The Man Who Loved Children in Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die

Aug 29, 2025 Maeve rated it it was ok

Shelves: 1001-book

The book should be called "The Man Who Loved being childish". All the adults in this book were terrible people who made bad choices and were mean and often delusional. I nearly gave up on it, and had I not been listening to the audiobook would have. The book was so close to having a satisfying ending when the only decent character "Loulou" (Sam's oldest daughter) was pushed to her breaking point, but then it only got half way there. I want to punch Sam in his smug face. If you want to know what ...more

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Apr 28, 2018 Arukiyomi rated it really liked it

Shelves: 1001-books

... a study in spousal neglect ... when a husband and father lives with his head in the clouds.

Once you’ve got over the fact that this isn’t a sinister title in terms of today’s worries about child abuse, you discover that this is, in fact, more of a study in spousal neglect and the emotional-relational issues that arise when a husband and father lives with his head in the clouds. For all that, this is a pretty down to earth novel which, for me, started a bit too slowly.

There’s really nothin

... a study in spousal neglect ... when a husband and father lives with his head in the clouds.

Once you’ve got over the fact that this isn’t a sinister title in terms of today’s worries about child abuse, you discover that this is, in fact, more of a study in spousal neglect and the emotional-relational issues that arise when a husband and father lives with his head in the clouds. For all that, this is a pretty down to earth novel which, for me, started a bit too slowly.

There’s really nothing I can add to a review of this book that hasn’t already been written in Jonathan Franzen’s wonderful review… except, that is, what I thought of it and how it related to me, so that’s where I’ll focus. I should say at the outset that I do have a father who loves children. There were times in the novel when I was also reminded of my father’s idealism and how it affected our family for both good and bad. It made me realise that, in comparison, we got off lightly.

Stead has created a character primarily for her own catharsis but also for the very beneficial catharsis of anyone who has grown up a victim to a father’s untrammelled passions. For that, it should be more widely read because I’m sure that there are plenty of people out there who would relate and find voice to their hurts in the pleas of wife Henny and eldest daughter Louie.

While I found the prose to be a bit tedious at times (I’m not a fan of lengthy narratives in some childish argot about nothing around the dinner table), the strength of the characters more than makes up for this. I found my sympathies lying most with the eldest girl (I’m an eldest boy) and can very much relate to her decision at the end of the novel.

By that point, I was so nauseated by Sam Pollit, I was glad, like her, to see the back of him and the whole crumbling edifice they called “home.” This novel showed me that there are far worse fates than to lose your family by being sent overseas to boarding school from the age of 11 and, for that, I’m grateful I’ve read it.

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Nov 19, 2010 Arianna rated it it was ok

Shelves: 1001books, time-100

I'm still reeling from the fact that I finished this book, finally...ugh. I don't know what to make of it yet. I wish I remember where I first saw its title - I got it from PaperBackSwap back in April of 2008, although I know I'd had it on my to-read list for years. I saw it in SOMEone's "best books ever" list, and I figured it had to be worth my time. Um - NO. I can't believe I held out through the whole thing, although I DO have trouble not finishing a book I start. Even if I feel like it's a ...more

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May 29, 2012 Kecia rated it liked it

Shelves: times_100_best, usa

IMHO, 527 pages was 527 pages too many to spend with the Pollit family. It was obvious that Louie would end up killing someone, but I was never quite sure who it would be. The obvious conclusion made getting there tedious for me.

I did feel sorry for Henny. She was married to an irresponsible man and had no way to get out of it. In that day divorce was not an option. She could not have a career as a woman. She had no family planning services available to her. It's no wonder she behaved the way sh ...more

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