I didn't view the father's suicide as so hateful until the other vicious behaviors came into play. Then I felt the author added these very negative events in an effort to make this facile book have gravitas. The behavior of the mothers toward Eve was blatantly vicious and unbelievable. That they would tell their small children such ugly things was unbelievable, too. Even though there was no concern for Clem's feelings, a parent would protect her own child from such horrible thoughts. And to make little Miranda be a vessel of evil and venom went way too far for me. It seemed that the author had an outline of a story - and sketched in all the parts - and saw that she had a beach read. Wanting it to feel more serious, she added hate and venom to weigh it down. Did anyone else react this way?