|
Mother, Come Home
by Paul Hornschemeier |
|
| Publishing Data |
 Published 2004. |
|
|
| Preview |
| A young boy tries to cope with his mother's death and his father's grief. |
|
|
| Background |
In an interview Hornschemeier has stated that the novel is
inspired by a couple of different situations. One was a professor of mine [and his wife]. They had gone on a safari, and she had a malaria vaccination which she had an extremely adverse reaction to, pushing her [near] death. Just seeing this guy, in the middle of class, break down, someone whose entire life was about logic and control--very clear-cut things--really exposing this raw emotional side. And simultaneously realizing that one of my parents is going to die first, that one of these people is going to have to go on without this person who's become an everyday piece of their life. (Lain)
|
In another interview Hornschemeier has stated:
A large amount of Mother, Come Home is biographical/autobiographical. For the most part, the relationship between the son and father is the way my father and I interact; the father looks like my father. I looked like the kid, we talk the way they talk. And some of the events--I'm not going to divulge which ones--are events that occurred in my life, my father's life and my grandfather's life. I think with anything like this, it's going to have immensely personal scenes and elements from the author, or it's going to come across completely flat and unconvincing. (Mozzocco)
|
|
|
| Discussion Guide |
| Characterize Thomas. How does he deal with his mother's death? |
| Why does Thomas wear the lion mask and cape? |
| Characterize David. How does he deal with his wife's death? How does he deal with his son's grief? |
| How does Thomas try to cope with his father's grief? |
| How does the choice of colors in this novel enhance the mood of the novel? |
| How is the way David is framed in the panels reinforce what is going on in David's psyche? |
| What are the stylistic differences between the panels depicting Thomas' imagination and the rest of the work? |
| Of what significance is the fact that the novel is narrated by the adult Thomas? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Novels
© 2005 Dr. Agatha Taormina
Last Revised:
November 5, 2009
|
