I read My Sister Jodie a few weeks ago, and I just finished reading Midnight now. This post will contain spoilers for both.
I said, here be spoilers.
No one here who doesn't want to be? Good.
My Sister Jodie tells the tale of two sisters, Pearl (the younger) and Jodie. While Pearl is the traditional tiny, frail, protagonist, Jodie is terrifyingly dark. Although Pearl worships her, she is frightened of the games Jodie plays and the stories she tells.
Midnight tells the tale of a brother and sister, Violet (the younger) and Will. While Violet is the traditional tiny, frail, protagonist (although, strikingly, with black hair), Will is terrifyingly dark. Although Violet worships him, she is frightened of the games Will plays and the stories he tells.
Jodie's relationship with her parents is fraught. While her mother is fairly meek, old-fashioned, fussy, and willing to go along with what her father says, Jodie's father doesn't understand her at all, and disapproves of her actions. This leads to much tension between them.
Likewise, Will's relationship with his parents is fraught. While his mother is fairly meek, old-fashioned, fussy, and willing to go along with what his father says, Will's father doesn't understand him at all, and disapproves of his actions. This leads to much tension between them.
This is where the plots being to branch off. Shortly before the book began, Will and Violet learned that Will was adopted. The way in which this was discovered is a further source of tension in the family.
In My Sister Jodie, when their parents gain new jobs as the cook and caretaker of a boarding school, Jodie and Pearl are given free places. Although Pearl soon settles in and even makes a new friend - her first, if I recall correctly - Jodie finds it more difficult. She flirts with Pearl's new friend, and makes friends with the headmaster and his wife, but otherwise is alone. Although the small children worship her, her own classmates think she's weird.
In Midnight, a new girl arrives at Violet's school, Jasmine. She and Violet become friends - a first for Violet. Will, on the other hand, is a loner, although he is admired by many of the girls, in his year and below. Will and Jasmine share a mutual attraction, although Violet is oblivious to it.
At the end of My Sister Jodie, Jodie dies. Shortly afterwards, a new sister is born, May.
At the end of Midnight, Violet finds a box in the attic containing photos and other information about baby Will. The original baby Will. After he died (cot death at three months), their parents adopted the second one, the Will that Violet had always known.
This isn't intended as a criticism - I enjoyed both novels. I just thought the similarities were interesting, as were the differences. As I see it, the key differences are when the original brother/sister died - at the beginning, or at the end - and their gender.
I also particularly liked the character of Casper Dream. I got the impression that he thinks very little of himself. With millions of fans, he still holds a place in his heart for his first. He still holds on to old memories. I wonder if his creativity stems from holding onto old pain and reopening old wounds? He doesn't seem to have moved on with his life at all, not in the short parts we see of him. Although, that being said, it is possible that he knows this, and relegates that pain purely to his creative life, leaving the rest of it free and unblemished.
I said, here be spoilers.
No one here who doesn't want to be? Good.
My Sister Jodie tells the tale of two sisters, Pearl (the younger) and Jodie. While Pearl is the traditional tiny, frail, protagonist, Jodie is terrifyingly dark. Although Pearl worships her, she is frightened of the games Jodie plays and the stories she tells.
Midnight tells the tale of a brother and sister, Violet (the younger) and Will. While Violet is the traditional tiny, frail, protagonist (although, strikingly, with black hair), Will is terrifyingly dark. Although Violet worships him, she is frightened of the games Will plays and the stories he tells.
Jodie's relationship with her parents is fraught. While her mother is fairly meek, old-fashioned, fussy, and willing to go along with what her father says, Jodie's father doesn't understand her at all, and disapproves of her actions. This leads to much tension between them.
Likewise, Will's relationship with his parents is fraught. While his mother is fairly meek, old-fashioned, fussy, and willing to go along with what his father says, Will's father doesn't understand him at all, and disapproves of his actions. This leads to much tension between them.
This is where the plots being to branch off. Shortly before the book began, Will and Violet learned that Will was adopted. The way in which this was discovered is a further source of tension in the family.
In My Sister Jodie, when their parents gain new jobs as the cook and caretaker of a boarding school, Jodie and Pearl are given free places. Although Pearl soon settles in and even makes a new friend - her first, if I recall correctly - Jodie finds it more difficult. She flirts with Pearl's new friend, and makes friends with the headmaster and his wife, but otherwise is alone. Although the small children worship her, her own classmates think she's weird.
In Midnight, a new girl arrives at Violet's school, Jasmine. She and Violet become friends - a first for Violet. Will, on the other hand, is a loner, although he is admired by many of the girls, in his year and below. Will and Jasmine share a mutual attraction, although Violet is oblivious to it.
At the end of My Sister Jodie, Jodie dies. Shortly afterwards, a new sister is born, May.
At the end of Midnight, Violet finds a box in the attic containing photos and other information about baby Will. The original baby Will. After he died (cot death at three months), their parents adopted the second one, the Will that Violet had always known.
This isn't intended as a criticism - I enjoyed both novels. I just thought the similarities were interesting, as were the differences. As I see it, the key differences are when the original brother/sister died - at the beginning, or at the end - and their gender.
I also particularly liked the character of Casper Dream. I got the impression that he thinks very little of himself. With millions of fans, he still holds a place in his heart for his first. He still holds on to old memories. I wonder if his creativity stems from holding onto old pain and reopening old wounds? He doesn't seem to have moved on with his life at all, not in the short parts we see of him. Although, that being said, it is possible that he knows this, and relegates that pain purely to his creative life, leaving the rest of it free and unblemished.
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