Eric Choi’s Reviews > The Mothers > Status Update

The ending was so miserable that everyone was in a tragic position. As I read this book, I started to think again more of "what if..." because "The Mothers" taught me that from trivial details to big decisions could alter our future, and sometimes we regret what we did. I learned that we should be more responsible with our decisions and the importance of maintaining our relationships.

At the end of the chapter, it was tragic to see how the relationship got worse between Luke and Aubrey. As Luke's past with Aubrey was revealed, the couple started to lose trust among them, and then it eventually burst. I think most of the people will be doubtful if they are in same situation because it can be defined as an unintentional betrayal.

I can feel the transparent tension still remains between Luke and Aubrey. I think that is mainly because of Luke's past relationship with Nadia. If I were in this situation, I would feel a slight betrayal, keeping the massive parts of their lives hidden. I predict that the friendship of Aubrey and Nadia would get worse as the chapter goes.

I think this part gave me the extreme complex emotion. Like Saturnalia, all truths and emotions were revealed throughout Luke's wedding. This makes me go back to the beginning of the book. If Nadia were to choose to keep the baby, then is Luke marrying Nadia? This part taught me the importance of a choice and the complexities of secrets, which most of the people might face in the future.

I feel like everything began to be substituted in the story. After Elise Turner's death, Cherry replaced her position and dated Robert Turner, and Nadia wasn't satisfied with this. If I was in Nadia's situation, it would be pretty uncomfortable because she was the exact opposite of her dead mom. It would feel like a "foreigner" in the house, can't feel included due to a change of routine.

Now it was clear that after Nadia moved to Michigan for college, Aubrey's position in Upper Room had increased. Because Aubrey was more of a "mild" person than Nadia, many people liked her such as Nadia's father. It was clear that the exterior behavior and characteristic really affects how others view it, like Nadia and Aubrey's case.

It was interesting that both Nadia and Aubrey have a similar childhood, Aubrey has been abused by her father, and Nadia had a story of abortion. Both are currently emotionally distant from their mother. It was visible that they relied on each other and supported each other, and the Upper Room Chapel became an asylum for them but hid the secret.

The Mothers was full of stimulating elements as I started reading. Main character Nadia had experienced a crazy teenage life, her mother’s death, and her decision to have an abortion. I think this beginning emphasizes for us the significance of mothers in the story, how the death of Nadia’s mother corresponds to Nadia committing abortion, which fills emptiness and abandons something important in our lives.