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Mothers and Sons
A mother and son, estranged but yearning for reunion, reckon at last with the secret that has kept them apart for decades in this highly anticipated novel by "one of the country's most talented writers" (Wall Street Journal)
At forty, Peter, an asylum lawyer in New York City, is overworked and isolated. He spends his days immersed in the struggles of his clients only to return to an empty apartment and occasional hook-ups with a man who wants more than Peter can give. But when the asylum case of a young gay man pierces Peter's numbness, the event that he has avoided for twenty years returns to haunt him.
Ann, his mother, who runs a women's retreat center she founded after leaving his father, is wounded by the estrangement from Peter but cherishes the world she has built. She long ago banished from her mind the decision that divided her from her son. But as Peter’s case plunges him further into the memory of his first love and the night of violence that changed his life forever, he and his mother must confront the secret that tore them apart.
With unsurpassed emotional depth, Mothers and Sons reveals all that is lost by looking away from the past and what might be restored by facing it. In his spellbinding new novel, Adam Haslett demonstrates yet again his mastery of “a rich assortment of literary gifts” (New York Times).
At forty, Peter, an asylum lawyer in New York City, is overworked and isolated. He spends his days immersed in the struggles of his clients only to return to an empty apartment and occasional hook-ups with a man who wants more than Peter can give. But when the asylum case of a young gay man pierces Peter's numbness, the event that he has avoided for twenty years returns to haunt him.
Ann, his mother, who runs a women's retreat center she founded after leaving his father, is wounded by the estrangement from Peter but cherishes the world she has built. She long ago banished from her mind the decision that divided her from her son. But as Peter’s case plunges him further into the memory of his first love and the night of violence that changed his life forever, he and his mother must confront the secret that tore them apart.
With unsurpassed emotional depth, Mothers and Sons reveals all that is lost by looking away from the past and what might be restored by facing it. In his spellbinding new novel, Adam Haslett demonstrates yet again his mastery of “a rich assortment of literary gifts” (New York Times).
- GenresAdult
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication January 7, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 4, 2024
As the first legit rating and review of Haslett's brilliant new novel here on GR, it delights me to be able to give it an unequivocable rave. Many thanks to Netgalley, Little Brown and Company, and the author for providing an ARC eBook copy, six months before publication, in exchange for this honest and enthusiastic review.
It's been eight long years since Haslett's last novel, the equally enthralling Imagine Me Gone, which was my favorite book of 2016; I was oddly enough wondering just recently what had happened to him, when I became aware of this new one - which was certainly worth the wait. Haslett has only published three books prior to this and has two Pulitzer Prize and two NBA nominations for those - and suspect this will also garner major awards notice and perhaps finally get him the accolades and awards he so richly deserves.
The story is in essence three separate strands, told in alternating sections: Peter, the MC, is a 40-year-old gay lawyer specializing in immigration and deportation cases, defending undocumented aliens, usually the victims of violence in their native lands, from facing extradition, who narrates his story in first person.
The other major titular character is his mother Ann, whose story is told in omniscient third person, from whom Peter has been estranged for some 25 years; she and her partner Clare run a women's retreat center in Vermont, which Peter's derisive and snarky sister Liz refers to as 'lesbian camp'.
The third strand is flashbacks to when Peter was an inquisitive 15 year-old, first becoming aware of his same-sex attraction, and his relationship with Jared, a beautiful older boy, that results in a devastating and shocking act that colors his entire life and is responsible for his estrangement from Ann.
Although the book is tightly plotted and thematically cohesive, as with most literary fiction, it is thoroughly character driven - and as well as Peter and Ann, it explores several other mother/son combinations: Peter's Albanian client Vasel and his protective mother; his Honduran client Sandra, and her son Felipe; Liz and her adorable 5-year-old rascal, Charlie; Jared and his intriguingly beautiful mother Susan; and even Peter's father Richard's own troubles with his mother.
The sections dealing with Peter's work as an immigration lawyer COULD have been rather boring and tedious, but Haslett makes it all fascinating - he himself has a JD from Yale (over-achiever much, Mr. Haslett? :-) ) ... and his expertise in that arena definitely shows here.
I don't want to get into more specifics on the plot for danger of spoilers, but let me just add that, as always, Haslett's prose is effortlessly and propulsively readable (I finished the entire 336 pages in less than 48 hours!), without being overly pretentious or flowery. I am certain this will end up as one of my top three reads of 2024, if not #1. And the last 40 pages are the most satisfying/devastating I've read since Shuggie Bain - high praise indeed!
PS: And perhaps damning with faint praise, but in the right hands, this would make a terrific film: Meryl Streep, call your agent! she'd would be a shoo-in for playing Ann! Bradley Cooper as Peter! Cate Blanchett as Clare! Aubrey Plaza as Liz! Julianne Moore for Susan! Jacob Elordi as Jared! Lily Gladstone for Jeanette! ... does anyone else cast the characters as they read?!! :-)
It's been eight long years since Haslett's last novel, the equally enthralling Imagine Me Gone, which was my favorite book of 2016; I was oddly enough wondering just recently what had happened to him, when I became aware of this new one - which was certainly worth the wait. Haslett has only published three books prior to this and has two Pulitzer Prize and two NBA nominations for those - and suspect this will also garner major awards notice and perhaps finally get him the accolades and awards he so richly deserves.
The story is in essence three separate strands, told in alternating sections: Peter, the MC, is a 40-year-old gay lawyer specializing in immigration and deportation cases, defending undocumented aliens, usually the victims of violence in their native lands, from facing extradition, who narrates his story in first person.
The other major titular character is his mother Ann, whose story is told in omniscient third person, from whom Peter has been estranged for some 25 years; she and her partner Clare run a women's retreat center in Vermont, which Peter's derisive and snarky sister Liz refers to as 'lesbian camp'.
The third strand is flashbacks to when Peter was an inquisitive 15 year-old, first becoming aware of his same-sex attraction, and his relationship with Jared, a beautiful older boy, that results in a devastating and shocking act that colors his entire life and is responsible for his estrangement from Ann.
Although the book is tightly plotted and thematically cohesive, as with most literary fiction, it is thoroughly character driven - and as well as Peter and Ann, it explores several other mother/son combinations: Peter's Albanian client Vasel and his protective mother; his Honduran client Sandra, and her son Felipe; Liz and her adorable 5-year-old rascal, Charlie; Jared and his intriguingly beautiful mother Susan; and even Peter's father Richard's own troubles with his mother.
The sections dealing with Peter's work as an immigration lawyer COULD have been rather boring and tedious, but Haslett makes it all fascinating - he himself has a JD from Yale (over-achiever much, Mr. Haslett? :-) ) ... and his expertise in that arena definitely shows here.
I don't want to get into more specifics on the plot for danger of spoilers, but let me just add that, as always, Haslett's prose is effortlessly and propulsively readable (I finished the entire 336 pages in less than 48 hours!), without being overly pretentious or flowery. I am certain this will end up as one of my top three reads of 2024, if not #1. And the last 40 pages are the most satisfying/devastating I've read since Shuggie Bain - high praise indeed!
PS: And perhaps damning with faint praise, but in the right hands, this would make a terrific film: Meryl Streep, call your agent! she'd would be a shoo-in for playing Ann! Bradley Cooper as Peter! Cate Blanchett as Clare! Aubrey Plaza as Liz! Julianne Moore for Susan! Jacob Elordi as Jared! Lily Gladstone for Jeanette! ... does anyone else cast the characters as they read?!! :-)
Want to read
July 1, 2024Please send it to me Rachel!!!!
Want to read
June 17, 2024NO WAY. I need to read this yesterday.
July 7, 2024
Mothers and Sons is a story of family, identity, and overcoming the past with themes of grief, love, and sexuality. The novel follows Peter, an asylum lawyer and Peter's mother, Ann, who runs a women's retreat. The story shifts between the two character's perspectives as it shows how their past separated them, and brought them together.
This book was a little hard to get through mostly because of its blunt writing style. There is a lot of information that the reader has to keep up with otherwise they'll be lost. Oftentimes I had to go back a few chapters to remember a certain character and their relation to one of the MCs. The different perspectives also proved to be challenging since, again, there is a lot to remember
The wide expanse of characters, scenes, and challenges causes the book to feel disconnected with itself. Almost as if it should be a multiple part series discussing each event individually.
Overall, this book was slightly overwhelming but still an interesting read. The parts where this novel truly shinned was when Peter was working as an asylum lawyer since it showcases a job that often gets overlooked. Which is why I recommend it to anyone a fan of legal fiction and stories about family.
This book was a little hard to get through mostly because of its blunt writing style. There is a lot of information that the reader has to keep up with otherwise they'll be lost. Oftentimes I had to go back a few chapters to remember a certain character and their relation to one of the MCs. The different perspectives also proved to be challenging since, again, there is a lot to remember
The wide expanse of characters, scenes, and challenges causes the book to feel disconnected with itself. Almost as if it should be a multiple part series discussing each event individually.
Overall, this book was slightly overwhelming but still an interesting read. The parts where this novel truly shinned was when Peter was working as an asylum lawyer since it showcases a job that often gets overlooked. Which is why I recommend it to anyone a fan of legal fiction and stories about family.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews