We had a great time in Southern California visiting with my family over Christmas (see photo at left) and now we are back to the cold of Canada, which is a brisk re-introduction. But it isn’t all gloomy, we did go cross-country skiing yesterday with our dog, Stella, and that was fun. It helps to get out and about despite the winter temps here. I hope everyone had a lovely holiday and will ring in the New Year tonight with plenty of good cheer.
While on break I finished Brit Bennett’s debut novel “The Mothers,” which received a lot of hype before it came out in October. The author was selected as one of the National Book Foundation’s “5 Under 35” honorees, along with Yaa Gyasi, who wrote the novel “Homegoing.” And indeed Bennett is young, just 26 years old. Apparently she started writing the book while in high school in Oceanside, California, then finished it after going to Stanford, and getting an M.F.A. at the University of Michigan.
Set within a contemporary black community in Southern California, Bennett’s novel “The Mothers” is about an unwanted teen pregnancy that affects those involved — as well as others — and reverberates throughout their lives. Particularly it’s a coming of age tale of two teenage girls and a boy who become close and are all struggling to overcome hardships. The two girls bond over trying to come to grips with being abandoned by their mothers, and the boy, a star athlete, dates one of them while healing from a career-ending injury. It’s their relationship with each other — as well as the secrets surrounding the unwanted pregnancy — that form the gist of the novel, set against the backdrop of the tight-knit church and military community in which they live.
It’s a book that kept me reading to find out what would happen to the lives of these three entangled characters, though I didn’t end up totally liking any of them. They continued to make bad choices — one betrayal in particular — which sort of confounded me and I couldn’t really get over for my appraisal of the book. So while I thought the author had some good writing in it, and the book was a worthwhile read, I liked but didn’t overly love “The Mothers.” It was just some things that didn’t fully resonate or work for me that made me like it a bit less. Too bad, I had heard so much glowing praise about it. Still I will continue to watch for what the author writes next.
Meanwhile last week, I saw the movie “La La Land” with Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. I rarely ever see musicals, but I was curious about it since it also received such positive hype. It’s about a jazz pianist who falls for an aspiring actress in Los Angeles. Surprisingly I found the movie quite entertaining. Gosling and Stone share an enticing charisma and chemistry, and I liked how — though set in contemporary times — the film pays homage to the heydays of Hollywood, harkening back to the movies of Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, as well as “Rebel Without a Cause.” It’s neat too to see such landmarks in the film as the Griffith Observatory, the Rialto Theatre, and the movie star murals on the city’s streets. It includes some musical numbers, but the storyline becomes more spoken as it goes on — it’s not totally filled with singing and dancing numbers. With the themes in it, “La La Land” celebrates the artists and dreamers of the world — and there’s nothing wrong with that.
What about you, have you seen this movie, or read the novel “The Mothers,” and if so, what did you think?
P.S. Please stay tuned for my post later in the week previewing new January releases and my Best Of 2016 list. Thanks, and Happy New Year!
I haven’t read The Mothers yet but your review has intrigued me more than any others I have read. Somehow I had not realized it was set in So Cal. My husband HATES musicals as movies (maybe from working for Disney all these years?) but there are some I love, so I will see La La Land. I am also a big Emma Stone fan.
I saw Fences a couple days ago with my friend in the movie theater. Despite my antipathy for plays (it is based on a play), despite almost too much dialogue, I found it moving. Bring tissues!
Happy New Year to you and happy reading in 2017!
Thanks Judy, you too, happy 2017. I didn’t realize your husband works for Disney. Interesting. Emma Stone has appeal in this movie despite not having a big singing voice. Good to know about Fences. Plays are hard to make into good movies. I agree about the too much dialogue problem. Still I might see it.
We loved La La Land but as you know, my kids have done many musicals so we are definitely a musical loving family. I just thought it was super sweet and so gorgeously shot. We tried to visit the Observatory the day after and could not get in.
Hi Ti, Glad you & your family loved the movie. I thought you would. I loved the whole L.A. angle of it. It was a bit different & neat in that way.
I just read a not so glowing of La La Land. Still, I’ll be watching it. I saw an outstanding movie crop before this year’s end, so my list of the Best Movies of 2016 (Before Award Season) will be somewhat long. I’m planning to publish it by January 10, if not sooner.
Okay good Carmen, I’ll stop by your site to check out your list. I still need to see quite a few before the Academy Awards. La La Land is a bit different but if you like musicals, you might like it.
I just got home from seeing La La Land and while I really enjoyed it, I’m still frustrated that they didn’t choose actors with better voices (specifically for the Mia role). It was definitely a great change of pace, though, and I’m glad to see it getting attention.
Hi Shannon: Yeah I can see your point. Neither Stone or Gosling had big singing or dancing talent in it, yet the movie still seemed to carry through. And it was a change of pace; a bit refreshing for a movie these days.
I have plans to see LaLa Land with a friend on Thursday. I’m interested in The Mothers and have listened to a sample on Audible a couple of times but the narrator just doesn’t work for me. Happy New Year!
Hi Kathy, happy 2017! Yeah I know how that goes, when the narrator doesn’t work on an audio. It ruins it. I’ll be interested to see if you like La La Land.
Sounds like a nice time in Southern CA. I do want to read The Mothers as well.
Happy New Year!
Thanks Diane, you too, happy 2017. We had a great time over the holiday; Calif. is a nice break in winter. You might like The Mothers.
My daughter just gave me her copy of The Mothers and I’m planning to read it sometime this winter. It sounds like her reaction was similar to yours. We hope to see LaLa Land soon, too. Glad you had a good trip… Happy New Year!
Thanks JoAnn. The Mothers is a pretty short, quick read, which I am still thinking about. Some parts I liked, others I didn’t. Happy 2017 to you & your family!
I actually surprised myself by loving The Mothers: the writing, how real the characters felt to me and so similar to people I’ve known in the black community here in the Central Valley. The control the church seemed to turn me off a bit, but that, too, felt real for this community. But there was no happy ending, that’s for sure.
As for La La Land, I’ve been pondering it. I don’t usually enjoy musicals, but there have been a few that I’ve loved over the years. I might just have to see it.
Thanks for sharing…and for visiting my blog.
Sorry: I meant to say that the control the church had over the people turned me off a bit….
Hi Laurel : I get what you mean about the book. There were parts I liked about it and other parts not so much. But I’m sure it was pretty real. As for La La Land, it certainly surprised me that I liked it. You might enjoy it too.
Welcome home!
The premise Mothers sounds interesting. Too bad that it was a little disappointing. It is striking that the author is so young. Hopefully she has a long career of good books ahead of her.
Thanks Brian. Yeah I think this young author has a long career ahead of her. I was impressed with her debut even though I might not have loved loved the novel. Best wishes to you in 2017!
I’ve heard Canada is beautiful. Skiing must be fun!
Great book review too – my head must have been buried in the sand over this one, I hadn’t heard of it.
Thanks Erin for stopping by! Yes I just recently became aware of The Mothers from other bloggers and sites claiming it was a major debut, and indeed it was well done from an author so young.
I’ve heard La-La Land is great–my son loved it and definitely recommended it to me. Sounds like a lot of fun.
Happy reading in 2017!
Thanks Jane. Yeah it’s worth seeing, a bit new & different. I think you’d like it. Happy New Year.
Haven’t read The Mother’s yet but it sounds interesting. 26 is so young to have completed a first novel. The author must be a dreamer like the characters depicted in La La Land. I liked the movie. Such a refreshing change from blood and guts and aliens etc. Beautiful cinematography and a poignant twist at the end. I’m also a bit biased because I know most of the dancers in the opening sequence and Megan is in the last scene (yellow dress and steering wheel). Enjoy the snow Susan.
Wow that’s wonderful!!! I loved the opening sequence of the movie. How much fun it seemed. I’d like to see the scene again so I can pick Megan out. Thanks for letting me know. I definitely enjoyed the movie. That’s terrific about the dancers & Megan in it. How fun, that first scene is great.
La-La Land sounds like a fun movie – I wonder if Hollywood’s thinking about getting back into musicals?
Your thoughts on The Mothers are interesting – most reviews I’ve seen have been so positive. However, I’m glad to have a more cautious opinion to keep in mind when I read it. Now I’m curious to know what my own reaction will be.
Yeah Naomi — I’d be interested to hear what you think of The Mothers. I liked it but didn’t love it. I think it’s better to go in more cautiously. I’m sure she’ll likely have a long career though. As for La La Land, yeah I wonder if with the success of Hamilton and this one — there will be more musicals in Hollywood. I would think so. Thanks for stopping by!
I agree with your assessment about the characters for The Mothers. I know which betrayal you mean – that seriously bugged me and put the final axe in the main for me. That said, I loved the book because of the other reasons I listed in my review. I didn’t know all that backstory about the book being up for nomination or anything about the author though – your review was definitely more informative on a fact-related basis =)
Thanks Erin, I’m still glad I read The Mothers, but her betrayal of her friend was really low and hard to swallow. I’m like whaaa? Ha. Though I’ll probably read her next book.