Synopsis
A daughter’s tale of living in the thrall of her magnetic, complicated mother, and the chilling consequences of her complicity.
On a hot July night on Cape Cod when Adrienne was fourteen, her mother, Malabar, woke her at midnight with five simple words that would set the course of both of their lives for years to come: Ben Souther just kissed me.
Adrienne instantly became her mother’s confidante and helpmate, blossoming in the sudden light of her attention, and from then on, Malabar came to rely on her daughter to help orchestrate what would become an epic affair with her husband’s closest friend. The affair would have calamitous consequences for everyone involved, impacting Adrienne’s life in profound ways, driving her into a precarious marriage of her own, and then into a deep depression. Only years later will she find the strength to embrace her life—and her mother—on her own terms.
Rating
4 Stars (An Excellent book!)
Favorite Quote
“Loneliness is not about how many people you have around. It’s about whether or not you feel connected. Whether or not you’re able to be yourself.”
My Thoughts
I devoured this book! This is a book that can be easily read in one sitting. It is short, reads like fiction and I just couldn’t get enough of this story. What is it about reading about dysfunctional families that is so fascinating? I had to keep reminding myself that this story was real.
The story is mostly set in Cape Cod and they are “foodies” so food is a key aspect of their life. There were so many foods I hadn’t even heard of but I found it all very interesting.
Brodeur discusses how her mother’s affair impacted her life and how it affected her own relationships and approach towards motherhood. I’m always fascinated with how people react to messed up things like what Malabar did to her daughter. There were so many shocking moments throughout the story where I just couldn’t believe certain things actually happened. This book is full of drama!
If you are interested in this book get it here or consider ordering it from your local independent bookstore. This was a previous Book of the Month selection last year.
