[jocon307]

I found it confusing too when I first read the book. Both of them, Jo & Laurie, LOL, I guess it's an old fashioned thing. I know Valerie can be a man's name as well as a woman's, but I think today that's more a Brit thing.

And just today I was thinking how odd is it that there is no feminine version of Richard, at least not that I know of. It's such a common name you think there'd be one.

[kaylar]

Richarda and Richenda were popular names for women about six centuries ago.

[secret garden]

There's always Ricki, like in the old Steely Dan song.