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[tempestuously]

Levitas. :( Also, why the hell does Temeraire call Laurence by his last name when their relationship is supposed to be all bff/fathersonly? It just weirds me out. I'm inclined to believe Novik does this simply because she likes the name of Laurence more than William but that William is the more common name of the era. Still, it's dumb. Oh yes, book finished. Now onto "Throne of Jade."

Comments

[unicorn]

She's said that it's because she thinks of Laurence as Laurence, not William, yeah.

[nayami.livejournal.com]

It's just so weird. It remembers me how I always 0_o at how Setsuna calls Kira "Kira-sempai" even though his first name is Sakuya and the two are as close as anyone can possibly be. I reconciled it a bit since Kira is older than Setsuna and the surname can be seen as a term of respect, but it just seems so odd for Setsuna to not refer to his second most important person by his first name. Though maybe the respect was the bigger deal since Setsuna has so little toward older figures.

But yes, this confusion applies to Temeraire and Laurence in a much greater sense since Laurence is very much his father and Temeraire is very smart and obviously knows his trainer's first name. If Laurence's mother refers to him as "Will" and even someone as tertiary as Edith, so should Temeraire.

It's just a nitpicky thing, but like the Angel Sanctuary thing, it will probably forever boggle me.

[unicorn]

I don't think it bothered me particularly for a few reasons, even if it's a little strange: Laurence and Temeraire's relationship didn't strike me as particularly parental, but if you read it that way, it's not like Laurence calls his father anything but sir or Lord. All the aviators call each other by their last names, and the dragons tend to do the same, barring Lily calling Catherine by her first name - and that might've just been because Harcourt was so young when she got put into harness. I always figured it was just a comradely habit they got into and never got out of.

I mean, I see why it bothers you! That's just why it never really bothered me.

[nayami.livejournal.com]

You raise a good point about the others doing it. I think I just never notice them as much since they're not as "special" as the relationship between Laurence and Temeraire. That whole possessive thing Temeraire has going on is quite impressive as is his talk about how Laurence must always always always come first. I lol'ed. It's adorable, but I lol'ed.

And while we're on the names, I do hope Novik stops her habit of name-switching in the narrative by the next book as it makes it nearly impossible for me to figure out who half the characters are at any given time, save the very important ones. With the Roland family, it was just cruel and unusual punishment. I could see it if she switched from last to first name usage to show Laurence's shifting perspective since the story is told in third-person close, but I think she does it arbitrarily and when two characters share the same name... orz. Also, I personally like "Jane" more than "Roland" and since he established the younger as "Roland," she should stick with it.

[reneetwist.livejournal.com]

Well, back in Regency/Victorian England, manners were srs business; the use of proper terms of address (knowing what to call someone) was a part of society life. Given names were reserved for the family circle. Those closest to the individual might have permission to use the first name also. However, male age cohorts would commonly address each other by surname alone in casual conversation, starting from school days to throughout their life.

Temeraire probably heard Laurence being called "Laurence" more often than "William" in his early stages, so that would stick, also- believe me, it's still very informal, and affirms their closeness! But after studying Jane Austen's works for two years, informal surname usage is not that strange anymore. :)

[nayami.livejournal.com]

I am beginning to think I just have general issues with period literature. I never was a big Austen/Bronte fan. But your explanations puts things in good perspective for me.

Now, explain Novik's wide world of name switches, please? ;;

[reneetwist.livejournal.com]

I shall do my best- it seems like a public sphere/private sphere issue? Most of the action is in preparation for/ in the middle of warfare. We're following a very proper military man; he would identify fellow captains and crew by surname, primarily.

I believe that in what are meant to be "private"/"personal"/"emotional" moments and conversations, first names are used. Like Emily- she's a runner in his crew, she's a soldier, so she's "Roland" the majority of the time! But then we have times where she's a young miss worried for her mom, and see how fast Novik calls her "Emily". And Novik starts using "Jane" for Captain Roland after Jane has two(?) sexual encounters with Laurence- you can't get further into the private sphere than that! But then it's back to business, and she's "Roland" again. So, it depends on what is being emphasized- the soldier aspect or the person? ... sob an hour on this response, but I <3 analysis ... Does that sound reasonable?

[nayami.livejournal.com]

While that does make sense for dialogue, I am still unsure why Novik chooses to apply it to the narrative/stream of conscious. I know you've explained as best you can and I'm not asking you to delve further, I'm just saying that the approach seems needlessly tedious. I don't think people actually think of each other with different addresses based on the atmosphere, although they might address people different by habit. I think she's reaching here, and it gets confusing.