t's a lovely book. As I was reading, the book had an almost dreamy, hazy feel to it that returned periodically. The descriptions are so lush you can practically feel the mountain fog and hear the school children's recitals. Smell the smoke of the fire as photographs of a taken mother are burned in a community ceremony before her belongings are carted off the local shops to be purchased by other women of the town. That is symbolized by the cover picture on the book.
The Main character Vera's in her hometown, the women suffer from an "affliction" in which some mothers just disappear into the night, and rather than try to hold their memories, the townspeople eradicate their existence. Vera's own mother disappeared when she was very young, and when it is Vera's turn to be a mother, she is terrified that she too will be taken.
Elsewhere has much to say about motherhood, how a woman can lose herself in mothering and primarily how horribly judgmental mothers are to other mothers. To me the book was a little to detailed and felt that It was meant to be an audio-book rather than a silent reading book. That is why I feel that it is a 4/5 stars.
The Main character Vera's in her hometown, the women suffer from an "affliction" in which some mothers just disappear into the night, and rather than try to hold their memories, the townspeople eradicate their existence. Vera's own mother disappeared when she was very young, and when it is Vera's turn to be a mother, she is terrified that she too will be taken.
Elsewhere has much to say about motherhood, how a woman can lose herself in mothering and primarily how horribly judgmental mothers are to other mothers. To me the book was a little to detailed and felt that It was meant to be an audio-book rather than a silent reading book. That is why I feel that it is a 4/5 stars.