A universal regret shared by many people is that when we lose a loved one, we didn't say "goodbye" or "I love you." Joyce Carol Oates' terrific novel, Missing Mom, touches on that theme as it explores how a daughter mourns that sudden loss of her beloved mother. A moving novel, Oates' story features a believable realism and readable prose. Although the novel seems long (464 pages), short chapters, approachable narrative, and an engaging story make this a pleasurable read.
In the middle-class suburb of Mount Ephraim, New York, Gwen Eaton resides in the same home where her husband passed away years before. Her adult daughters, Clare and Nikki, live very different lives--Clare is a married mother of two, and Nikki, 31, is a journalist for a small publication and is considered the "wild child" of the family. Nikki is dating a married DJ, much to the chagrin of her family. The novel opens at a Mother's Day meal at which a motley collection of individuals has gathered at Gwen's invitation. Gwen is the sort of person who cares for stray animals and people--through Nikki's first-person narration, readers discover Gwen's inherent belief in the goodness of people. It is Gwen's kind nature and willingness to assist strangers that leads to an unexpected tragedy--her brutal murder at the hands of an ex-convict. Nikki is the unfortunate person who finds her mother's broken body and she spends the bulk of the novel navigating through this trauma.
Intrigued by this novel? Want to discover how Nikki navigates through her great loss (her mother's death), deals with a self-absorbed sibling, and ultimately finds herself in the process? Read the rest of my book review here: http://www99.epinions.com/content_400839380612
If you are looking for a novel to read before the end of the summer, this is it. An engaging, thoughtful novel, Missing Mom will not disappoint!
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