Daughters could survive a powerful mother, but boys found it almost impossible. Such boys were often severely damaged and spent the rest of their lives running away from their mothers, or from anybody who remotely reminded them of their mothers; either that, or they became their mothers, in a desperate, misguided act of psychological self defence.

We are all tempted, Mma. We are all tempted when it comes to cake.

Talking about pumpkins doesn't make them grow.

The previously unloved may find it hard to believe that they are now loved; that is such a miracle, they feel; such a miracle.

Who can't like pigs? They're wonderful creatures! I've always liked pigs.

Reality television, which turned its eye on people who were doing nothing but being themselves, was the perfect expression of this trend [of narcissism]. Let's look at ourselves, it said. Aren't we fascinating?

Every small wrong, every minor act of cruelty, every act of petty bullying was symbolic of a greater wrong. And if we ignored these small things, then did it not blunt our outrage over the larger wrongs?