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“Things happen when you leave, when you walk out the door, up the driveway, and into the world.”
Kelly’s mother and father have always been so different. Her father is laid-back and likes to host parties. Her mother worries and is more introverted. In the book, their relationship is compared to glitter (father) and glue (mother). Kelly has always been more attracted to her father’s personality, so after college, she and a friend decide to travel the world before they settle down in jobs. Her mother tries to dissuade her, but she feels this is the best chance to explore the world.
A friend of mine recommended Glitter and Glue, so I put it on my to-read list and requested it from the library through Overdrive. It became available pretty quickly. It was an interesting and quick read, but the writing style kept me interested for the whole book.
In Australia, Kelly and her friend are low on money and they get turned down for every job they apply for, so they end up being nannies. Kelly ends up living with a family with two children and a widower. Her relationship with the youngest, a boy, is easy. The older girl resents Kelly’s being in the house at all. The father is a flight attendant and acts awkward around her. As she puts herself in a mothering role, Kelly starts to see her mother through different, and more appreciative, eyes. The book ends with Kelly back at home, getting married and having children of her own. The lessons learned while in Australia affect her in those relationships as well.
Glitter and Glue was a very good memoir focusing on mother-daughter relationships. Kelly writes in a way that reveals her thoughts as they happened so you can journey with her. The book is fine for high school readers and older mainly because it covers the complications in a mother-daughter relationship when they don’t see eye-to-eye. Kelly also goes out partying and has romantic interests.
When did you develop a real appreciation for your mother? Share with us!