I loved this extract and really want to know what happens next!
The author captured perfectly the joys and frustrations of being an intelligent child alternately dismissed and interrogated by adults too loving or too arrogant to give explanations and make requests rather than hide the truth and give instructions.
The questioning at the Mansion reminded me so much of the attitudes of some teachers - assuming the worst while expecting unreasonable obedience and trust.
I can remember the thrill of sitting at the top of the stairs to find out what was happening, as the narrator describes, because adults never seemed tell you if you just asked; the freedom of being outdoors and exploring the countryside, and always going that little bit further than permitted, just for the thrill and excitement of making the decision, or because the right thing (returning a book, seeing a friend) seemed the most important thing at the time, rather than a desire to be 'naughty', which always seemed to be the assumption when inevitably found out.
I am really impressed with the poetic description of nature and surroundings, and the understanding of a child's perspective which the author shows.
The author captured perfectly the joys and frustrations of being an intelligent child alternately dismissed and interrogated by adults too loving or too arrogant to give explanations and make requests rather than hide the truth and give instructions.
The questioning at the Mansion reminded me so much of the attitudes of some teachers - assuming the worst while expecting unreasonable obedience and trust.
I can remember the thrill of sitting at the top of the stairs to find out what was happening, as the narrator describes, because adults never seemed tell you if you just asked; the freedom of being outdoors and exploring the countryside, and always going that little bit further than permitted, just for the thrill and excitement of making the decision, or because the right thing (returning a book, seeing a friend) seemed the most important thing at the time, rather than a desire to be 'naughty', which always seemed to be the assumption when inevitably found out.
I am really impressed with the poetic description of nature and surroundings, and the understanding of a child's perspective which the author shows.