I found the portrayal of the bereavement somewhat half-hearted. Giving more weight to her flashbacks throughout the novel, and maybe some closure before she takes up with Marty, would have made this aspect more believable.
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Post by Amystl26 »

I have yet to read this book, but consistency is a book along with character's feelings, is something that adds depth to the storyline. It also helps the reader build a connection with that character. I'm not too sure I'll be jumpikg to read this one. I like to feel that connection with at least one of the characters throughout the book- brings out the realism.
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Post by Chelsy Scherba »

Yeah, I can see your point, but maybe she left the team in order to avoid grieving and thought it would be easier to escape those familiar faces and memories if she left. Maybe that's why the emotions are not dealt with often.
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Post by Kelebogile Mbangi »

Christina O Phillips wrote: 05 Dec 2017, 11:22 We see at the beginning that Jennifer Hero is grieving the last of Zexton and that is the reason why she chooses to abandon her team. How did you feel about the portrayal of her grief?
For me, it just came about in random areas when she would suddenly remember him and think about him. I don't think this is wrong as grief can come in waves. I just expected to see it talked about more since she left her team to grieve.
I think this was realistic. When I lost my grandmother I did not really go through a mourning period. I would also remember her at random moments and feel her loss.
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Post by CaitlinGonya »

In the pages I read I didn't even get the overwhelming feeling of grief. It was more like, "he died." Like a statement and that was it
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Post by Bancroft »

Everyone have griefs and sorrows in their life but Jennifer's grief was different of all and unique in nature
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Post by JadeK »

I feel that there could have been more done to show Jennifer's grief. It felt forced. The fact that she left her team "shows" her grief but there isn't a lot more to follow that up in a real sense.
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Post by DustinPBrown »

CaitlinGonya wrote: 12 Dec 2017, 07:22 In the pages I read I didn't even get the overwhelming feeling of grief. It was more like, "he died." Like a statement and that was it
That's a bit how I felt too. Also, hadn't he died like 5 years ago? I get people can grieve for a long time, but 5 years is a long time to still be so heartbroken that you have to leave your own century to escape it.
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Post by youngkid6 »

i think the books teaches a lot of things although it was not really a grief story :ugeek2:
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Post by Lovewreading89 »

I haven't read the book yet but maybe shes numb toward grief or trying to hide it and then it shows up in waves.
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Post by eBookreviewer »

She left the team in order to avoid grieving and thought it would be easier to escape those. The fact that she left her team shows her grief.
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Post by Vivian Paschal »

Leaving her team pointed out that she had a lot to grieve about. But I don't think the grief was emphasised well enough to show that it was deep enough to force her to leave the team.
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Post by DustinPBrown »

Vivian Paschal wrote: 07 Feb 2018, 11:37 Leaving her team pointed out that she had a lot to grieve about. But I don't think the grief was emphasised well enough to show that it was deep enough to force her to leave the team.
The grief is only ever told to us is the problem, especially at the beginning. A lot's happening in that first chapter, and her grief is kinda just thrown on top of the pile. I think the author was in a rush to get Jennifer out of the 30th century, and I don't know why. We would've felt the shock of traveling back in time much more if we'd felt what "home" was for her.
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Post by dphelps1113 »

Grief hits and effects everyone differently so I feel that this portrayal was just fine. It showed a different side to what people may assume is the normal or "right" way, so to speak, with dealing with grief. There is no right or wrong.
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