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Children's books

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Children's book about mysticism, relationship manipulation, animal abuse, and returns fraud?

7 replies

TegReggibReggib · 12/06/2022 19:48

So DS6 has been reading a book at school and I am concerned that it is inappropriate not just for children, but for anyone full stop. The themes of the book worry me greatly.

DS6 says the story is about an elderly man who embarks on a campaign of manipulation and deception in order to try to enter a relationship with a slightly younger woman who is his neighbour. The themes I have been able to discern from DS6 are as follows:

Theft/animal abuse The elderly man steals the woman's most beloved pet from her home and keeps the pet in a squalid corral with other animals.

Returns fraud The elderly man purchases animals from shops in his city with the intent to keep them for a short period of time, and then return them when he has finished with them.

Mysticism The elderly man tells the woman to whisper secret chants, all as part of his campaign of manipulation.

Relationship manipulation The elderly man embarks on a bizarre campaign of deceit and rampant dishonesty in order to manipulate the the younger woman into marriage.

Does anyone know what this book is?

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 12/06/2022 20:18

Sounds like Esio Trot by Roald Dahl.

CucumberCool · 12/06/2022 20:20

Agreed on Esio Trot.

PestoPasghetti · 12/06/2022 20:21

I don't believe that it says anywhere that Alfie was kept in squalid conditions!

Esio Trot is deeply boring reading. One of the very very rare books where the film is actually better.

Assistanttotheregionalmanager · 12/06/2022 20:21

Esio Trot

HanarCantWearSweaters · 12/06/2022 20:24

Considering the OP’s name, I do believe they know the book 😉

Fruitarian123 · 12/06/2022 20:27

I agree, it sounds like Esio Trot... but the OP raises a good point... should we be teaching this to our children? I cannot refute the points made by the OP.

ThreeFeetTall · 12/06/2022 20:35

It is total gaslighting.

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