John Murphy IV’s Reviews > The Mothers > Status Update

I once again thought back to the story being comparable to American Beauty. A reporter on page 273 started asking questions about the pastor paying for an abortion. The author shows that even though it looks to the outside like paradise, there is a lot of things wrong. Also like America, the people in the novel tried to cover up their mistake, which just lead to more pain and suffering for good people.

When Aubrey met Russell for lunch I predicted that this is where everything fell apart and all the secrets come out. I was correct when Luke confronted Aubrey which turned into Aubrey telling Nadia she knew the truth. Nadia, Aubrey, and Luke look to the outside world that they have the American dream , but they really have American reality. They had bright futures, and then made choices that changed their lived.

It is interesting how the similarities of Aubrey and Nadia have increased. They have commitment issues with Nadia breaking up with Shadi and Aubrey messaging the marine even though she is married with Luke. I believe the marine symbolises how society thinks there is alway more to gain. I think Nadia, Luke, and Aubrey may lose it all. Such as in "Money as a Weapons System" the Americans tried to change the Iraqis.

I was shocked to read of Nadia and Aubrey flirting with the marines on page 176. Aubrey was acting differently being more forward, even with her marriage being soon. Nadia was also flirting, even with her long-term relationship. I believe that Brit Bennett used this scene to show the Nadia and Aubrey relationships were going to fall apart. I think it will be from the choices and experiences they went through earlier.

I made the connection of who mother's narration is from. I believe it is from Mrs. Sheppard because she was said to be able to see who people really were. Then on p.148 a mother thought, " I knew right away, just as soon as I seen her. I can always tell an unpregnant girl." I believe Mrs. Sheppard who represents the mothers is like society. Always judgemental and jumps to conclusions.

Nadia keeping her pain on the inside resembles America doing the same. America will look to the rest of the world that it is doing well. Just like how Nadia looks like she is doing well, even though she is struggling with her father, and abortion. It states on p. 74, "She envied how easily the girl showed her sadness." This shows the theme of American Beauty because America has issues on the inside, but hides it.

The class discussion on the cover of the book was interesting. I thought how it looked like stained glass in the windows of a church. I did not see the woman's face until it was brought up during class. It makes me think she represents the Upper Room Church mothers. The church mothers help out the community such as making Nadia food after her mother died. It says on p. 44, "For weeks Nadia ate the donated food."

This book has an extremely unique narration. It goes back and forth from a 17-year-old girl who has been tragically affected by her mother's passing. The other point of view is of a group of elderly women at the local church, whose narration is not one person, but many. For example on p.21, "If Nadia Turner had asked, we would've warned her to stay away from him." This is the contrast between youth and the elderly.