Comments on: Mother Come Home, Paul Hornschemeier

By: Comic-A-Week – Jan 9-15 – Mother, Come Home | Regular Rumination

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:02:44 +0000

[…] Jenny’s Books also has a post about Mother, Come Home. Do you? Leave a link in the comments and I’ll add it to this list. […]

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:14:19 +0000

In reply to Drew. I understand the thematic point of it, but isn't the point of a book that you'll agree to believe in these characters for a little while? I have a hard time with books full of irresponsible parents, because there are so many irresponsible parents in real life. Then as well I wasn't happy with the tone of the resolution as it related to the rest of the book. I'm glad you enjoyed it though! :)

By: Drew

Drew — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 05:58:16 +0000

I think you are unfair to Hornschemeier and to this novel. Not only is Mother, Come Home a remarkable structural achievement, but it also does a thing that marks most great literature: it forces the reader to confront differing points of view concerning deep human emotions. You seem to forget that one cannot judge a book by the same standards as a person. Yes, David Tennant commits suicide with the assistance of his young son. In real life, this would be inexcusable. In literature, on the other hand, it is a clever way of expressing the conflict between two different kinds of love, and the opening pages of this book make it clear that David’s suicide is not an abdication of life or responsibility, but a way for him to set to rights his experience with his dead wife. This is literature, not news. Give the characters some leeway; they are only there to help the author try to expose some very real, very human truths.