My Mother and Other Wild Animals: An Essay

4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars | 716 ratings

Price: 1.99

Last update: 06-09-2024


About this item

A mother and son embark on the road trip of a lifetime in a charming, poignant essay about making memories, facing fears, and donning fried-egg costumes by the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Less.

Andrew Sean Greer can’t wait to get home to San Francisco after a writer’s residency in Kansas. But when his mother, Sandra, decides to come along for the ride, he has a new goal: get her to crack a smile at every stop, whether breathtaking or breathtakingly kitschy.

He’s always known his mother to be as efficient and serious as a chemist (which she happens to be), always in gray, eyebrow cocked, and handling challenges with grace. To mix things up, Andrew develops an elaborate itinerary of planned chaos. Ahead, twenty-six hours of landmarks, pecan divinity, show tunes, and bizarre lodgings for the wild at heart. Best of all, mile by mile, mother and son realize how very much alike they are. And that this is just the escape they both needed.


From the Publisher

MY MOTHER AND OTHER WILD ANIMALS description

Top reviews from the United States

amy
5.0 out of 5 stars A short point of view of mom.
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2024
This is one of the most unique pieces of writing I have read in a long long time, if ever. It has some shades of bill bryson, but more unique because of the topic. His story hit parts that made me laugh out loud sometimes till my sides hurt and sometimes that sense of humour that makes you cry frm the emotions flowing out and along. I feel like I know these people from a short essay almost as well as my own. So read this and be prepared for a wild ride that lets you forget about yourself and your own life and uniquely lets you laugh cry and cheer for these strangers. When you're done you'll get the meaning without thinking. Rock on Mr Greer!
Ruth A. Krauss
4.0 out of 5 stars I like his early work the best.
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2024
I would recommend reading his A Story of a Marriage.
This piece I found a bit too short.
I saw him in person once and he is a lovely man. Somewhere I have his autographed book.
Mary Ellen
3.0 out of 5 stars Targetted Audience
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2024
Son reminisces on times with his mother. Most notably he announces his sexual orientation and she does as well to him. This is out of my wheelhouse: I'm not certain where to go with the info.

Overall, I laughed and enjoyed a moment where he recognized how hard she worked on herself.

This is a quick read and nonfiction -- requires some thinking.

I feel like I missed the point, because I would have kept these memories private.
Libby Thompson
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2024
This is a great book that really moved me. It's funny and entertaining but the love shines through. It's been more than 25 years since my mother died and I hope Mr. Greer's mother will have many more funerals to enjoy with family and friends.
J.
4.0 out of 5 stars Not quite what I expected
Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2024
Not quite what I expected but a refreshingly interesting and candid read nonetheless. The title alone was enough to warrant a read for me.
Johanna M. Dillard
5.0 out of 5 stars Thank you for sharing!
Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2024
This is a quick read with heartfelt insights and humor. It makes me wish I had traveled with my mother. Well done!
LisaB
5.0 out of 5 stars Fun read
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2024
This was a fun, short story about a guy and his mom. They travel from Kansas to San Francisco. They stay in unique hotels and eat in a lot of roadside diners. It was a quirky trip with lots of love!
Mary Nickell
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting little story.
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2024
I borrowed this from Kindle Unlimited and enjoyed it. It was a very quick read that was too short for my taste.

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