I downloaded this to get a taste of Bates and see if I might want to read some other of his work. It was perfectly fine, but I just felt there wasn't anything to it. I did not like the image of the old man, he seemed like a drunkard and a wastral to me, without much else to recommend him. I would not have wanted my child sitting outside with him while he swilled his beer. I was unsure what point was meant to be made, other than children seeing people differently, and more kindly, than adults.

Not in any hurry to read more of his work at this point. ( )