As Philip Larkin wrote in the Greatest Poem of All Time (GPAT): “Man hands on misery to man/It deepens like a coastal shelf/Get out as early as you can/And don’t have any kids yourself.” This doesn’t hold true for every parent, but it certainly would’ve been good advice to give to any of the mother […]
There are a few things in life that are supposed to be sacrosanct, and one of those things is that parents should love their children and devote themselves to supporting, raising, and helping their kids. When that doesn’t happen in real life, it can be devastating. In novels, though, a runaway parent—who leaves their family […]
Welcome to the Book Nerd’s Guide to Life! Every other week, we convene in this safe place to discuss the unique challenges of life for people whose noses are always wedged in books. For past guides, click here. By the time you’re reading this, assuming all has gone according to plan, I will be on an […]
While extremely difficult childhoods are an understandable conceit in novels (there’s nothing more boring than a healthy, happy upbringing), some stories are so intense, it’s amazing to imagine the kids involved actually survived to adulthood—if they did, at that. These 10 books detail really crummy childhoods. We’re surprised any of these kids made it out alive.