THE REAL MOTHER

Author: Judith Michael ISBN: 0060599294 2/2005 FICTION Publisher: HARPER COLLINS

With her mother in a nursing home, Sara Elliott has had to leave medical school and return to her family's house in Chicago to bring up her younger siblings. She takes a job and for years puts aside her own dreams. Then two men come into her life: Reuben, whom she might love...and Mack, the long-vanished brother who suddenly lays claim to her family. But there are mysteries about Mack's past and present and his influence on the impressionable children, and about Reuben's own family ties and what he really wants from Sara. To find her way, and to shape her own future and the future of those around her, Sara must discover the full meaning of family, the depths of love in all its varieties, and what it means to be a real mother.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

This is the first book I've read by the husband-wife writing team of Judith Michael, so I can't say if it is as good as, or better than their past releases. I can say, however, that they have done an excellent job with THE REAL MOTHER. It could be that the theory of 'two heads are better than one' is proven here, because I can't imagine one author being able to pull this off fairly realistically.

The book covered several different situations that confront many people today to one degree or another. Although most people only have one or two to handle at a time, Judith Michael pulls them into one book and does so in believable manner. They hit the nail on the head for the most part, as far as I'm concerned.

Sara Elliot was 24 when her picture perfect world collapsed. Her step-father is MIA, her mother suddenly has a stroke and is in a nursing home, and there are 4 younger siblings without a parent. Her 17 year old half-brother, Mack, decides he needs to 'be free' and disappears. Sara leaves medical school to come home, get a job, and, basically raises her two sisters and brother. She becomes their mother in every way, except that she isn't. Now she is 27. Her half-siblings are now almost 16, 13, and 10.

The book doesn't pull any punches right from the beginning. You can feel her frustration as Sara struggles to hold onto her patience; to say and do the right things; to do what her mother would. And, as for any 'real mother', it's so much easier said than done. Sara tries not to resent the fact that she has had to give up her dreams; that Mack has abandoned her to deal with all of it on her own; that sometimes life doesn't play fair.

In addition, Sara has to find her identity and role in this scenario. She is the older sister and yet she is the mother, except that their mother is still living but unable to function, as such. Things would be more clear if Mother wasn't.

Enter Reuben, whom Sara meets as a client in her job as the City Greeter for Chicago. The chemistry is instant, even though both are cautious in pursuing more than a courteous friendship. Of course, the chemistry over-rides everything and the relationship blossoms. Reuben has his own demons to deal with and they rear their heads, creating even more problems for the two of them.

Throw into all of this the return of Mack, who shows up out of the blue and stirs the pot to a boil for Sara. Mack is that strange combination of subtlety and chaos that sometimes finds a way of meshing in a person. He seems to be the perfect answer to everything, but Sara doesn't trust it. Mack, as he is so adept at doing, manages to make Sara feel guilty for doubting his intentions. The children don't make it any easier when they obviously adore their newly returned and worldly brother.

Sounds like a lot going on here, doesn't it? What I've said isn't even the half of it. There is intrigue, murder, betrayal and so much more happening in this story. It's also a story of family and what that means. Obligations that come with being part of a family. And, mainly asks the question, "What is a 'Real Mother'?". I believe they answer the question very satisfactorily.

The style of this writing team was something that made the novel very easy to read. I loved the flow. One character could be the main focus of a paragraph and, as that character passed another in a hallway, for example, the focus shifted to him. Or you are in the head of, say, Abby, and her thoughts turn to Doug. Then you are in Doug's head. It was almost like watching a movie. The camera is on one actor and shifts from what they are doing to another without missing a beat. It was done so simply that it wasn't at all detracting from the story or confusing as you might think it would be.

I found myself wrapped up in the characters without even trying. Judith Michael seemed to hit on each character's personality and age consistently and concisely. Even if some of the situations weren't a part of the average person's life, there was much here that many of us could relate to.

When I finished THE REAL MOTHER, which had me glued to the pages, all I could say was, "Wow". It was an emotionally charged book and I felt every bit of it when I was done. It was exhausting. I felt every up and down each character went through. Like a roller coaster ride, you feel a little overwhelmed when you get off, but you aren't sorry for a moment that you went on it.

Sue Cloud