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barefootmegz's review against another edition
3.0
Note: the full review with some "fan art" per se can be found here: http://barefootmeds.wordpress.com/2012/08/08/book-tour-and-giveaway-praise-of-motherhood/
Phil Jourdan’s Praise of Motherhood is a memoir of sorts – a memoir of mourning. When his mother dies unexpectedly, Jourdan is left with memories of a mother who supported him through his troubled childhood, a mother who surely had some secret life, a mother who was his mother unabashed, regardless of any perceived faults.
His loss is accompanied by the useless platitudes from those who mourn with him. Jourdan writes candidly about his response to these good intentions.
But this is not just a memoir of loss – it is a tribute to a mother. Jourdan claims that his novel is not intended as general truth for all mother-child relationships; but in reality he strikes the nail on the head in his analysis of the bond between a mother and child, and the misconceptions a child has about its mother.
There is no doubt that Jourdan’s mother was remarkable and this is certainly a fitting tribute to her – but this novel is fitting for anyone who loves their mother, whether she is alive or not.
This book made me call my mother and talk with her, and soak up her love.
Jourdan employs a number of literary techniques, but never in a fashion that is confusing.
Disclaimer: I received this book for review from Novel Publicity as part of their week-long book tour.
Phil Jourdan’s Praise of Motherhood is a memoir of sorts – a memoir of mourning. When his mother dies unexpectedly, Jourdan is left with memories of a mother who supported him through his troubled childhood, a mother who surely had some secret life, a mother who was his mother unabashed, regardless of any perceived faults.
His loss is accompanied by the useless platitudes from those who mourn with him. Jourdan writes candidly about his response to these good intentions.
But this is not just a memoir of loss – it is a tribute to a mother. Jourdan claims that his novel is not intended as general truth for all mother-child relationships; but in reality he strikes the nail on the head in his analysis of the bond between a mother and child, and the misconceptions a child has about its mother.
There is no doubt that Jourdan’s mother was remarkable and this is certainly a fitting tribute to her – but this novel is fitting for anyone who loves their mother, whether she is alive or not.
This book made me call my mother and talk with her, and soak up her love.
Jourdan employs a number of literary techniques, but never in a fashion that is confusing.
Disclaimer: I received this book for review from Novel Publicity as part of their week-long book tour.
ctorretta's review against another edition
5.0
"Christ, I wish the world knew what it was missing."
What a poignantly written memoir and remembrance of a loved one. I laughed, I cried, I yelled. Some of this is horrific and remarkable and lovable. Phil Jourdan must be a remarkable person and very brave to write so much about not only his fabulous mother, but also himself. To admit that we have our demons to ourselves is difficult but this man opens up his life with his mother and what they put each other through. It’s lighthearted for the most part but also so very deep as he expresses his joys and pains of knowing his mother and growing up with her.
"She let us sulk after our tantrums, work through the misunderstandings. She sighed a great deal and cleaned up a good deal more and every day told us she loved us."
We all hope that our loved ones, but especially our mothers, will stand by us in our trials. But even mothers do not know everything. Phil Jourdan expresses his torment and disappointment when he found out that his mother did not have all of the answers to so many of his questions. That she even had unanswered questions of her own! We all go through this little stumble in life when we find out our parents are not superheroes. That they even have the very same issues we do! But then we have to learn to lean on ourselves, something that is difficult for most of us. Phil Jourdan finds his way of protecting his mother much like she protects him, by keeping the truth to themselves. He forever worries that she will see the real demon inside of him and that then she will lose all of her love. But that’s the fabulous thing about his mother, she loved him through thick and thin and wanted to help him as much as she possibly could.
"Of course she was flawed: my mother made extremely human mistakes, performed all the rituals of the mortal, engaged in the pleasures of hte earth and was occasionally too cowardly to do the right thing. But in spite of every imperfection she may have possessed, I cannot fault her for a single thing."
If only when all of our mothers pass away we could feel this kind of love, this special ingredient that makes us whole. Much more importantly, prior to! We all have our ups and downs, each of us but to express them to each other is so hard but that is what makes life difficult. I hope that he has found some peace with writing this. The peace that we all need to find, hopefully not at the end of our roads.
"It’s not all a ride that someone is going to take you on; you gotta take yourself on a path, even if it’s an effed up path."
Oh now, the hard part. How do I rate a book that delves deep into my own world? My mother and I have had our issues, some quite large, some small, some we don’t even talk about anymore. But I’ve learned, much like Phil Jourdan has that you have to continue loving, it is called unconditional love. And that love that our mothers give us will surpass time itself. So, I rate this as a tremendous five. The most fascinating and touching memoir I’ve read to date. Absolutely loved it and will pass it on to those that need a little, or maybe a lot, of love in their lives.
What a poignantly written memoir and remembrance of a loved one. I laughed, I cried, I yelled. Some of this is horrific and remarkable and lovable. Phil Jourdan must be a remarkable person and very brave to write so much about not only his fabulous mother, but also himself. To admit that we have our demons to ourselves is difficult but this man opens up his life with his mother and what they put each other through. It’s lighthearted for the most part but also so very deep as he expresses his joys and pains of knowing his mother and growing up with her.
"She let us sulk after our tantrums, work through the misunderstandings. She sighed a great deal and cleaned up a good deal more and every day told us she loved us."
We all hope that our loved ones, but especially our mothers, will stand by us in our trials. But even mothers do not know everything. Phil Jourdan expresses his torment and disappointment when he found out that his mother did not have all of the answers to so many of his questions. That she even had unanswered questions of her own! We all go through this little stumble in life when we find out our parents are not superheroes. That they even have the very same issues we do! But then we have to learn to lean on ourselves, something that is difficult for most of us. Phil Jourdan finds his way of protecting his mother much like she protects him, by keeping the truth to themselves. He forever worries that she will see the real demon inside of him and that then she will lose all of her love. But that’s the fabulous thing about his mother, she loved him through thick and thin and wanted to help him as much as she possibly could.
"Of course she was flawed: my mother made extremely human mistakes, performed all the rituals of the mortal, engaged in the pleasures of hte earth and was occasionally too cowardly to do the right thing. But in spite of every imperfection she may have possessed, I cannot fault her for a single thing."
If only when all of our mothers pass away we could feel this kind of love, this special ingredient that makes us whole. Much more importantly, prior to! We all have our ups and downs, each of us but to express them to each other is so hard but that is what makes life difficult. I hope that he has found some peace with writing this. The peace that we all need to find, hopefully not at the end of our roads.
"It’s not all a ride that someone is going to take you on; you gotta take yourself on a path, even if it’s an effed up path."
Oh now, the hard part. How do I rate a book that delves deep into my own world? My mother and I have had our issues, some quite large, some small, some we don’t even talk about anymore. But I’ve learned, much like Phil Jourdan has that you have to continue loving, it is called unconditional love. And that love that our mothers give us will surpass time itself. So, I rate this as a tremendous five. The most fascinating and touching memoir I’ve read to date. Absolutely loved it and will pass it on to those that need a little, or maybe a lot, of love in their lives.
craigwallwork's review
5.0
Phil Jourdan has a natural gift for writing. He is sincere and honest, which is a rare commodity in a writer. It is almost as if the book is a physical extension of his body, his spine cracked and marked by the hours spent at the computer typing. And his heart, the many pages that are exposed when pushed open. A beautiful, sad, but resonating slice of human life. This book is as much about you, me and everyone else, as it is about Phil Jourdan. Wonderful stuff. Yes, it is a personal book, but it's contents is far reaching. I think that's the real charm and strength of this novel. It's honest. Brutally at times, but my god, if only more writers bled on that page like this the world but be much richer for it.
leonorgrave's review
5.0
Praise of Motherhood feels like what you would imagine a brain like if it were in book form. All over the place, but without ever feeling too far away from the core.
Phil's mother is portrayed in an god-like manner, always understanding, kind, smart, and mysterious, which you perceive through the isolated incidents and dream-like hypothetical scenarios that are the chapters. Nearly impossible to put down, I devoured in in less that a day. Intensely thought-provoking, really makes you wonder about the complexity of the human mind, which in Phil's case seems near-psychotic but still conscious of itself.
Beautiful.
I loved it.
Phil's mother is portrayed in an god-like manner, always understanding, kind, smart, and mysterious, which you perceive through the isolated incidents and dream-like hypothetical scenarios that are the chapters. Nearly impossible to put down, I devoured in in less that a day. Intensely thought-provoking, really makes you wonder about the complexity of the human mind, which in Phil's case seems near-psychotic but still conscious of itself.
Beautiful.
I loved it.
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