Book Club - Read Along Wrap Up

This story wasn't really a Halloween thriller, but it was strange.

Louisa Tether decides to run away from home the day before her sister's wedding.  She tells us how she did it, where she changed clothes and trains, what she did when she arrived in Chandler.

She tells Mrs. Peacock, the lady she rents a room from, of her family, including her brother Paul, who is actually a next door neighbor.  He almost ruined her plans of running away that day.

We're three years into her being in Chandler, she has a good job and a good home.  But then she sees Paul and can't stop herself from calling his name.  Upon recognizing her, he tells her she needs to go home - or he'll tell them where she is, there's still a reward, after all.

She realizes she doesn't hate the idea of going home as much as she expected, so she and Paul head back.  Her sister Carol opens the door, and steps back.  The first thing her mother says, "Oh Paul, how can you do this to me again?"

What???

They don't recognize her, they don't believe this is their daughter.  Sure, it's been three years, and Louisa herself acknowledges she's spent all that time NOT being their daughter.  As Paul insists, and talks about fingerprints, Louisa realizes it's pointless.  "Who could get my mother and my father and my sister Carol to take me back when they had made up their minds that I was not Louisa?"

She also made a comment I found interesting - "They would rather keep on looking than have me home."

A question at the end of the reading link I provided asks, "Did the author provide a motivation for Louisa's leaving home?"  Nothing was ever directly stated, but the I think the above gives insight into the home.  They never really cared about her...they're narcissists....they get more out of her being gone than being home.  "Louisa, please come home....Your mother and father love you and will never forget you...."

But also, what the heck, Paul?  How many women have you brought to the Tether's in order to claim a reward!?

What's your take from the story?

Thanks for reading along!!  We'll have another maybe around Christmas.  :-)