notes reviewed Bedtime for Frances by Russell Hoban
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1 star
- outdated and has NOT aged well
- the father has a statement about how an individual's worth is reduced/tied to their job and social obligations. this is followed up by the casual threat of violence / punishment (spanking) when the main character (Frances) doesn't want to / cannot go to sleep. personally, I would've withheld snacks, electronics, etc., you know, things that would actually be effective in disciplining a child. but alas, the story is from an older era where trauma is common.
- I liked the scene where she goes right up to what she thought was a "giant" and realizes it was just the chair + bathrobe. confront your fears, yes. growth.
- I disliked the parents because they: belittle their kid, dismiss their Frances' fears/struggles + fail to teach her to confront/face them, threaten her with violence, are emotionally distant, show no effort in raising their …
- outdated and has NOT aged well
- the father has a statement about how an individual's worth is reduced/tied to their job and social obligations. this is followed up by the casual threat of violence / punishment (spanking) when the main character (Frances) doesn't want to / cannot go to sleep. personally, I would've withheld snacks, electronics, etc., you know, things that would actually be effective in disciplining a child. but alas, the story is from an older era where trauma is common.
- I liked the scene where she goes right up to what she thought was a "giant" and realizes it was just the chair + bathrobe. confront your fears, yes. growth.
- I disliked the parents because they: belittle their kid, dismiss their Frances' fears/struggles + fail to teach her to confront/face them, threaten her with violence, are emotionally distant, show no effort in raising their child to be confident/independent/brave with a strong emotional foundation, and lastly, was more focused on watching TV and their own activities than caring for Frances.
- lots of things scare Frances, like giants, tigers, moths, etc., but what actually got her to sleep in the end, was the thought of being spanked.
