On the Shelf: Mother, Mother

MOTHER, MOTHER | Koren Zailckas | Crown | September 2013

Josephine Hurst has her family under control. With two beautiful daughters, a brilliantly intelligent son, a tech-guru of a husband and a historical landmark home, her life is picture perfect. She has everything she wants; all she has to do is keep it that way. But living in this matriarch’s determinedly cheerful, yet subtly controlling domain hasn’t been easy for her family, and when her oldest daughter, Rose, runs off with a mysterious boyfriend, Josephine tightens her grip, gradually turning her flawless home into a darker sort of prison. Resentful of her sister’s newfound freedom, Violet turns to eastern philosophy, hallucinogenic drugs, and extreme fasting, eventually landing herself in the psych ward. Meanwhile, her brother Will shrinks further into a world of self-doubt. Recently diagnosed with Aspergers and epilepsy, he’s separated from the other kids around town and is homeschooled to ensure his safety. Their father, Douglas, finds resolve in the bottom of the bottle—an addict craving his own chance to escape. Josephine struggles to maintain the family’s impeccable façade, but when a violent incident leads to a visit from child protective services, the truth about the Hursts might finally be revealed.

"A family is a tyranny ruled over by its weakest member." - George Bernard Shaw

Most books about families focus on how those people interact with each other. Mother, Mother takes a different approach and introduces us to extremely different characters - yes, all members of the same family - that are completely independent from one another.

Josephine, the mother, is lost in her own world, obsessed with making her life (and her family) look perfect. Rose, the eldest daughter, has run away from home and is tangled in a web of dreams, boys, and buried secrets. Violet, the youngest daughter, has turned to eastern religions and psychedelic drugs to find some sort of escape. Douglas, the father, found his comfort in alcohol but is struggling to pretend it doesn't exist. Will, the son, makes as much sense of his surroundings as he possible can after being diagnosed with Aspergers and epilepsy. Each member of the Hurst family has secrets to hide and decisions to make that keep all of them selfish.

There are little hints throughout the book that suggest there's something not quite right with Josephine. She's certainly overbearing and too protective of her children, but it's impossible to decide just what exactly she's doing wrong. After a mishap involving all (or most) members of the family, Violet is sent to a psych ward and Will's hand is wrapped in bandages. No one seems to know exactly what happened that night and the stories become even more confusing as you turn the pages of the book. You don't know who to trust or what to believe.

I really liked Violet's character. Her past is rocky, but her reasons for following various eastern religious practices (and taking them to the extreme) are fascinating. The chapters from her point of view were the ones I looked forward to the most - she narrates from the psych ward, oblivious to what's happening in her own home or the details of what happened the night she was sent to the hospital. Will is equally compelling as he tries to do everything exactly as his mother says. Josephine's manipulative personality is shown through Will's thought process and eventual actions, creating a compelling example of the bond between mother and son.

Mother, Mother is a fast-paced read that will keep you guessing until the end. It's a character-driven story with an intriguing plot. If you like psychological thrillers and issues of the mind, then this is a book for you.