Enjoy your Mother's Day celebration, Betsy! I recently finished The Giver of Stars and marveled at the multi-dimensional character, Margery. She was determined to be independent and almost manlike, the core of her success as a WPA librarian on horseback in Appalachia. Unanticipated motherhood altered her life significantly.
The most haunting book on motherhood I ever read was Sophie's Choice...
Happy Mothers Day, Betsy. I'm almost done with East of Eden. I'm glad Cathy Ames was included on one of the lists. A mother who works in the world's oldest professions after abandoning her husband and children days after the birth.
Cathy Ames was a shock when I first encountered her in E of E years ago. I was fascinated by her complete and utter badness. I wanted some form of redemption for her, some kind of happy ending. I was young. Now I'm older and I wonder at the male mind who conceived her.
I keep having to go back to the Bible story to see how all the characters fit. Steinbeck was really a genius in developing them. I have to admit she is the one who makes me turn the pages. What evil will she do next?
Another great read. Mothers are after all... people. They make the best decisions they can or make decisions that serve a greater good, even if it’s a negative effect on their child. They skip milestones for work, they get overwhelmed and dismissive, they are subject to the effects of trauma and react instead of maturely respond. Women have the right to be unlikable and more women probably should be. We cheer for male anti-heroes. Why not cheer for a woman with complexity? It’s a challenge.
Exactly, it's a huge challenge. I cheer for complex women. When you're writing your female characters, do you think about whether they will be "likable?"
Thanks, Betsy, for this great discussion and for including Jane Austen in it!
I just finished the Ann Patchett book The Dutch House, and it explores a strong, complicated theme of motherhood. It's a portrait of motherhood that challenges our perceptions, and ultimately is just beautiful and transformative in a way that fiction is made for!
Have a beautiful mother's day, Betsy and Spark friends -Janet
You are right about the mother in The Dutch House! She is fascinating. You could hardly call her a bad woman but she was not the mother at least one of her children could have wished for and her actions marked her children's lives in very deep ways.
Enjoy your Mother's Day celebration, Betsy! I recently finished The Giver of Stars and marveled at the multi-dimensional character, Margery. She was determined to be independent and almost manlike, the core of her success as a WPA librarian on horseback in Appalachia. Unanticipated motherhood altered her life significantly.
The most haunting book on motherhood I ever read was Sophie's Choice...
Oh yes, Sophie's Choice! That story is indeed haunting. Thanks for the info about Margery in The Giver of Stars. That sounds like a great read.
The book is by JoJo Moyes, one of my favorite writers
Happy Mothers Day, Betsy. I'm almost done with East of Eden. I'm glad Cathy Ames was included on one of the lists. A mother who works in the world's oldest professions after abandoning her husband and children days after the birth.
Cathy Ames was a shock when I first encountered her in E of E years ago. I was fascinated by her complete and utter badness. I wanted some form of redemption for her, some kind of happy ending. I was young. Now I'm older and I wonder at the male mind who conceived her.
I keep having to go back to the Bible story to see how all the characters fit. Steinbeck was really a genius in developing them. I have to admit she is the one who makes me turn the pages. What evil will she do next?
Wishing you a Happy Mother's Day, Betsy...whatever makes you happy, that's what I want for you.
Thank you, Judy. I wish the very same to you.
Another great read. Mothers are after all... people. They make the best decisions they can or make decisions that serve a greater good, even if it’s a negative effect on their child. They skip milestones for work, they get overwhelmed and dismissive, they are subject to the effects of trauma and react instead of maturely respond. Women have the right to be unlikable and more women probably should be. We cheer for male anti-heroes. Why not cheer for a woman with complexity? It’s a challenge.
Exactly, it's a huge challenge. I cheer for complex women. When you're writing your female characters, do you think about whether they will be "likable?"
No, I don’t. I see them as having sinister motive and cruelty like anyone. They make questionable decisions because the situation is hard.
Thanks, Betsy, for this great discussion and for including Jane Austen in it!
I just finished the Ann Patchett book The Dutch House, and it explores a strong, complicated theme of motherhood. It's a portrait of motherhood that challenges our perceptions, and ultimately is just beautiful and transformative in a way that fiction is made for!
Have a beautiful mother's day, Betsy and Spark friends -Janet
You are right about the mother in The Dutch House! She is fascinating. You could hardly call her a bad woman but she was not the mother at least one of her children could have wished for and her actions marked her children's lives in very deep ways.