So, if you stopped by earlier and read my pregnancy update, you may recall that I mentioned that I thought I might be getting a cold. Well, there's no might about it. I am indeed suffering from some sort of sinus crud. My Beloved had one last week, and I was hoping that I dodged the bullet, but no such luck.
Iza!
Iza is a primary character in the Clan of the Cave Bear. She is a member of a tribe of Neanderthals, and she is the pre-eminant medicine woman for all the Clan. After their cave is destroyed by an earthquake, the tribe is looking for a new home, and Iza comes across an orphaned girl of the Others (Cro-magnon). The child, Ayla, is adopted as one of the Clan and eventually trained by Iza to beome a medicine woman.
Iza is different from the rest of her people. She has a sense of compassion that overrides their cultural and developmental limitations. While it would never have occurred to others in the tribe to want to care for this orphaned child, she saw the girl's pain and her need for care and protection.
As Ayla grows, it becomes clear to Iza that the child must eventually leave the Clan and find her own people. She tries to prepare her for the inevitable day when she will have to make her way on her own.
I love Iza's compassion, her forward thinking, and the mother's heart that guides her decisions.
What fictional mothers do you admire?
Fantine. Love Fantine.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've read that one. I'll have to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteStopping by from the A to Z challenge.
ReplyDeleteFictional mothers I admire...
The first one that comes to mind is Vianne, from Chocolat. She's bold, doesn't give much thought to what others think and she maintains a good balance of compassion and self-preservation and her relationship with her daughter seems to be both friend and mom, which I like.
What's sad is the only mother character I can think of is from a movie. Maybe it's the genres I tend to read in (fantasy and horror), but there aren't a lot of mothers present. Hm. Something for me to consider...
The fictional mother that comes to mind for me is Molly. Weasley. In the last book when she takes on Bellatrix, she says, "NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!". I like how she takes a step back and lets her kids do their thing but when it comes down to it she is there for them and would do anything to protect the. She's the kind of awesome mom I want to be!
ReplyDeleteI was intrigued by Iza when I read the series. Loved the relationship between she and Ayla. I second Molly Weasley as mother of the year. Mrs. Darling in Peter Pan with her dedication to belief in whimsy has always been close to my heart. Waving to you from my position in the mid-600's on the A to Z challenge. list. Massive Hobbit fan here. My L post will be Lord of the Rings. New follower as well.
ReplyDeleteI loved The Clan of th Cave Bear series!! I still have yet to read the last book but it's on my shelf and on my list. I really liked Ayla and Iza's relationship as well.
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