The Mothers
AuthorBrit Bennett
IllustratorRachel Willey
Cover artistRachel Willey
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreLiterary fiction
PublisherRiverhead Books
Publication date
2016 (first edition)
Media typePrint & digital
Pages275
ISBN9780349701493

The Mothers is a debut novel by Brit Bennett. The book follows Nadia, a young woman who left her Southern California hometown years ago after the suicide of her mother and is called back to attend to a family emergency. The Mothers, released on October 11, 2016 by Riverhead Books, received critical acclaim and was a New York Times bestseller. A film adaptation is being produced by Kerry Washington's production company Simpson Street.[1]

Plot

Living in Southern California, 17-year-old Nadia, grieving her mother's suicide, becomes pregnant by her boyfriend Luke, a local pastor's son. She has an abortion and leaves her hometown to attend University of Michigan. Years later, her Christian friend Aubrey begins dating and then marries Luke. In her adulthood Nadia has to return to her hometown for a family emergency and reckon with her past.[2]

Themes

The book includes themes of Christianity in the context of the Black church, shame, and motherhood.[1]

Background

Bennett began writing the novel when she was 17 years old. She used many elements of her own life to craft the narrative; she and the protagonist, Nadia, were both high-achievers who maintained close ties to their families even after leaving home for college. Nadia's hometown is based on Bennett's hometown of Oceanside, California, an ethnically-diverse beach town. Bennett continued to work on the novel after leaving for college and while completing her MFA at University of Michigan.[2]

In 2014 Bennett published a viral essay on Jezebel.com called "I Don’t Know What to Do With Good White People", shortly after the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown. Literary agent Julia Kardon read the essay and contacted Bennett to offer her representation to write and sell a book, which became her manuscript, The Mothers.[2]

Reception

The book generated buzz prior to its release,[2] and received critical acclaim. In a positive review for The New York Times Book Review Mira Jacob wrote, "Despite Bennett’s thrumming plot, despite the snap of her pacing, it’s the always deepening complexity of her characters that provides the book’s urgency. Bennett’s ability to unwind them gently, offering insights both shocking and revelatory, has a striking effect."[3] Reni Eddo-Lodge reviewed the book for The Guardian: "The Mothers is a beautifully written, sad and lingering book – an impressive debut for such a young writer."[4] Constance Grady praised Bennett's writing in Vox: "What elevates the book are the emotional underpinnings of each character, and Bennett’s lively, precise voice. Nadia may not have a surprising arc, but she feels every minute of it deeply and profoundly."[5] Bethanne Patrick further praised the writing in The Washington Post, "Bennett has written that rare combination: a book that feels alive on the page and rich for later consideration."[6]

The Mothers was a New York Times bestseller.[7]

Accolades

Film adaptation

In March 2017 it was announced that Kerry Washington was lead producer on a film adaptation for the novel, to be produced through her company Simpson Street for Warner Bros.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 Jerkins, Morgan (2016-10-11). "Doubt and Shame in "The Mothers": An Interview with Brit Bennett". Los Angeles Review of Books. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Alter, Alexandra (2016-10-09). "'The Mothers,' a Debut Novel, Is Already Creating a Stir (Published 2016)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  3. ↑ Jacob, Mira (2016-11-02). "A Town's Secret Propels 'The Mothers,' a Lauded Debut Novel (Published 2016)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  4. ↑ Eddo-Lodge, Reni (2016-10-15). "The Mothers by Brit Bennett review – an impressive coming-of-age debut". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  5. ↑ Grady, Constance (2016-11-30). "The Mothers is a terrific debut novel that treats motherhood like an open wound". Vox. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  6. ↑ Patrick, Bethanne (2016-10-18). "'The Mothers': A fantastic debut novel by Brit Bennett". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  7. 1 2 "The Mothers". Kirkus Reviews. 2016-10-11.
  8. ↑ "The Mothers". National Book Foundation. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  9. ↑ Wolfe, Bill (2016-12-02). "NBCC announces finalists for John Leonard Prize". READ HER LIKE AN OPEN BOOK. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  10. ↑ MahoganyBooks. "2017 PEN America Debut Fiction Literary Award Finalists". Retrieved 2020-11-15.
  11. ↑ Jeng, Jonah (2017-03-10). "Kerry Washington, Warner Bros. to Adapt Brit Bennett's The Mothers for the Big Screen". pastemagazine.com. Retrieved 2020-11-15.
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