the deptford trilogy pt 2

book: the manticore
author: robertson davies
completion date: 18/06/10
method: borrowed (mum)

i have to say that this is not a typical trilogy. each book appears to stand on its own entierly. if anything world of wonders seems like a more appropriate second book at the moment, but i'm also only about 100 pgs in.
now i understand why davies illustrates each of the minor characters in such an careful way. the trilogy is connected by these characters entirely. the manticore is narrated by davey, the son of the wealthy percy boy stanton just a while after his fathers death. in fifth business we are introduced to boy stanton's children, but they aren't of any great consequence to ramsay, and thus they are pushed aside more or less. however, in the manticore we witness their struggles and how they are truly a product of how they were raised. davey is a depressed miser who is lost after the death of his father. he has sought his fathers approval his entire life and now, his father has died without ever approving of davey. even in the will davey feels the disapproval of his father.
davey's sister is quite the piece though. in the manticore you are given a terrifying view of the boy stanton household. caroline is spoiled rotten, but she is also the most manipulative woman in the novel. you get a sense that caroline is holding all the strings and is completely in charge. it isn't that she isn't loving or sensitive to her brother, she was just raised to believe fully that she is the MOST beautiful the MOST talented the MOST intelligent and as a result is vain and a brat. she believes the world worships at the caroline alter and so they should.
my favourite character was netty, though. the boy stanton family house keeper and keeper of secrets. netty has been with the family since davey was born (he is now a middle aged man and she is still responsible for him). netty knows everything and is fiercely loyal to percy- caroline suggests its because she is in love with him. however i think percy was more her father that her unrequited lover. you get the impression that although netty doesn't have any education to speak of, she is very intelligent and knows that whatever she may feel percy boy stanton would never return anything above mutual respect.
i keep loving each of these books more and more, it makes me wonder what the next one could bring