The Lauras, by Sara Taylor

REVIEW:  I have mixed thoughts about this book.  The author did an outstanding job presenting Alex’s conflict about gender roles and choices.  I thought it was very insightful that Ma and Alex had no conflict, it was the rest of the world that felt the need to assign everyone to a specific designation.  While the character of Ma was excellent in how she dealt with Alex’s sexuality, I thought she was irresponsible in the lifestyle she included Alex in, including changing school so often and extensive lack of supervision.  Keeping in mind that this is fiction and some rules can be bent, the story line at times seemed unrealistic.  (Of course, my background colored my reading.  This story may well resonate with others.)  All that said, I did enjoy my reading experience and wanted to keep reading to find out how everything was resolved.  In the end, isn’t that what we want in a book - to enjoy the reading experience and maybe gain some new or deeper understanding in the human experience?  This book fulfilled that expectation.  I received a complimentary copy of this book for this review.

Characters

Travels

Alex – 14 when novel begins Ma Father First Laura – friends with Ma, ages 9 – 12 Second Laura – group home in New Jersey, age 14 Third Laura – group home in PA, age 15 Man in car - molested Alex Fletcher – owned Tattoo Parlor and club Fourth Laura – artist, gave Ma Cadillac Fifth Laura – Hood College, Maryland Mr. Panagopoulos – Anthony’s grandfather Anthony – from foster home, Ma sprinkled ashes in ocean Marisol Deceased infant daughter Margaret-Mary Rue Anna-Maria – daughter, ran away with Ma’s help Simon – met Alex when he was working at Cojones, drag club Carla – Sixth Lara, Ma’s daughter given up for adoption when she was a teenager Final Laura - Canada

West Virginia – waitress Florida - waitressing in two bars Harrison County, Mississippi Texas – rescued Anna-Maria Reno -bartending Alex attacked at school California Canada – end of Ma’s Quest Alex – back to Virginia to see father

 For discussion:

NOTE: Page numbers are from hardback edition.

1. Did it bother you that the first three Laura’s were presented out of order (1^st, 3^rd, 2^nd)?  Why do you think the author did that?
2. In chapter VII (page 81-81), did you understand the explanation of why all the women in the stories Ma told Alex were all called Laura?
3. In chapter VIII (page 93), Alex thought that “There were stories that she couldn’t tell.  Everyone has then; most people pretend that they’ve been forgotten.”  Do you think most people have hidden stories?
4. What did you think about Ma dragging Alex with her on the Quest?  Did you wonder why she didn’t leave Alex with his father?
5. Discuss the long-term effect on Alex of the molestation by the man in the car while Alex was hitchhiking home from sending a post card to the father (chapter V).
6. In chapter XVIII there was a story about how the mother and father differed in their approach to Alex getting in trouble (Ma yelling and then Dad taking Alex for a ride to talk and buying a milkshake).  Was one more effective than the other?  Did they work well together?
7. Discuss how you felt about Alex and Ma as their stories unraveled.  Did your thoughts and your sympathies change?
8. In chapter XVIII Alex worked at Cojones, a drag club.  Should Ma have been more vigilant and allowed Alex to do this?
9. Who did you think the final Laura in Canada was?  Any of the previous ones?
10. Did the author do a good job describing Alex’s feelings of asexuality?  Was that important to the story?  As you were discussing or thinking about the book, did you have a hard time not referring to Alex as either “he” or “she?”
11. Did the author do a good job of explaining and describing Ma’s and Alex’s restlessness?  Were you able to empathize with how they felt?  Given how young Alex was, do you think Ma should have been so permissive?
12. The book dedication is, “To Laura, who left a hole in me.”   How did you interpret this?
13. Could this story have been real?

*****

First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and  Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.   Click on the  upper right link.