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emotional-fastidiousness
Harriet and David's careful, conservative approach to emotions and relationships contrasts with the more liberal, casual attitudes of their contemporaries.
1 chapter across 1 book
The Sirian Experiments (1980)Doris Lessing
Chapter 1
In Chapter 1 of "The Sirian Experiments," Harriet and David, two conservative and emotionally fastidious individuals, meet at an office party and quickly recognize a kindred spirit in each other. Despite their contrasting backgrounds—Harriet's stable family life and David's divorced parents—they share a mutual desire for a traditional, stable future, including marriage, a home, and many children. Their connection is rooted in their unconventional attitudes toward sex and relationships, setting them apart from their peers in the 1960s social milieu.