-- Templeton

The current book I'm reading is called The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff. So far, the main character Willie Upton has to live in her ancestral home in Templeton, New York along with her hippie mother known as Vi. Afterwards, biologists find a new prehistoric monster that was discovered as a new species in Lake Glimmerglass.

To be honest, I find this book possibly my most challenging one to understand. There are tons of unnecessary subplots, story is hard to follow, and too many unanswered necessities. I had to reread quite a lot to understand a chapter. The only thing that I can explain right now is Willie and Vi's relationship.

As a daughter of an over-securing mother, I can understand where Willie is going; Vi as well. The 'typical mother' will obviously make you study to be smarter - say, going to Stanford; rather than an archaeology career where the 'typical mother' thinks you won't bother making a living out of yourself. If I were Willie, I'd probably make a fool out of myself and say that I'm still going to Stanford, and then be ashamed of myself and start regretting later. But really, I think that Vi is going overboard.

This book somewhat reminds me of Life as We Knew It, a book that connects the main character with her mother frequently. Both describe happiness, sadness, and anger between both supporting and main characters.

If I were Vi in this situation, I would try to give Willie some more precaution, and take things more gently. People often make big mistakes, and there are times when anger doesn't solve it.

Being a mother doesn't seem easy.