Mothertime

by Gillian White

It's Christmas Eve at 14 Camberley Road, North London. The Townsend children have hung up the last strand of tinsel and now, in the firelight, all is softly aglow, with the magic and mystery of Christmas... Anfd then - oh no! - their mother staggers home. Caroline Townsend, ex-beauty, failed actress, divorcee, and almost alcoholic, is fighting drunk (as usual) and has just been jilted by her lover, Bart. Will Christmas be doomed again this year? One thing's for it's time for desperate measures. Wildly funny, completely original, and full of insights about marriage, adolescence and the lethal defences we all use to hide our needy selves, Mothertime is worth a decade of psychotherapy and is far more entertaining.

Genres: Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Gillian White (b. 1945) grew up in Liverpool, England. She has written sixteen novels under her own name, which are known for suspense, Gothic thrills, and satiric views of contemporary society. She also writes historical romance under the name Georgina Fleming. She lives in Devon, England.

Reviews

[Chris M.H · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those harrowing tales where I feel I must not dwell on the suffering of the characters in any great depth, as if I do the unfolding events become overwhelming and incomprehensible. What I’ve found as an aid to novels such as these is to try and foster a neutral attitude to the shame and anger that is so brilliantly brought to life; as hard as it is. I do this not so much that I lose all feeling, otherwise the lives would be misunderstood, but just enough to be able to move ahead with my appreciation of creation still intact. And this is why I loved this novel so much.

To me this book is so raw. It’s so real and haunting. The way the children form their plan to imprison their mother in her own home, born of feelings of neglect, suffering and yearning for displays of love that have been so absent in their lives. It pulled at every string inside of me and I willed them on, despite the fear of their mother’s possible catastrophic deterioration inside her cell.

I thought this book captured what it’s like to live in a broken home brilliantly well. It also shines a light on parental influences and why some relationships are never built to last. Really enjoyed this book.

[Ngaire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this years ago, and can't remember heaps about it, but I remember really loving it - crazy premise - a bunch of kids lock their mother in the basement for her own good - actually works out in strange and unexpected ways. Definitely worth reading.

[Tawnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book! I listened to the story and the narrator had a really great voice. The Story is very different and interesting and at times slightly creepy upon reflection of the situation.

[Andrea Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tad too neat an ending but an enjoyable novel.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. Couldn't put it down. You never know how things turn out!

[Miette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delicious read, like all of Ms White’s books that I’ve read. It starts on a depressing and sad note but it left me smiling at the end. It was suspenseful enough that I couldn’t stop reading and I loved the characters in it (well, not all of them) and the more clear understanding of them by the end of the book.

[bumblethunderbeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 children lock up their alcoholic mother for 4 months b/c she's a bad mom; relationships unravel and grow in the aftermath