Kathleen 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.

Kathleen She had very few friends, was a loaner, seen as somewhat of an oddball - that is so destructive of a young teen. Makes them vulnerable to anyone who o…moreShe had very few friends, was a loaner, seen as somewhat of an oddball - that is so destructive of a young teen. Makes them vulnerable to anyone who offers acceptance.(less)

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Arlyne B. Thank you, Kathleen. I was very affected by this book, very sad. I just couldn't figure out why Vanessa continued to carry on this relationship long a ...more
Aug 23, 2020 03:15PM · flag

Kathleen I was affected by it also. Before I retired I wrote books for teenagers on psychological or medical topics, one was on date rape. Different from this, ...more
Aug 23, 2020 06:33PM · flag

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