Liz’s father asks her to move home several times throughout the novel, both before and after her mother’s death. Why do you feel this was? Did you think there was any motivation beyond simply missing his daughter?

Liz’s father asks her to move home several times throughout the novel, both before and after her mother’s death. Why do you feel this was? Did you think there was any motivation beyond simply missing his daughter?

Most definitely. I think he needed someone to take care of his basic needs. Feed him, clean his house and launder his clothes. Missing her seemed to be incidental to him.

I agree with janeh. He was thinking of himself, wanting someone to take care of him.

Liz's father wanted her back mostly to help and support him with his burdens.

Totally agree with what has been said. Liz’s father needed help and her support with daily household tasks.

Agreed! He only wanted her back to take care of him. He was such a selfish, bully of a man that thought only of himself!

I think he wanted her to assume responsibility for his wife, Liz's mother.

The requests to move back were much before the revelation at the end of the book about the accidental death of Liz's biological mother. Her adopted mother suffered from ill health so one could assume it was her father's way of wanting her close during a difficult time.

Clearly he wanted help with the mundane tasks of taking care of a household!

I really didn't care for her father...he seemed selfishly concerned only for his own welfare.

I believe he was all about power....and control! After all he was a former army officer! A man in charge!

I fully agree with Jhoov that Liz's father was selfish and concerned about his own welfare -- but he also must have been concerned about her learning the truth about her childhood and thought he could prevent her from learning about it.

I think Liz's father needed her support in dealing with her mother and her dementia. I don't think he wanted her home for selfless reasons, but taking care of someone with dementia is incredibly stressful and exhausting, so I don't blame him for wanting her help.

I suspected the father from the begnning and his ongoing attempts to get Liz to move back home reeked of a desire to control her. And, since my suspicions were correct, I'm sure he was concerned about being able to keep an eye on Liz, monitor her activities, and prevent her from learning the truth. If, in fact, that WAS the truth because I'm not convinced that he told her what really happened but, of course, her mother was no longer able to contradict him.

Secondarily, he wanted a housekeeper, cook, and nursemaid for his wife. Not unusual for a man like him (military, especially) in those days. I'm sure he saw Liz as a spinster who should not be navigating the world independently.