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namsmommy09's review against another edition
4.0
This book is the story of not only a boy's journey to find out more about his father, but also the story of a family's journey to accept the unconventional way their family works. I love the differing viewpoints and the raw emotion that Harper was able to express in this story. Would totally listen to another book by this author. Lots of details, small things that really brought the story together.
laurapk's review
4.0
Interesting perspective into what truly makes a family, but slightly overwritten. I liked that every character in the novel was flawed but understandable--all excepting the son of the eponymous Other Mother. Jenry was unsufferable in his entitlement, hubris and cruelty. The author called him out a little on his behaviour, but not that much, which makes me wonder if she thought his behaviour was excusable.
Briefly: the story is told through the perspective of multiple characters involved in this queer extended family. It's interesting to realize the family was formed for the wrong reasons, yet held together by a love that transcended physical atraction and egos. The middle however started to sag, and for a few chapters I considered abandoning the book. It wasn't until we got close to the end, when the narrative tightened again, that I got sucked back in. I can't help but wonder if the looming wordcount limit forced the author and editors to focus and condense. As a result, the story still had blind spots that I believe could have been filled in without compromising the core theme. Jenry for example could have been explored more, and maybe I'd have been able to overcome my revulsion for him. Because honestly, his cruelty in addressing his immediate and extended family when he finds out he wasn't told the whole truth, the ease with which he starts dropping classes and derailing his studies is just screaming of entitlement and spoilt behaviour. This young man got doted on and his family probably created a monster. I can tell you I know lots of people who found out horrible secrets in their families which involved abuse of vulnerable individuals (something that Jenry did NOT experience), and those people carried on with their studies and responsabilities without throwing a childish tantrum. Jenry has a stipend he's willing to just throw away because he's hurt he didn't know he had a second mother and a more complex and complicated family--which clearly loved him. And it's not even because he was forced into a career he didn't want. No, the fact that he's 18 years old does not justify his childness.
Overall the story was beatifully written however and explored issues of addiction with empathy while offering great insight. it's not just about being sober, but about emotional sobriety--not just putting the past away but coming face-to-face with the pain of it, that's how you can release it. At times the poetry went into the realm of absurdity We got a lot of beautiful scenery descriptions but in the middle part inannimate objects (see umbrella) became unnecessary participants in conversations.
3.5 stars rounded up for emotional complexity. I would read more from the author in the future, but would aprreciate more concise editing.
Briefly: the story is told through the perspective of multiple characters involved in this queer extended family. It's interesting to realize the family was formed for the wrong reasons, yet held together by a love that transcended physical atraction and egos. The middle however started to sag, and for a few chapters I considered abandoning the book. It wasn't until we got close to the end, when the narrative tightened again, that I got sucked back in. I can't help but wonder if the looming wordcount limit forced the author and editors to focus and condense. As a result, the story still had blind spots that I believe could have been filled in without compromising the core theme. Jenry for example could have been explored more, and maybe I'd have been able to overcome my revulsion for him. Because honestly, his cruelty in addressing his immediate and extended family when he finds out he wasn't told the whole truth, the ease with which he starts dropping classes and derailing his studies is just screaming of entitlement and spoilt behaviour. This young man got doted on and his family probably created a monster. I can tell you I know lots of people who found out horrible secrets in their families which involved abuse of vulnerable individuals (something that Jenry did NOT experience), and those people carried on with their studies and responsabilities without throwing a childish tantrum. Jenry has a stipend he's willing to just throw away because he's hurt he didn't know he had a second mother and a more complex and complicated family--which clearly loved him. And it's not even because he was forced into a career he didn't want. No, the fact that he's 18 years old does not justify his childness.
Overall the story was beatifully written however and explored issues of addiction with empathy while offering great insight. it's not just about being sober, but about emotional sobriety--not just putting the past away but coming face-to-face with the pain of it, that's how you can release it. At times the poetry went into the realm of absurdity
Spoiler
(Like when Jasper dies on the lake while dancing and he's just swallowed by the ice; it doesn't matter how delirious you are, drowning is a horrible experience because the instinct to breathe and fight for the next breath is wired in our brain stem--it can't be controlled, and it's not pretty even when the person wishes to stop breathing. His poetic quiet drawning was absurd and almost made me abandon the book)3.5 stars rounded up for emotional complexity. I would read more from the author in the future, but would aprreciate more concise editing.
tfsheridan95's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
shannanh's review
3.0
I will admit, to me this story dragged a little at times, but overall an inserting read. We get a family saga told through the eyes of 5 different people, who each had a different take on everything that happened. It did have several surprises and twists that made the story a little more interesting.
sprainedbrain's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
crystaldragonst's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
tjminus's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I picked this book up from the library knowing nothing about it and I am surprised that I enjoyed it. I thought this book was very well written and descriptive. I want to read some other works by this author.
I liked how the book was broken up into parts that were the same length, which really helped with the pacing. Towards the middle of the book, I felt like it started to become its own enemy because we were rehashing some of the same conversations just from another character's perspective. It didn't give more insight into the dynamics of the story or the relationship between the two characters.
Also, the constant miscommunication and lying between the family members made me feel so conflicted because I wanted to root for them to figure it out, but at the same time a good, HONEST conversation between every member of this family would have helped solve their problems. But I think that is what makes it very based in reality, because being honest with the people you love/care about can be the hardest thing in the world
Overall, I still enjoyed this book and would recommend it to someone wanting to find a page-turner literary fic pick.
I liked how the book was broken up into parts that were the same length, which really helped with the pacing. Towards the middle of the book, I felt like it started to become its own enemy because we were rehashing some of the same conversations just from another character's perspective. It didn't give more insight into the dynamics of the story or the relationship between the two characters.
Overall, I still enjoyed this book and would recommend it to someone wanting to find a page-turner literary fic pick.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual content
ipekreading's review
3.0
Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for the advanced listening copy of The Other Mother.
The Other Mother is the story of a freshman college student searching for information on his late father who he never knew. He arrives in Brown University to find his grandfather is still a professor there. The rest of the story is told in perspectives of different people involved in his origin story. Overall this ended up being an okay read for me. I had trouble connecting with the characters motivations. Also half the people just happened to be prodigies in what they did. History professor, amazing ballet dancer and musical prodigies all in a single family. Also the book did a lot of telling instead of showing when it came to the racial issues it was discussing. I really did enjoy the style of telling the story from different perspectives.
The audiobook is narrated by January LaVoy and William DeMeritt and I enjoyed their narration.
The Other Mother is the story of a freshman college student searching for information on his late father who he never knew. He arrives in Brown University to find his grandfather is still a professor there. The rest of the story is told in perspectives of different people involved in his origin story. Overall this ended up being an okay read for me. I had trouble connecting with the characters motivations. Also half the people just happened to be prodigies in what they did. History professor, amazing ballet dancer and musical prodigies all in a single family. Also the book did a lot of telling instead of showing when it came to the racial issues it was discussing. I really did enjoy the style of telling the story from different perspectives.
The audiobook is narrated by January LaVoy and William DeMeritt and I enjoyed their narration.
earlym0rning's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0