Kathryn Cope 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.

Kathryn Cope I felt that the lack of any other great trauma in Vanessa's life (other than falling out with her best friend) is sort of the point. There's nothing i…moreI felt that the lack of any other great trauma in Vanessa's life (other than falling out with her best friend) is sort of the point. There's nothing in her background that marks her out as a victim or makes her especially vulnerable. She's insecure, self-absorbed and searching for an identity beyond the limits of her family - but what teenager isn't? To me, this made the whole scenario more disturbing as potentially she could be any 14-year-old girl.(less)

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