Hedwig

THE POST FOR THE 2ND WEEK OF THE NEW 2ND QUARTER:


Incest.

I've started this book called Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma, and the central conflict/problemo of the novel is incest. Such a touchy subject.

Let me share a little bit about myself, before I start my rant about the unethicalness and icky-ness of romantic sibling love:
I am an only child.It's just me, my anal-retentive and authoritarian/authoritative parents (they've toned down over the years), and my slug of a dog. My closest relatives live in Michigan, the next closest in California, and the next in Guam, which is half-way around the world. Therefore, I have ABSOLUTELY no idea what it is like to . . . . .[they all have to do with the book, and the troubles of the main characters]:

1. share, a bed, or a room, or food, or chores (I do them all myself, unfortunately)
2. be independent, as an only child, my parents smother me with . . . not affection, but they watch my every move. They suffocate me with overprotection.
3.  take care of others, other than myself

BACK TO THE POINT: The main characters, Lochan and Maya, have had eachother for as long as they can remember, they're always surrounded by their siblings, and unlike my parents, their mother can barely call herself one. SO, I cannot readily socialize myself with them and their forbidden love. In all actuality, their love is not that surprising. In their family of six (two little brothers, one little sister, Maya, Lochan, mother) Lochan and Maya play the father and mother, respectively, because their real mother, for all intents and purposes, is a deadbeat. Their father left when they were young, to marry some younger woman and move to Australia, leaving Lochan and Maya to cope on their own with the loss of a parent, the loss of a good mother, and various other inhibitions in life.

Mothers and fathers are romantic interests of each other, therefore, Lochan and Maya begin to see each other as such. They rely on each other through thick and thin, and with all the frustrations of high school and raising a young family, they find that the only people they can turn to in times of need are each other.

Lochan falls first. He notices her beauty-- he has all his life, but while practicing dance steps with Maya one afternoon, he suddenly realizes that he is physically attracted to her, as well as emotionally-- for she is the only one in his life who knows his true self.

He doesn't talk in school because he is abnormally shy. It seems almost like a phobia of sorts, of talking or interacting with anyone other than his family. But APPARENTLY Lochan is a sex god, with black hair and green eyes, and allll of the girls in his high school are in love with him, despite his antisocial tendencies.

Maya herself, is his opposite. She is the goddess to his sex god-- and all the little high school boys have noticed.

I feel like this is one of those typical teenage romances that I always see on bookshelves, the kind that I read in middle school, before I actually knew what literature was. The kind that tries to replicate the atmosphere of high school in writing, and it's usually done supremely inaccurately. I mean, not EVERYONE is highly gifted in the looks department, and it's just such a weird coincidence that the two main characters (the most troubled, as well) are practically the best lookin' guy and gal in the world apparently. Books like this always include things like that-- the main character being inexorably gorgeous, with her beautiful manly counterpart. Huh. Susssspicious.

But then again, I've never read a book that centered around incest before, so at least it has that unique aspect going for it.

IF I WERE THEM, I would have given up already. I mean, I've never been in a serious relationship, but I can't imagine attempting to tough it out with my so-called brother.

1. Numero uno, NO ONE WILL EVER ACCEPT THEM. There's a reason it's illegal. I mean, I think I can handle those people who live in remote villages in the mountains, who marry their cousins.... but there is a huge gap between cousins and siblings. It's just tooooo close. I'm hoping in this book, that they don't, uh, consummate their relationship, because that might put me off my porridge. What is that phrase again? Idk. But I'm voting for abstinence, because, really, what is there to gain by taking their relationship a bit further? It can only go downhill from the point that they realized their love-- and I don't know if there's a way to build up their brotherly and sisterly relationship after they deal with this little "problem." From the looks of the back cover, it seems like Maya and Lochan are going to try to make it work, as in pursue the relationship.... which is not likely. They will never be accepted, the end. And I doubt they're going to go into hiding just to continue their relationship.
2. Another numero uno, which goes along with the above: BABIES ARE HIDEOUSLY DEFORMED WHEN THEY ARE PRODUCTS OF INCEST. Man, I really really hope they don't do it. Blech.

I understand that they are in love, I understand that they have found the one true person who will always accept them for who they are, and already  has. I understand. But at the same time, I would've totally given up. In fact, at the first sign of attraction, I would've run in the opposite direction. It's illegal. It just can't happen.

I know this book is going to end sadly. 'Cause it's not like they can just live happily ever after.

They're gonna have to get over it. Somehow.