The Lost Mother

I'm going to throw in my two cents just because I'm so irritated with all the reviews that call this book "bad" because it is sad. They are not the same thing. If you don't like sad books, try to avoid them. But if sad books were automatically "bad," then that would make most of the world's great literature "bad." Literature is about the human condition, which is not always rainbows and lollipops.

Now, to this book: it is not great literature. Not because it's sad, but because it's so implausible. This is the story of a family hit hard by the Great Depression. Mom walks out on Dad; Dad loses the house; family lives in a tent until winter, when the children are taken in and kicked out by various family members. Finally, the wealthy show more family behind all of Dad's troubles wants to adopt the adorable little sister -- but that goes south too.

Finally, the children run off to find their mother -- who hands them off first to an orphanage, then to the hideous wealthy family. And who comes running in at the last possible second to save the day? Dad!!! THAT's the not-so-great part about this novel.

So, if you would like a watered-down version of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn with a lot less historical color, feel free to read this highly sentimental novel. But please don't call it bad just because most of it is "sad." show less

This author writes so realistically, so eloquently really, about ordinary people, dysfunctional characters, and life that it's easy to lose yourself in her books. This story is about a family in the Great Depression, prominently about the children, a brother and sister. Their mother left them and many misfortunes befall the little family, among them terrible injustices. The reader "feels" this story through the characters. This is the second of Morris's books I have read. I'll read all of them eventually. She's an author of note, worth your time. Although this isn't suspense, there is plenty of it in the story.

This is the heartbreaking account told by 13 year old Thomas during the Depression era. He lives in Vermont in a tent in the woods with his dad and his younger sister Margaret after his mother leaves to "seek a better job elsewhere."



A perfect example of how children interpret the mysteries of adults. With what little information his dad has told him as to why his mother left his innocence paints a different story than the truth and he is determined to find his mother, either to bring her home or to go live with her. Life for Thomas and his sister have not been easy while in their father's care who seems to be on a streak of bad luck. When they are informed their dad had to leave for temporary out-of-town job they are passed from house show more to house. At first they are happy at each place once they are warm and fed but each household reveals their skeleton and ultimately making it impossible for the children to stay.



Mary McGarry Morris does a superb job in depicting Thomas's emotional, frustrating and painful experience as he finds his way to the truth. Definitely my favorite to date that I've read by this author. I would recommend this book for those who appreciate thoughtful reading.



How I acquired this book: Barnes & Noble clearance shelf

Shelf Life: Approximately 3 years. show less

great, wonderful reader. all characters very irritating, but an interesting portraiT OF LOVE. disappointed father doesn't know how to express his love. mother is so damaged she can't love. boy narrator is so angry he can't make good decisions.

Comparisons run wild in the world of art. Music labels try to convice eager listeners that they have discovered the next U2. Galleries are filled with the paintings of the next Picasso. And every publisher in the world has the next Harry Potter in the works. If a comparison can be made, it is exploited.
I'd like to say that I am beyond such corporate trickery. Unfortunately, everytime I come across "the next [insert favorite band, artist, author here]" I find myself disappointed. Sometimes they're okay, maybe even good, but great? Never. Nothing ever compares to the artist who opened my eyes to a new world.
I should have known better when the first sentence in the jacket of Mary McGarry Morris' most recent novel compared her to John show more Steinbeck. Of course she wouldn't be Steinbeck. None of my favorite authors are Steinbeck, so why would I expect Ms. Morris to be? Having this comparison in mind from the onset of my reading, however, made it difficult to dismiss.
I can see how the connection was made: the plot of The Lost Mother is similar in nature to some of Steinbeck's novels. It is the story of a stressed mother who leaves her husband and two children to distance herself from all she hates about rural living. The Depression happens and the family loses everything. Of course it only gets worse with corruption, imprisonment, and tons of disappoinment. And just like Steinbeck, there is that ray of hope that shines through despite everything. But the plot is the only element that can be compared.
Morris' writing style is quite dry. It is simple—no more than a narrative of an event with few extra words or insights. Despite its promise, The Lost Mother barely touched upon my emotions or my logic.
The Lost Mother is not for those who like a like-hearted read. It's also not for those who wish to be challenged. It is for that rare breed who enjoys a somber story, but doesn't wish to be provoked: a rare audience indeed.
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I could not put this one down. It was so sad but a wonderful look at the characters life and what they went through. I loved following the children through all of their pain and seeing how it all turned out.

Sad novel. Well written. Well narrated audiobook.