Friends & Mothers

By Louise Limerick

"Never again will you walk past a group of moms having coffee and cake without dying to know what's going on beneath the surface." - The Sydney Morning Herald Five women, all of them mothers, meet regularly for tea and cake. Their lives are consumed by children, school drop-offs, and casual conversations; so their respite at the Vista Cafe is a welcome retreat. Until the day that Evelyn's baby disappears. Suffering severe postpartum depression, Evelyn is now in a psychiatric hospital refusing to utter a word - not even any information regarding the whereabouts of her newborn daughter, Amy - leaving her remaining four friends at a loss. In her absence, they begin to piece together Evelyn's life, as a mother and as a woman, and start to take a look at their own lives. What ensues is each woman's uncovering of her own lapsed desires - those dreams and wants that were slowly sidelined or put offfor a later date as husband, marriage, and child-rearing became full-time occupations. Joanna confronts her halfhearted efforts to lose the baby weight from her second child, Sam, who is now three years old. Clare's lifestyle is as unkempt as her hair, a fact that usually has her buying the newest day planner but now makes her question her early beginnings as an artist. Susan is the stereotypical supermom who is never late to pick up her kids, yet she cannot seem to take the same charge when it comes to her own life. And Wendy, though the quietest among them, perhaps has the biggest secrets. In a darkly humorous manner, guilty secrets and lives are entwined as the suspense builds during the desperate search for Evelyn's missing daughter. Louise Limerick's Friends & Mothers is a vivid and honest portrayal of real motherhood and the challenges and joys that face the women who occupy this role - a contemporary story of the extraordinary strength of love. ? International Praise for Friends & Mothers ? "A great read . . . [Limerick's] depictions of the minutiae of raising children are lovingly realistic but not overly sentimental."- - The Age ( Australia ) ? "Where Limerick's writing shines is in her buoyant evocation of the sticky, constant, exasperating, and loving realm of small children and their careers. There are many such delicious scenes in this novel."- - The Weekend Australian ?"Limerick has a real knack for capturing the small triumphs and tragedies of everyday life . . . a passion and a tenderness for her characters that won us over." - -The Sydney Morning Herald

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312355122
• ISBN13: 9780312355128
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.7" x 0.9" x 5.6"

Customer Reviews

Great Read

After just having a baby and having very little time this was a great book to get into. I could relate to all the characters; their stories let me know I wasn't the only one feeling a certain way. I think it's great how Louise made these women so real. This a great mom read, I would recommend it to all moms. Its very humorous too so you'll get a good laugh! Enjoy

Great Book Club book

Our book club read this book, and had the privilege of having Louise come to our meeting. The book was a great read, and as a mother I could see so much of myself in the book. Some of the feelings of the characters in the book hit so close to home if was almost as if the author knew me. While it deals with some serious issues, there are parts of the book that are just laugh out loud funny. A very enjoyable read. I wished there was a sequel, because I wanted to know more.

Loved Book!

I loved the simple way the book guided the reader in to a deep topic. The story was so enjoyable and kept you searching for more! I am so glad she talked about a condition that affects women after birth.

Loved it!

I really lobed reading Friends and Mothers! It was a quick and enjoyable read. I felt a connection to the characters and didn't want the book to end. It's a perfect book club book!

All the realities of being a mother

This engrossing debut novel from a young Australian mother of three is about five women--all mothers--who meet for coffee. Susan is organized and methodical; Joanna is overweight and an inspired baker; Wendy, a part time nurse, is poorer than the rest; Clare is a frustrated artist who thought she'd have time to paint when she had kids. Then there is Evelyn, who is missing from the group. She recently had a new baby, Amy, who went missing when Evelyn had a psychotic episode. She is hospitalized, and is catatonic; no one knows what happened to Amy. The book is very well written--especially notable is the imagery and the voices of the women, as their stories are told in separate chapters. The mystery of what happened to Amy (and what had happened to Evelyn and Clare in their shared childhood) unfolds as the book progresses. Limerick actually wrote the book in nine months, while her husband took the kids out every Saturday morning. She is a wonderful storyteller. This book includes all the reality of mothering: the intense love, fears, and frustrations, and the desperate longing for adult company. The strong foundation that friends can bring to life is a major part of the tale as well. My favorite scene is a fantastical garden birthday party, lovingly planned out by Clare, along with a birthday girl who refuses to wear the expensive flower costume Clare bought her; a child who falls into some dog poo and must be bathed and changed into the new and unused flower costume, causing the birthday girl to pout; and a trip to the emergency room when a child eats some flower seeds. Ah yes, this is life. Armchair Interviews says: This book, with some of its very different moral dilemmas, would make a great book club discussion.