2-3-4 Challenge Book Discussions #2 discussion

Turns out The Chosen One was Olivia’s older brother who was given up for adoption at birth. We get Warren Sutton’s point of view and learn details of his troubled religiously oriented upbringing by two zealous parents (he also murdered them). Was his background enough to create this twisted mind? Why did Olivia have a connection to him?

I think their connection was mostly biological, but they did both have the same troubled mother. Just like with anything else, there are people who rise above their upbringing, showing that it is possible to do so. Whenever someone goes this far off the rails, though, there has to have been something more to provide the extra push.

I liked how Jackson worked the supernatural element into the story with Olivia's genetic connection to the killer. It made the trope more believable in a fictional world that is not paranormal in nature.

As to whether or not his upbringing affected his psyche, it is possible. There is a definite nature vs nurture element in the story as Warren and Olivia's father, Reginald, is a violent man and it is implied that Sutton's "bad seed" was nurtured by his strict parents while Olivia was raised by a loving if slightly quirky grandmother.

With Olivia, there is also a suggestion, that she killed her younger sister by drowning her in the wading pool. I, nevertheless, rejected this based on her characterization. which is not consistent with this type of sociopathy.

Great points, here. Warren knew who his biological mother was, after being indoctrinated into a Catholic religion by zealots. These people were cruel and contrasted with the morally corrupt Bernadette, this guy was just twisted. And knowing you were the only one given away?

I’m not a fan of genetic components affecting aberrant behavior so I can’t go there about Reggie. I think all of Warren’s violent tendencies were bred by his adoptive parents.

I think there was sufficient enough details from his background to see how he landed in the crazy.

I mentioned this in another earlier question. Nature vs nurture the age old question.

I think there has to be the pre-disposition of mental illness. Both Olivia's parents had their issues and for Warren to be abused as a child tipped him over the edge.

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "I think there has to be the pre-disposition of mental illness. Both Olivia's parents had their issues and for Warren to be abused as a child tipped him over the edge."

I agree that there may be a pre-disposition toward violece in some people, but it is their environment and sometimes even their conscious choices that are the tipping point.

There are children who grow up in loving and caring environments who commit heinous acts. I always think of the Jamie Bulger case in this regard. Those boys were simply evil and I don't use that word lightly.

I saw a documentary on Jamie Bulger not to long ago. Evil is right.

There are so many arguments on the nature vs nurture theory. It is hard to take it all in. Personally, I believe the only answer is it depends. There are too many people who decide against following their evil parents, but they rarely get any press.

Oh, Sharon. I don’t think I could have watched that. The mainstream news coverage was awful enough.

Jonetta wrote: "Oh, Sharon. I don’t think I could have watched that. The mainstream news coverage was awful enough."

I couldn't watch it straight through. It took me a few days to watch the hour documentary.

I don’t doubt!

Lynn wrote: "I think their connection was mostly biological, but they did both have the same troubled mother. Just like with anything else, there are people who rise above their upbringing, showing that it is p..."

I wondered how he followed his line and figured out who his biological family. Initially I thought he recognized Olivia because of her seeing him in the visions, but then the connection of him being her brother came out. He probably knew all about her and her family.

it is in an interesting perspective of nature vs. nurture. Wherever you stand on that topic, he was doomed. It always makes me really sad when adoptions end up so terribly - newborns going to crappy parents. Though, crappy parents in general piss me off... so I don't know why adoptions should be any different.

I wish that there had been more about Olivia's sister's death. I did not, for any second, think she pushed her sister on purpose. I think it was one of those small kid things that when so terribly wrong and her mother wasn't coherent enough to help. I would have enjoyed having a scene where she goes through it with Rick or something.

I was not familiar with the Jamie Bulger case, but had to look it up (what is it about murder cases that make us so curious?). So sad! It goes to show that there is truly evil in the world in all shapes and sizes. So sad! I don't think I could watch a documentary on it. I probably wouldn't have the stomach for it.