Member Reviews
Thanks so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for giving me access to this book. This novel is an amazing debut. Bennett is such a great writer. I was impressed just a few pages in. Thanks for this great read!
This was different, going in I wasn’t sure what to expect. This book centres around Nadia, Aubrey and Luke. I found the descriptions far too much, and was told stuff that wasn’t relevant to the book.
Nadia constantly went on about the baby she lost, like baby didn’t become toddler etc. It’s like I get it. You don’t have to repeat the same thing over and I over. The relationship between Luke and Nadia made me on two minds whether to like Luke or not, he would do or say something to like then do something to make me hate him. I don’t think any the characters were likeable and I’m not sure this was ideal as I find it’s best to like someone, to root for their happy ending.
I wanted to find out what happened unsure why though.
This was good but didn’t necessarily grab me. I’m glad I read it and have a few library patrons in mind to recommend it to.
If I spend time thinking about the characters after I’ve read the book, it has made an impact on me. The Mothers did just that. As “the mothers” of the church watched the pastor’s family and members of the church, a lot was seen, but much was missed. As elderly women they’d seen a lot of living and death. Their observations as they watched the pastor’s son, a young girl grow up after having her mother commit suicide and a young girl abandoned by her mother, they reflect back on their lives. Told from the perspectives of the young people and well as the mothers, the church becomes a living place providing solace for some and confusion for others.
Coming of age debut novel of three teens in an African American community. It deals with grief, young love and personal demons.
The Mothers was a hyped book when it was released and I was happy to read it then. I had high hopes, naturally. But many things did not work for me in the book. I could not relate to the main character or sympathize with her. I felt her actions were not justified, something that I elaborate in my blog review. I enjoyed the writing though and I think Brit Bennett has a lot of potential. The book was very engaging and kept me glued to the pages till the very end.
This book was not like I expected to be but in a wonderful way. Britt Bennett intricately weaves Nadia, Luke, and Audrey's lives together through this excellent story of loss and love.
I hate not finishing books, but I have decided that I should be dedicating my time to books I love and enjoy to read it.
This is exceptionally well written, but for me lacks in substance. The story is melodramatic and over the top, and yet really cliche and nothing I haven't seen or read about before.
The pacing was also off for me. The story kept going at an erratic pace, like it had trouble deciding where to take footing. All of the scenes had a fleeting sensation to them, which made them feel superficial and again, like they lack substance.
Sadly, while I really love Bennet's writing, the story just did not work out for me..
By the time I opened The Mothers on my Kindle, I had forgotten what it was about; all I remembered was the striking cover and that when I first heard of it, I thought it sounded interesting.
Those initial instincts were right. The pace isn't fast - the plot builds slowly - and yet from the first page I was hooked. I was hooked on the story of Nadia, her best friend Aubrey, and her (soon-to-be-ex) boyfriend Luke, and how their relationships fit into the expectations of their small seaside church community.
Without giving too much away, it's safe to say that the novel starts with a high school secret, a secret that grows and expands into the spaces between Nadia and her friends as the years pass, impacting them all whether they are aware of it or not.
The title "The Mothers" also feels like a nod to the relationships and roles of mothers throughout the novel: the one that doesn't want to be a mother, the one that left, the one that failed, the one that tries desperately to become one, the one that makes difficult decisions for their child. It's also a reference to the church "mothers", the group of elderly women in the church whose joint voices and words of warning pop up at turning points in the story.
The novel is multilayered, and while it can easily be read in one sitting, it could also be savoured, read slowly to appreciate the detail with which Brit Bennett builds her characters' world and everyday lives. However you read it, just make sure you do: The Mothers is more than worth your time.
Amazing literary fiction. I could not get The Mothers out of my head. The story structure, narration and characters reminded me of a Toni Morrison novel, however, the writing and the voice was distinct and cannot wait to read more from Brit Bennett. There is a yearning and a sadness and a curious need to know more that propels the reader and the unknown narrator into the lives of the people of Upper Room. The small church community and the very unChristian-like actions of these devout church goers made this novel so good.
The way abortion is treated is something that does not sit well with my own personal philosophies and yet I will recommend this book to everyone and I can't wait to get my own copy.
17-year-old Nadia Turner is still mourning her mother who committed suicide when she finds out she is pregnant by the pastor's son, whom she has been casually dating--the coverup setting in motion events that will event the rest of her life. This was a thoughtful, engrossing story told partially from the unique and amusing point of view of a group of church ladies called "the mothers."
This was a quick read which kept my attention throughout. It had a writing style that I liked and evoked a feeling of the old women or "mothers" in this story that I remember from when I was going up. I didn't necessarily like the collective voice that the story was written in from the mother's perspective, but it didn't bother me that much.
While I enjoyed this book while I was reading it, it is one of those books that when I look back several months later I can hardly remember what it was about. I still think it is well worth reading.