Of Men and Their Mothers

by Mameve Medwed

All men have mothers . . . It's a truth that the newly unhyphenated Maisie Grey has learned the hard way. After getting rid of her mama's-boy husband, she happily settles down with her teenage son, Tommy. But she's still stuck with the hovering presence of her impossible mother-in-law, Tommy's grandmother, who refuses to exit the family stage gracefully. Trying to keep it together with her own business and a new relationship with a man who still lives in— where else but? —his mother's house, Maisie struggles to learn from the MIL-from-hell. She vows that when Tommy brings someone home, she'll be loving, empathetic, and supportive. But then along comes completely unsuitable September Silva—with her too-short skirts, black nail polish, and stay-out-all-night attitude—who is forcing Maisie to take a flinty, clear-eyed new look at what it means to be a mother.

Genres: Book Club, Chick Lit, Fiction, Family, Contemporary

304 pages, Hardcover

First published April 22, 2008

About the author

Mameve Medwed is the author of five novels, Mail, Host Family, The End of an Error, the 2007 Massachusetts Honor Book award-winnin How Elizabeth Browning Saved My Life, and the forthcoming Of Men and Their Mothers, pub date April 22, 2008.

Reviews

[Book Concierge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maisie Grey is divorced and raising her teen son, Tommy, in a modest but nice apartment. Her ex-mother-in-law, Ina, however, cannot step away from criticizing, belittling and otherwise insinuating herself into Maisie's life. Ina's excuse is her “darling grandson” whose private-school tuition she insists on paying for.

To her credit, Maisie, has tried to move on after her divorce from Rex. She has her own business – serving as a personal assistant to a variety of clients (from a Harvard professor to a pair of wealthy spinster sisters), and has been dating an attorney. But when Tommy introduces her to his new girlfriend, September Silva, Maisie and Ina finally agree on something – the girl is totally unsuitable. Or is she?

This is a comedy of manners with modern complications – custody battles, unfit (or unwilling) mothers, meddlesome mothers-in-law, unfaithful spouses, the Goth craze. Maisie has to decide if she will trust her son, an intelligent, generous, “good” kid or become a clone of Ina. Remembering how difficult her ex-MIL has always made things for her, Maisie is determined to act differently, to give September the benefit of the doubt and try to truly understand both her son and this multi-pierced, skull-ring-wearing stranger who seems to be encouraging Tommy to join her in dropping out of school to become a musician.

The characters ring true, if a bit over the top at times. It's a quick, entertaining read.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad read - Maisie, the main character was likable enough. She's a divorced mom of a teenager whose mother-in-law, Ina Pollock, constantly butted into her marriage and still interferes with her life today. The story follows Maisie as she hires a client of her now ex-boyfriend, a lawyer, who is embroiled in a custody battle with her mother-in-law.

It was ok, but no rave reviews here.

[Sandy Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ina is a piece of work!I

I'm a lucky woman to have a caring mother-in-law. I couldn't bear to live with a person like that! But Maisie is a woman who shows what life carbs like when you stand up for yourself.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I talk about Mameve Medwed’s writing, I must first announce that I love her name. I love reading it and saying it (even though I’m not sure if I’m pronouncing it correctly) and I even love reading it and saying it backwards. Come on, try it! Dewdem Evemam. Mameve Medwed. Dewdem Evemam. Mameve Medwed. Isn’t it fun?

Oh, stop looking at me like I’m a circus freak.

Ooh! I just went to her website, where she has kindly explained how to pronounce her name. I love her even more now.

I don’t just love her name, though - I love her writing as well. It’s downright delightful. Seriously. The two books of hers that I’ve read - How Elizabeth Barrett Browning Saved My Life (which I read last year) and Of Men and Their Mothers (which I just finished two nights ago) - are whimsical and breezy without sacrificing their intelligence, and both books were an absolute joy to read.

Of Men and Their Mothers is the story of Maisie Grey, whose name makes me want to sing that Mairzy Doats song. Maisie is the divorced mother of a teenage son, with a bitchy ex-mother-in-law who also happens to reign over a chicken pot pie empire, a spineless ex-husband who didn’t even stand up to his mother to kick her out of the delivery room when Maisie was giving birth to their child (Can you imagine? If I ever had to hear my mother-in-law’s voice saying, “Oh! I can see the head!”, I think I would die), and a toilet that straddles two towns. Of course, that’s not all.

Peppered throughout the book are reminders, as the title indicates, of the unique and often frustrating nature of the mother-son relationship. Not having brothers left me pretty unaware of the complexity of this phenomenon until I married Rob - the only son (hell, only CHILD) of a single mom - and started seeing it up close and personal, so it was particularly interesting to read about other mother-son relationships and think about all the different flavors they come in. Maisie introduces us to the nobody’s-good-enough-for-my-son mom and the i’ve-never-been-able-to-have-sex-in-my-dead-mother’s-house son, while at the same time she learns how to have a healthier, more normal relationship with her own son. And his unkempt girlfriend.

Of Men and Their Mothers is like a champagne picnic with a good friend on a soft spring day.

Mmm, champagne….

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the selection for January's Mommy's Day Out Book Club.

It was difficult to read at the beginning.. felt like the author was all over the place, but I'm trudging along.. hopefully it'll get better soon!

This is the selection for January's Mommy's Day Out Book Club.

It was difficult to read at the beginning.. felt like the author was all over the place, but I'm trudging along.. hopefully it'll get better soon!

**
It did get better and I was satisfied with the read. At least this didn't show a mother (Maisie) who was passive agressive.. yes she does have issues with her ex-mother-in-law.. and who wouldn't? This MIL is horrible to say the least - she is critical, self-absorbed, discriminates. Yes Maisie does have issues with her ex-husband, who didn't ever defend her against the MIL and the ex-boyfriend who is all about him (lawyer) and she does have issues with her son's girlfriend, but hey, who doesn't have issues? The thing is with Maisy is that she actually does something about it ~ she actually finally tells off her ex-mother-in-law; she manages to let go of her both of her ex-es which is not actually shown till the very end, and she adopts her son's girlfriend, who has issues of her own with her own mother.

And she meets someone who is a counselor (ironic) but instead of telling her how to be and what to do, he is actually a good friend and an amazing lover.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed many things about this book. The characters were intriguing, varied , strong and the story line interested me. I wanted to know what would happen to each of them and how/if they would become all intertwined. I thought the whole hating the mother-in-law thing was hard to believe and didn't contribute to the integrity of the plot line and I am not sure why that tension was even there and would two relative really speak that sharply and with such hate to one another? Also, the whole frozen chicken pot pie empire was also sort of silly and superfluous. However, Medwed is clever and drew me in, I like her writing style very much. Most of all I enjoyed the book's setting and that it took place in Somerville and mentioned familiar landmarks in Arlington, Hvd Sq, and Cambridge. Overall this was a fast and enjoyable read.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've begun to recognize Mameve Medwed's interesting and yes, sexy style of writing. Needless to say I loved this book, maybe even a little more than Mail. Great ending as well. Not every author can write a great ending. This is an author who can. She had me from the start.

[Ruth Conrad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this funny book to be light reading about Masie's dealings with the difficult people in her life, including her son's girlfriend and a despicable ex mother-in-law. Masie is to be admired for her diplomacy towards all. There is not a single boring sentence in this novel. The ending seemed melodramtic to me, but that's a minor shortcoming considering the overall flow of the story.

[Susan Abbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

The topic caught my attention - the interesting relationship between men and their mothers. The book touched on those relationships, and the relationships between mothers and their children, and people who mother others (and smother others) without an actual familial bond being defined. This was an enjoyable story too!

[Anika · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Mail" is one of my favorite books and Mameve Medwed won me over with that one. I was a little disappointed with "Of Men" until Seamus O'Toole (from Mail) appeared. About half-way through the novel, I couldn't put it down. As a mother, it made me squirm (and made me thankful I haev a daughter instead of a son), but in a good way.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just couldn't get into this book. While the story line had potential I just really couldn't identify with the characters and many of them were so 'out there' that they just weren't believable. I also found some of the writing difficult to read due to all the thoughts in ( ) within the sentences.

[Donna Beckner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mother in laws

Mother in laws come in many different ways. I had one who was the wicked witch of all then the other was the sweetest lady you ever wanted to meet. This book was hard at first to get into but ended up being a wonderful read. Enjoy it as I have, compare your mother in law to hers.

[Valdez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting books about how mothers idealize their sons. The main character has been divorced for a few years, but is still bullied by her ex mother-in-law.

When the main character's teen-aged son starts dating a girl that gives her pause, she decides not to do unto this girl what her MIL did to her.

[Liesel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was pretty entertaining and I liked the overall message of not being judgmental. But, I have to say, and I don't think I'm being too naive here, I really disagreed with the main character's actions when her teenage son has his teenage girlfriend move into his room.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took a few writing classes with Mameve so I always read her books. I also always enjoy them. Her characters are real and her books are funny and heartbreaking at the same time. Plus, it's fun that they are all set around Cambridge/Boston.

[Laura Thompson · Rating 2 out of 5]

The topic of men and their mothers was/ is still intriguing, but I would have liked more depth to the insight. Mameve Medwed could have taken it to another level (without as much MIL redundancy-- we get it, she was horrible) and still had the read be entertaining.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not nearly as naughty as "Mail" but it still had 4 "f" words. Otherwise, the characters were fun and interesting. Kind of the same format as the other two books I've read by Medwed but I like hopeful books.

[Krysia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute. More or less a beach read. Some very funny lines at times.

[Stephen]

Attended a book signing and met the author last night. She's very clever and personable. Can't wait to read the book.

[Jean · Rating 3 out of 5]

quick read about MIL's and their relationship w/their sons.
Funny and light

[Staci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I could relate to some of the situations and stories the main character "suffered"; I expected more from the story.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

i learned not matter what you do if your in-laws hate you they will always hate you. I sleep better at night...

[Janet Christmann]

not worth reading

[Ellen Brandt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, quick read. I enjoyed the characters immensely.

My public library hosted the author a couple of weeks ago: I wish I had remembered to go!

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Affirms what women already knew about men and their mothers. A fun read that explores family dynamics focusing on MIL relationships.

[Nicholas · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, but I think I'm done with Medwed. I just didn't really BELIEVE any of the characters or the situation or any of what happened.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the ending.

[Ginia · Rating 1 out of 5]

not a big fan.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and funny! Needed that one after Handle with Care...