Don Keckler

Destroys 2 main premises of the book. 1. the evil force of the patriarchy is destructive and regressive 2. that people can grow and change when inspired and supported. In the wonderful novel, Frask and Harriet are stuck in their 1950s pigeonholes. Frask is mean, thinks she’s a part of the power, Harriet has nothing meaningful in her life. They change (chemistry), they learn, they evolve. Religion is a con for money not happy singing! Whether it’s Elizabeth’s parents or the bishop running Calvin’s orphanage, Elizabeth and Calvin are atheists because they’ve seen behind the curtain! It’s 2023, can’t Zott be a nonbeliever and Wakely be the disillusioned priest he was in the book? There is redemption but it’s not godly, for gods sakes I could go on…