YOU BE MOTHER

For this family themed March, the Den have chosen “You be Mother’, Meg Mason’s debut novel, to coincide with Mother’s day falling this month. A rollercoaster gallop through the highs and lows of being a parent, and at its heart, the warmth of an unlikely friendship between a new young mother and a recently widowed mother to four grown up children.

Abi and Brigitta fleetingly cross paths at Singapore Airport. Abi is flying to Sydney with a 5-week old baby called Jude to join the father Stu, whilst Brigitta is on her way back to London having returned to her homeland following a family bereavement. From here on in, we watch Abi’s life in Sydney and Brigitta’s in London unravel spectacularly before fate brings them together again. Despite the differences in their upbringing, Abi and Brigitta both seem to possess similar self-destructive buttons lurching from one calamity to another. Both have suffered tragedy in their lives and this pain hovers in the background.

Mason vibrantly explores the complexities of motherhood, family relationships and grief. The unexpected relationship forged between Abi, a single mother in her early twenties and Phil, her older wealthy neighbour is particularly poignant. Both lonely and feisty, they become dependent on each other for company and advice. Phil makes it her mission to try and fix Abi’s partnership with the father of her baby, whilst neglecting the crumbling relationship of her youngest daughter.

The book is fast paced and at its core there is the love and loyalty of family members uniting in times of crisis. You may have to suspend belief at times as the co-incidences are rather fanciful and the ending is rather rushed. However, it is an easy, enjoyable read, although perhaps not as sophisticated as Meg Mason’s second book 'Sorrow and Bliss' – see review in Den’s library.