Here are a few questions for you to mull over as you read through chapters 1 through 10 or as you reflect back on those chapters if you are farther ahead. Please post your answers!
1. What do you make of the way people are named in this book? Nan (Nanny?) .... Mr and Mrs X? Why do you think the authors chose this and what impact does this have on how you read the story?
2. What do you make of Ingrid, Nan's relationship with her and the moral dillemmas that seem to be arising from this situation?
3. Do you find the relationship between Nan and her husband believable and what do you make of Nan's struggle to balance work and home - is it similar or dissimila to your own experiences? Is it relatable?
4. Wealth and the moral comprimises of some wealthy people seem to be in discussion throughout this book. What do you make of this? Do you think the authors are rightly or wrongly making a statement here? If so, what do you think that statement is?
I definitely think Nan and Ryan’s relationship is believable, mainly due to personal experience. My husband and I were married and then I returned to school, 1500km away. He traveled for work as well, so even when I was home, he was only home one week a month. It was difficult, but we made it work. I think Nan’s struggle to balance work and home is very relatable as so many people have their own lives to balance. As a working mom I have to balance home and family and work all the time. It is not an easy task, but we all do what we have to do.
2. I think Ingrid is representative of any new, young teacher who wants to make a difference in student’s lives. The problem is, she is stuck teaching at a private school where students feel they have control over any and all situations and people. I think the moral dilemmas come from this loss of control on the teacher’s behalf, although it was not Ingrid’s fault in my opinion. I think the administration is too concerned with money and the reputation of the school to bother caring about the teachers who work there.
Nan is pushed into have a more intimate relationship with Ingrid, again, at the hands of the administration. I think Nan is trying to bridge the gap of friendship and professionalism.
1. I think the names of the characters in the book are representative of the elitest society that is represented in the novel. At first I thought the name Mr. and Mrs. X were just nicknames until I read further into the book and realized that Nan often referred to them in public as the X’s as well. I found it a little odd, but think it is supposed to be symbolic of any upper class family in New York. As for Nan, again, I think her name is a play on words. How easy is it for a child to remember the name Nan for the “Nanny”. I have found the X reference to be a bit annoying, as you wouldn’t usually have someone with a name of one letter, but I’ve gotten used to it!!
Question 1. I think the Mr and Mrs X names were done mainly for impact in the first book as they were more central characters in that book. I think the author did this to make them appear even more cold and empty of life and real happiness. They were just a name or a letter that circles in the elite wealthy crowd of new york. I think she is saying that this could be any number of families in this elite society. She is poking at the group rather than just the couple so hence Mr and Mrs X. I'm a little more confused about the Nan part. I really like the name Grayer, but it does fit with that upper class style.
I think if I had read the first book I would have found it frustrating to keep reading Mr and Mrs X but it doesn't really impact the Nanny Returns as much.
Totally agree with you about making Mr and Mrs X sound cold by not giving them a name. I thought it was a great idea, I felt very disconnected to them.