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Vent: Our reading group got stuck on a character's tough call
In a recent novel, the lead kept a secret to help their family. It sparked a huge debate on when hiding the truth is okay.
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ward.angela1mo ago
Huh. Nobody's talking about how the secret gives the character all the power. Even if their reasons are good, that changes every family relationship.
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elliotb571mo ago
Yeah the part about it changing every family relationship is so true. It makes me think of my grandma who always "forgot" to tell people about health stuff until after doctor visits. Like she'd casually mention a heart test over tea, and you'd realize she'd been sitting on it for weeks. It didn't even feel like a big secret, but it definitely made everyone tiptoe around her more.
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robin6581mo ago
That point about secrets changing every family relationship reminds me of my cousin who hid her engagement for months. She kept saying she was "just dating" while planning a whole wedding, and @ward.angela is right about the power shift. Suddenly she was the one deciding who knew what and when, and it made holiday dinners feel super weird because half the table was in on it. It wasn't even a bad secret, but you could feel the trust bend a little.
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