Bad Mother by Ayelet Waldman
There’s not much of a summary I can post for this book. Basically it’s a set of essays/memoirs of Waldman’s experiences as a mother. Waldman claimes to be a bad mother because she discusses way in which she is unlike the stereotypical “good mother”. But I disagree (and I think she probably does too) that she is a bad mother.
I really liked this book for a few reasons. First of all, quite of few of the chapters really resonated with me. I can’t really pinpoint any specifics anymore, but I there were times when I knew and understood exactly what she was talking about, because I’ve been there.
The other thing I liked about the book was how honest it was. Waldman doesn’t back away from sharing the worst things (in her opinion) she’s done as a mother. And while I disagreed with her philosophy and her decisions on certain issues, I appreciated her candour. In one particular chapter, she discusses a decision she made as a mother that I would never have even considered, but her emotions about the situation were so raw and real, I couldn’t help but feel for her, even though I disagreed with her choice with all of my being.
I really enjoyed this book, but I know that a lot of people might be offended by it or at least some of Waldman’s choices as a mother.
In Flanders Fields
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
-Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD Canadian Army (1872-1918)
Benny and Shrimp by Katarina Mazetti
Desire is mourning her late husband and Benny his mother. The grave sites happen to be right next to each other and Benny and Desire often find themselves sitting on a bench in the graveyard together. At first, they are annoyed by the presence of another person, but eventually they make a connection. They begin a relationship and find that there is a lot of passion between them – good and bad. They seem to be perfect for each other and totally wrong for each other all at the same time.
This book was a really quick, light read, but I didn’t really enjoy it. The characters were annoying and selfish and the story moved a little too fast for my liking. I also really hated the ending. It wasn’t believable or satisfying. However, I think some people might enjoy this book and apparently have as it’s supposedly an international bestseller. It just wasn’t for me.
