See, that part I am actually okay with. It's not really the part where she doesn't get the guy and dies--it's that whole bit about the Children of the Air. The shoehorning in of a moral lesson for kids, plus the strange stuff about immortal souls, was what seemed so weird to me.

But I think you're right--from what I've heard, the guy had some pretty terrible depression and anxiety. And I hate to admit it, but most of his stories creep me out, for a lot of reasons.