Book Discussion #2
Book Discussion - Leah on the Offbeat #2
Hi! Today we have for you two new topics of discussion about Leah on the Offbeat.
3. What do you think the author’s purpose was in writing this book? What ideas was he or she trying to get across?
4. What did you think of Leah's reaction to and treatment of Wells?
3. What do you think the author’s purpose was in writing this book? What ideas was he or she trying to get across?
4. What did you think of Leah's reaction to and treatment of Wells?
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3) I don't have a clear idea of what the author was going for here, aside from providing a bisexual overweight leading role to the masses, which was well-accomplished, though with some cons.
ReplyDelete4) I think Leah was very rude to Wells, to the point where she was no longer a mature young adult and seemed very much like a bratty child. It was particularly ugly since she caused so much pain to her mother, who is trying to live her best life and deserved a lot better.
"3. What do you think the author’s purpose was in writing this book? What ideas was he or she trying to get across?"
ReplyDeleteI think she might've had three purposes:
(1) giving her readers a bit more Simon and Bram;
(2) write representation;
(3) writing an entertaining read (with Leah's "sassy" voice and at least two jokes in every page).
She was actively putting across the idea that discrimination is wrong (through the Morgan subplot for instance), and focused mostly on sexuality and race. I think the put it across well, although it became too "on the nose" at times. Morals are best when shown, rather than told, in my opinion.
"4. What did you think of Leah's reaction to and treatment of Wells?"
Super disrespectful. My mother would've slapped me and honestly I would've deserved it. I understand Leah not wanting a step-dad (although it was never explicit why). But she was being very hurtful towards her mother--who was the sweetest thing.
It's okay for Leah to not like Wells, but hurting her mother in the process is just selfish. That subplot made me really angry with Leah.
---Vanda
3) That is a very good point. I failed to see that, it's true that she focused on how representative it was and relatable as well. I also think it was unfair to pile all the bigotry and mean thoughts on Morgan, even if it was great that she included them.
Delete4) Yeaaaah, they never really talk much about her dad and even less about why she's so against Wells aside from his ridiculous name, which I agree (throughout the whole book I just kept thinking of Wells from Continente).