Comments on: Mothers and Sons, by Colm Toibin

By: The Breakwater House, by Pascale Quiviger « KevinfromCanada

The Breakwater House, by Pascale Quiviger « KevinfromCanada — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:27:50 +0000

[...] over a year ago in the early days of this blog, I reviewed Colm Toibin’s Mothers and Sons, a very good collection of short stories by an exceptional [...]

By: Simon S

Simon S — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:23:54 +0000

I have this very high in my TBR pile and think that actually its going to now have to be read before the week is out. Hadnt heard much about Toibin until the end of last year when suddenly lots and lots of people were recommending I read him and these recommendations have kept coming this year too. Brilliant review.

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:50:24 +0000

Also, Lizzy, your comment reminded me that I’ve been meaning to add your site to by my Blogroll, particularly since you review so many Canadian books. I’ve taken the liberty of doing that — hope you don’t mind.

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:42:51 +0000

Lizzy: My favorite was Famous Blue Raincoat, but I think that says more about me and my background than it does about how the story might appeal to someone else. As someone of the same vintage as Lisa (the mother in the story), I found Toibin’s exploration of how some of us Baby Boomers want to (literally in this case) box up elements from our past to be most engaging — the drama that he adds to that made the story particularly good for me.

I wouldn’t say any story made me shudder. A Long Winter was probably the saddest and most frustrating, although A Priest in the Family would also be in the running. I did find that I was more interested in the stories (including The Use of Reason) where the author devotes more attention to the ambiguity of the relationship — and the impact that has on other parts of life for both mother and son.

By: lizzysiddal

lizzysiddal — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:34:11 +0000

Which was your favourite? Which, if any, made you shudder?

By: Isabel

Isabel — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:36:32 +0000

Please check my blog for an award:
http://booksandotherstuff.blogspot.com/2009/02/stuff-award.html

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:35:56 +0000

Max, Alison: I liked Mothers and Sons a lot, but not as much as The Master. Having said that, novels and short stories are different genres -- one of the things about this book is that you can have it handy for when you only have a half-hour to read and dip into a story. I'm not a big non-fiction reader except for periodicals, but I'll admit the Toibin work I have seen has impressed me enough that I may investigate some of his non-fiction work. I am quite intrigued by the descriptions of Brooklyn and know that John Self at theasylum has read an advance copy -- can't wait to see his review because at this stage it is a book that I much anticipating.

By: alison

alison — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:07:52 +0000

I am definitely going to read Toibin’s essay on the president, thanks for mentioning it, it sounds great. I’m a big fan of his writing (Toibin, have yet to read Obama’s books) and have Mothers and Sons sitting in a drawer, so now no more excuses not to put it on the top of the reading pile. Never read The Master )yet) but thought Blackwater Lightship was very affecting. I’ve heard him read from the Story of the Night – he’s a wonderful performer as well as writer.

By: Max Cairnduff

Max Cairnduff — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:11:34 +0000

Interesting, I’ve read The Heather Blazing and The South, both of which I would recommend, but none of the works you’ve read. The Heather Blazing in particular I thought a genuinely interesting and in places challenging work.

I may take a look at this collection for my next Toibin, though I already own (but haven’t yet read) The Story of the Night and his non-fiction work Bad Blood. Still, this sounds tempting.

By: KevinfromCanada

KevinfromCanada — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 15:48:51 +0000

I did read Lizzy’s post of the event and later review of Mothers and Sons. I hadn’t read it before posting my review — Toibin’s emphasis that he prefers to leave each story “unresolved” so that the reader will go on thinking (indeed must go on thinking) is worth repeating. Again much like James, he is very good at describing a situation and its potential implications and then leaving the reader to contemplate the possible consequences and outcomes. I particularly liked these stories for just that reason.