Corina answers “What was missing in Vanessa's childhood...”

A Goodreads user asked this question about My Dark Vanessa:

What was missing in Vanessa's childhood that made her such easy pickings? I kept waiting for some psychological explanation from her therapist. Vanessa was an only child and, except for a mother who was annoyingly intrusive and sometimes critical, there was no abuse, nothing to make her crave such intense "adoration," no explanation for her being so easily manipulated.

Corina I understand why you'd ask this question, I was wondering this too, at times. But by the end I understood that there was a kind of vacuum between Vane…moreI understand why you'd ask this question, I was wondering this too, at times. But by the end I understood that there was a kind of vacuum between Vanessa and her parents, the missing of some critical intimacy and connectedness, that left her craving attention and thus easy prey for Strane. You could call it benign neglect; there was nothing so dramatic as abuse in her background, but neglect can be just as profound if not more so than abuse (at least in abuse a child may feel that they are getting some kind of attention, even if painful or twisted).(less)

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Arlyne B. Thank you for your thoughtful analysis. While I found this book disturbing and definitely dark, I think it's an important book, especially for parents ...more
May 25, 2020 07:37AM · flag

Just Me Yes. This is highlighted by the fact that when Vanessa's mom found out about the abuse, she didn't do anything. She just looked the other way. ...more
Aug 12, 2023 09:15AM · flag

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