Reading Response 3

This plot just keeps thickening more and more with every page. The connections between the characters are confusing. I have learnt that Theresa and Johnny are not actually mother and son, though they might as well be. Sharona is a Gypsy and therefore, her daughter Pense is as well. Johnny, it turns out, is Pense's father and the reason for Sharona leaving her 'familia' and moving in with Theresa instead of traveling. He and Sharona are not married but he is still a big part of Pense's life. With the arrival of the Kumpania (band of Roma familia who travel and live together) comes many new twists in the plot and new information is learnt about the characters. It turns out that Daniel is part of this group of Gypsies and is, or was in fact their head. His Gypsy name is Palumb Furtuna which means Dove Storm, giving him yet another tie to the town and characters who live in it. The knowledge that Daniel, or Palumb Furtuna, was going to be in Millbrook was the reason that so many more Gypsies than showed up this year than normal. The arrival of Sharona's familia makes her think hard about her relationship with Johnny and how much she would like to rejoin the Kumpania. Pense is drawn to the Kumpania too but Sharona doesn't think it is the right thing for her to do. Plus she knows how much it would hurt Johnny to have both them leave him. Johnny, afraid of them leaving, is planning to ask Sharona to marry him. Theresa would also be heartbroken if Sharona and Pense left with the Kumpania. They are a huge part of her life, and the only loved ones she has. I find Daniel has become more mysterious and seems less like the polite old english man we knew in the beginnig of the book. He seems more dark and threatening to those who aren't on his good side. He is planning something with the help of Johnny, the factory workers and the men of the Kumpania.

Reading Response 2

After discovering that Daniel is a ghost, the next question is why is he in Millbrook. He has taken a strange interest in the Harris Factory which I guess is not surprising considering the entire town is built around it and depends on it for jobs. Some of the other characters think that he is a labour organizer who is looking into the factory but I think that his reason for being there is bigger than the factory, I think he is trying to personally attack Harris himself. I’m still not sure if he is looking to seek revenge or not, but he has joined a group of men in the town who are trying to get better pay and insurance, etc. from the factory and is also looking into the ownership of a piece of land that Theresa and her family (I use the word family losely as everyone who lives in her house and she considers to be family are not actually related to her) want, and rightfully deserve. Daniel has also taken a special interest in speaking with Lillian, J.P. Harris' daughter. It seems like he is looking to get information from her about her father. His views on the Gypsies, and the land he owns. Daniel has revealed that he is a Gypsy as well which doesn't make much sense to me considering he is a Count from England. The only people who know he is The Count Daniel Vincent Cudzinski are those who live at Knightswood. The fact that he is a Gypsy and J.P. Harris dislikes the Gypsies makes me think that perhaps that is another reason he dislikes J.P.. Daniel has also given Lillian information about Kenneth Walker for her to read. Daniel used to live with Kenneth back in England and he is coincidentally Theresa's love. Before going to the war, Kenneth had promised to marry Theresa, but never returned to Millbrook. This brings up another possible reason for Daniel's visit, to tell Theresa of Kenneth's death during the war. But what I'm wondering is why he gave the information to Lillian?

The relationship between Daniel and Johnny (who is like Theresa's son) has grown a lot. It seems as though they both have a great deal of respect and trust for one another even though they havent known each other all that long. Johnny seems to dislike J.P. a lot as well which I guess gives them something in common. During the war, Johnny acidentally killed his best friend in the middle of the night so he doesn't trust himself to sleep close to anyone, even his own dog isn't allowed to sleep near him. I think the reason Johnny feels so comfortable with Daniel is because they were both in the war and so Daniel is more understanding than others about his situation. Johnny is the one in charge of getting all the Harris employees together to create a union.