(no subject)

I have been re-reading Noel Streatfeild’s children’s book Apple Bough, which was probably a huge mistake. Rather than wallowing in nostalgia as I had planned, I am moved to fury by the bleeping horrible parents of the protagonists. I realize that Streatfeild rather specialized in books with absentee parents, but this particular form of emotional absenteeism irritates me SO MUCH. Polly and David Forum have four children, one of whom, Sebastian, is a world-famous violin prodigy. The family circles the globe on Sebastian’s concert tours for years on end, because Polly and David love to travel and refuse to split the family up. Even though his siblings abhor the touring lifestyle and desperately want a permanent home, and even Sebastian isn’t that keen on touring. ( Read more... )