The Importance of Family

The Fuller's are a strong, cohesive family despite the many failures of their members. The parents manage to raise two healthy, sane girls in a land torn by revolution, constantly under the threat of terrorist attacks, avoiding daily hazards like snakes, leopards and landmines. Perhaps because they face so many obstacles together, they have strong family loyalty and tolerance for individual quirks.

Yet, Mum and Dad Fuller would not win any prizes for parents of the year. When Bobo is young, Mum spends most of the day riding horses or woodworking. One daughter is at boarding school and the other is being cared for by a black African nanny. Mum is frequently drunk, and after the loss of babies Olivia and Richard, adds prescription drugs to the mix. She suffers a nervous breakdown and begins to hear voices. Dad is not much better as a...