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rojaed's review against another edition
4.0
Not the usual reasons for a DNF, but I only read a couple of stories. I may get back to it
spiderfelt's review against another edition
4.0
This collection captured the myriad ways we try to connect with our boys, often failing despite our best intentions. Colm Toibin's voice is clear, and the work is engaging throughout. The loneliness and alienation brought by misunderstanding and a prevailing culture of reserve haunt the characters.
clmckinney's review against another edition
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this group of stories. They were touching, redemptive, and sad. They were also compulsively readable. I would give a 5/5 to this one.
marthajean's review against another edition
3.5
I especially liked A Priest in the Family and A Long Winter
dchristiok's review against another edition
5.0
Has stayed with me for many years. The characters are so alive to me...
jfl's review against another edition
4.0
“Mothers and Sons” is the first of two collections of short stories that Colm Tóibín has published to date. In “Mothers and Sons” there are nine stories whose controlling themes are variations of the book’s title. Tóibín’s mothers scheme, die, defend, love, succeed, grieve, manipulate. His son’s grieve, threaten, hide, struggle, overcome. Tóibín’s writing is, as always, effortless and quietly evocative.
jackieeh's review against another edition
4.0
It is so hard to give stars to sort stories. The stories in Mothers & Sons fluctuate between two and a half and five stars, so this gets four, with no apologies for the lopsided-ness of the average.
At his best, Tóibín's stories are very, very good. My favorites were "Famous Blue Raincoat," "A Priest in the Family," and the completely fantastic "A Long Winter," which may be my favorite short story ever. (I'll have to review some of the others I've read and loved, though. Great. More to read!)
Others were more underwhelming. "A Journey" was too short to pack much of a punch, and "The Use of Reason," which I had read before in Finbar's Hotel without Tóibín's name attached, still failed to hold my attention.
Still, this is worth a read; just get it out of the library like I did. My approach to Tóibín, who is one of my favorite authors, has been and continues to be: When he is good he is very, very, good and when he is bad he is blah.
At his best, Tóibín's stories are very, very good. My favorites were "Famous Blue Raincoat," "A Priest in the Family," and the completely fantastic "A Long Winter," which may be my favorite short story ever. (I'll have to review some of the others I've read and loved, though. Great. More to read!)
Others were more underwhelming. "A Journey" was too short to pack much of a punch, and "The Use of Reason," which I had read before in Finbar's Hotel without Tóibín's name attached, still failed to hold my attention.
Still, this is worth a read; just get it out of the library like I did. My approach to Tóibín, who is one of my favorite authors, has been and continues to be: When he is good he is very, very, good and when he is bad he is blah.