Reader discussion: Mother

Public reader discussion about Mother by Maksim Gorky.

Finally read Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut

By memoryPlanet47

This book is just ridiculously good. Like, really. It was the last one I needed to read to say I’d finished up Kurt’s list (though, okay, I couldn’t get through Player Piano—I’ll get to it), and I honestly didn’t expect it to hit this hard. In my opinion it’s an A+, and I saw that he kind of rated it the same way in an interview. It also totally holds up alongside Cat’s Cradle and S5. Different vibe for sure, but just as good, maybe even better. There are also some passages and whole speeches that are flat-out amazing. The moment where he knocks Bernie O’hare down the stairs—yeah, that was great. I do have one question about the ending though. Why does he kill himself? I understand he might feel like that makes sense, but that part happens so fast. I was waiting for more of an explanation or for him to spell out what it all meant. Maybe I just missed something, or maybe I’m overthinking it and trying to find deeper meaning where there isn’t any.

about "Bloodchild and Other Stories" (but mostly "Bloodchild") by Octavia E. Butler

By field_simple

I grabbed Octavia E. Butler’s “Bloodchild” figuring it probably wouldn’t be my kind of thing. I honestly only got past the opening bit because I don’t usually see any big science fiction characters with Vietnamese names (I’m Vietnamese). But I’m really glad I read it—still, that line about what she would’ve done to Hoa when he’s on the floor is stuck in my brain. I’ve never finished a story and felt this tense and grossly anxious. Like I’m not sure it’s gonna fade. After reading the afterword, I get that it’s supposed to be about a relationship between two totally different kinds of people. And I remember something about how the Tlic were parasitic before humans showed up, with the births basically killing the egg-bearer. Then with humans, they seem to kind of recognize human wishes and intelligence and actually try to make it work more mutually. Still, I can’t shake the feeling that one side’s status and rights are always way higher than the other. It’s like… imagine your dog could think like a person and understand you (kind of) through human logic, and you love it and even need it for something biological, but the bond still isn’t the same as a real, equal friendship with another human. How is consent supposed to even work in that setup? Also, Liên—Hoa’s mom—what’s her deal in all this? She barely shows up for like two-thirds of the story, so it’s hard for me to place her. Overall it’s horrifying, but I can’t stop thinking about it because it’s so messed up and interesting at the same time. I also liked “Speech Sounds” and “The Evening and the Morning and the Night,” but I don’t know if the same uneasy feeling I have now is just leftover from “Bloodchild.”

Books about bad mothers.

By happyWise23

Basically the title says it—moms who are neglectful, addicted, abusive, stuff like that. My mom wasn’t a good mother, and it’s been a year since she passed. I’m just trying to find something that helps me heal, get some closure and peace, or at least feel like I’m not alone and can relate.

Young moms book club

By memoryPlanet47

Hi! I just started a book club for moms with little kids. Most of the women in the group like a mix of romance, fantasy, and psychological thrillers. We’re trying to find stuff that isn’t super heavy, is easy to pick up and read in short chunks, and is still fun. It would also be great to have WOC main characters since our group is diverse. We’re currently on *Lessons in Chemistry*, and next up we’re thinking *Verity* by Colleen Hoover.

Any opinions for the mother in THE STRANGER by Albert Camus?

By SilverFocus1993

I’ve been reading a “typical” translation where “Mother” shows up with a capital M when the protagonist talks about it. That made me feel like, to him, it’s kind of a label he’s assigning more than something he’s emotionally connected to just because she’s his mom. His feelings seem real, but I’m not sure if he actually had a natural bond, or if he’s viewing it more like “mother” as a concept—unless I’m overthinking it because of the wording. Does anyone know if other translations handle that capitalization/wording differently too?

Novels about mothers and daughters

By IslandSleepy

I’m trying to find a book that has a really good, loving connection between moms and daughters. A little bittersweet is totally fine, but I don’t want it to be super messy or full of constant conflict. I just love my kid so much, and I’m hoping for a novel that’ll hit all the right feelings.

What are some of your thoughts on Kurt Vonnegut's Mother Night?

By Cosmos-Heron

I’ve been pretty obsessed with Vonnegut for the last few months, and I swear every time I think I’ve seen all I can from him, I finish another book and I’m still impressed. Mother Night was definitely darker than some of the others I’ve read, and I really liked (and also couldn’t stop feeling weird about) how he talks about war and morality through a Nazi’s voice. I told a couple friends to read it and they just didn’t get into it at all—they said it felt offensive and kind of pathetic that you’re supposed to have any sympathy for Nazis. Curious what everyone else thinks of the novel.