No responses to “On Literary Abductions: An Investigation by Miriam Gershow”

  1. Naseem

    Great essay, Miriam. I have noticed many recent “missing children” novels, as well. My psycho-babble explanation goes something like this. Most books are about losing something and then resolve themselves by finding something unexpected. Losing a child carries a huge emotional lure— it tugs everywhere. Our hearts, our minds, our guts. It fingers our fears. It’s a great tableau for exploring family and society. But it will run itself out. As did cute orphans, drug addled moms, and (hopefully) love-haunted vampires. Personally, your essay has got me thinking about all those kids who are dying from falling out of their beds. I think I see another trend coming . . .

  2. Ellen

    Excellent questions. I think you’re partially right on all counts. I get very frustrated with helicopter parents who won’t let their kids test and develop skills they will need to protect themselves because the parents are terrified the kids might be abducted by strangers. Thank you SO much for pointing out how rare it is. I wish one of the bandwagon authors would make THAT the central thesis … somehow I think it wouldn’t be popular. We seem to relish being terrified by the inexplicable, no matter how unlikely. (Hm. Vampires, zombies, werewolves…).

  3. Amanda MacNaughton

    I have one thing to add: I think often the writers and artists are the tipping point. They/we are sort of the outriders of society who capture a growing but somewhat latent idea just before the crowd. I don’t know how to explain this either, except that artists often have an extraordinary sixth sense. It might sound too supernatural, but I think it’s the best explanation I can come up with.

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