Finishing a book in a week, or a couple of days is really not up my alley. Let's be honest here folks. However, I have read 2 books within a matter of a couple days. I think the world is collapsing around me, or better yet, it is summer and I have more time, or is it that my kids are getting older, thus giving me more time to myself? Hmmm, guess I am not quite sure, but regardless it would not be feasible if the books themselves were not great. Hopefully, you read the last review on the Vineyard Books, as The Vineyard of Painted Moon by Susan Mallery was the first book I read that took me very little time, and now book 2 is by a collaboration of authors. Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo with contributions by James Patterson (yes the award winning author that is so well loved).
The book I am referring to is, Things I wish I Told My Mother. It is truly an amazing novel. Something I did not expect. This is the newest book, published April 2023. I am very pleased to be reviewing such a new book, and one that has not yet been out on the summertime circuit all that long. So, we are talking very fresh and newly published. Of course you have your typical reviews that happen in order to sell a book, but really there are not many blog reviews as of yet, so I am pleased to be able to provide this review.
Onto the book. As I said, it is a well written novel. A story that I think most mothers and daughters can relate. The stereotypical relationship of a mother and daughter is either they are each other's best friends, or they are the complete opposite and never see eye to eye. It is one or the other, never a happy mix. This story was so well thought out, and crafted together that you would not have known that there were actually 2 authors. I think it was the tea and sandwiches that Mr. James Patterson kept feeding them (a little joke from reading the acknowledgement pages in the back on his contributions) that made it come together so harmoniously.
Laurie, a 30 something advertising executive who lives in NYC is a divorcee and has a less than ideal relationship with her celebrity OBGYN Doctor of a mother, Dr. Liz. Her mother is so well coiffed, put together, beautiful, smart and great wife. All the things that Laurie views of herself as lacking. She already knows she failed in the marriage department, the beauty, well she could stand to lose some pounds, and the only thing she has going for her is the fact that she just landed a HUGE client, Boujee Cosmetics. It is then she gets a call from her mother as she has been admitted into the hospital due to heart complications. With her father no longer living, Laurie is all she has, at least in the United States. Dr. Liz's family is all back in Norway, the family and secrets she left behind to study medicine and be the world traveler that she became. It is in this moment, when her mother is trying to get Laurie to sign her out that Laurie suggests they go on a trip together to Norway, but of course Dr. Liz says sure, but only if they go to Paris first. Reluctantly, Laurie agrees and Dr. Liz agrees to stay until she is released. Now this is where it gets super good and so artistically well done.
We go on this trip to Paris with Laurie and her mother. It describes the two women flawlessly, their behavior, the way they carry themselves, the way they interact with each other and with others. It is downright amazing. Anyway, we get the jest of how Laurie feels less than subpar to Dr. Liz's standards and how she feels mediocre in her mother's eyes. Yet, we see some glimmer of a human being in Dr. Liz, but it quickly turns as usual for Laurie. Then we get to experience Laurie's longing for the mother figure she wished she had, one who cared for her, one who was a mother, but what you notice as time goes on, she realizes her mother truly does love her. Laurie learns a lot of herself, her life, her family, and her mother. Or so we think.
Laurie embarks upon a love interest in Paris, I mean it is the City of Love, right? Why wouldn't she meet some handsome Brit on holiday? They have a few rendezvous, and he follows her to Norway where they continue this love affair that makes Laurie feel beautiful and loved in a way she never had when she was with her ex-husband, Andrew. Of course, the trip wouldn't be without disagreements or tantrums from Dr. Liz and Laurie even. The tension is quite high. Laurie discusses the trip and then something spectacular happens, there is a pleasant surprise in the end of the book. I won't give it away, you just have to read the book in its' entirety. I have never read a book that had this type of ending before, but I loved it and I know those who love a good, heartwarming book will also be thrilled and shocked at the ending.
I loved, loved, loved the story. The writing as I said was divine. I read it in short couple days, so you know it was good. One thing though that I found to be hard to grasp at first (and won't lie, not until the end) was the fact that the chapters were extremely short. By short, I mean one of the chapters was only 1 page. So, to me that was strange. I am used to longer chapters, and it made this book to have 60+ chapters. However, once I finished the novel, I understood the purpose and the need for the shortness of the chapters. It did make perfect sense. That would have been the only criticism of the book, but it became OK if you will, once the ending came around. It hits you like a brick wall. I may have even got teary eyed..... *shoulder shrug*
It even made me think. Thinking about how there were so many things I had wanted to tell my Nana. It isn't as if I lost her "too soon", or she didn't live a long, spiritual, and fulfilling life; because, she did. She passed away October 27, 2022 at the beautiful age of 96 years old. It's not even that I never got to spend time with her, because again, I spent so much time with her. Listening to her, talking to her, praying with her, and learning from her. As I move on and grow in this life, there will always be that moment where I want to take out my stationary and write her a letter, or drive down to talk with her. Yes, I still wrote her letters and she would write me back. Not only has reading this book brought this wish forward, but it also allowed me to reflect upon my own Mother. A mother who has put everything aside and gave herself unconditionally to our family. She still is very humble, strong in her convictions (which are usually spot on 99.9% of the time), and will put her grown kids first. I just pray that she knows how much she means to myself and to my children. This book brings these thoughts to the forefront and it is such an amazing book. Pick it up and read it. I am so glad I read this book, and I know you will enjoy it too. Happy reading, my fellow book lovers!
*Photo Credit: University of Wisconsin at Madison. School of Education. https://education.wisc.edu/news/uw-madison-alum-patterson-publishes-first-novel-things-i-wish-i-told-my-mother/. March 31, 2023.