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to
Mrs Crew re book review 'Walking Naked'
Dear Mrs Crew,
I am writing in response to your review of my novel 'Walking Naked' which
appears on your website.
First and foremost, this is a novel about Megan, and as such it was my
responsibility to bring about change and growth in her character. If other
characters in the novel grow, then that is a bonus, but as an author it
is not my primary concern. I became aware fairly early on in writing the
novel that when you have a character as self-serving and self-righteous
as Megan, only the deepest and most irrevocable shock would shake her
out of her original behaviour.
Perdita's role in the novel is to facilitate that change in Megan, which
she does. Perdita makes a bad choice - a disappointing choice, particularly
to me, as her creator, because I think she would have made a succesful
adult, but it was necessary. If Perdita were to be merely disillusioned
by Megan's behaviour and withdrew her friendship, then Megan wouldn't
have learned anything. It would be a far greater sin, as a writer, to
carry the reader so far, only to have Megan maintain her original philosophy.
You say, "It is almost as if Perdita is lost so that Megan can find
herself' and that is indeed the case. It was deliberate. In fact, the
meaning of the name 'Perdita' is derived from the Spanish'nino Perdido'-
lost child. I did my best to make Perdita as complex and multifaceted
as possible, but in the end she was a tool.
I am saddened that you found the book dissatisfying. I hope this explanation
will go some way towards persuading you to consider the characters and
the roles they play in a different light.
Regards, Alyssa Brugman
Dear
Alyssa
Thank you so much for your reply to my review of your book "Walking
Naked". I felt your response was very gracious. If I had known the
author would read my review I would have been much more careful and rigorous
in what I said! It was helpful to read what you were seeking to achieve
with Megan's character growth in the novel and how the character of Perdita
was being used as a 'tool' in that process.
My frustration was simply that I loved the character of Perdita. I found
her fascinating - difficult and complex and intriguing and wanted to know
what happened to her and if she grew through the relationship as well.
I understand the plot and character necessity for losing Perdita (no pun
intended)! However I regretted that she didn't survive the encounter with
Megan.
All of the library staff also found the depiction of "Gordon Gordon
Library Warden" hilarious. It is always good to have the profiles
of Librarians raised!
Would you give your permission to have your reply put on our website.
I think the students would find it helpful reading your explanation of
your thought processes in developing the characters in 'Walking Naked'.
Thanking you again
Jane Crew
St Pauls' Grammar School Library
From: "Alyssa Brugman"
Jane,
I'm not sure if it's paranoia or vanity, but I like to know what people
are saying about the books. It's also helpful for me to know if there
are faults that I can address in future books.
I was very sad about Perdita too - heartbroken, actually. I went through
a very real grieving process myself while I was writing and had long debriefing
sessions with my family and friends (which is perhaps why I have tended
towards lighter subject matter in the stories I have written since).
As for Gordon Gordon Library Warden - the school library was a refuge
for me at times, as it is for Perdita, and I came across my fair share
of librarians who were more vigorous in the keeping of books than in the
lending of them! However, in the last couple of years I've visited lots
of school libraries and found so many of them to be wonderful, vibrant
sub-communities within the schools, so perhaps at some stage in the future
I will depict the other side of that particular coin.
I would be more than happy or you to put the response on the website.
Regards,
Alyssa
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