N only P: terrible parents

[Robin Landseadel]

On May 6, 2009, at 8:44 AM, János Székely wrote:

> An ex-student of mine is writing his PhD thesis in comparative
> literature, of course out of time like anybody in that situation, and
> asked me about "dominant, terrible, possibly murderous mothers and
> fathers in contemporary American literature." I recommended Nalline
> and Greta but he said GR is too heavy (literally). Any spectacular
> candidates from thinner books?
>
> Thx,
> Janos

I know you're asking for a book, therefore this post is probably  
useless, but can't help but think of Charles Laughton's film of "Night  
of the Hunter":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFzTBPy7nl8

It's based on a novel by Davis Grubb.