Noble Professions Bring a Mother and Son Together When They Can No Longer Stay Apart

Peter Fischer combats his inner struggles through relentless dedication to his profession. As an immigration attorney based in Manhattan, he faces constant crises at work. His mission involves representing asylum seekers who desperately seek legitimacy and safety within the United States. Achieving success can provide these individuals with a stable future. However, failing could result in their expulsion from the country.

Peter’s mother, Ann, has embarked on yet another profound mission, albeit in calmer settings: She manages a spiritual retreat in Vermont designed to assist women who feel disheartened, isolated, or distressed in finding a sense of belonging and personal value. Her talent lies in enabling others to engage with their suffering, all while concealing her own emotional pain.

Each is heavily committed to a path of service. They both harbor a hidden truth. For the mother and her son alike, an accounting draws near.

In "Mothers and Sons," renowned author Adam Haslett portrays this duo with remarkable compassion and understanding. Having written three earlier novels—two of which were nominated for the prestigious Pulitzer Prize ("Imagine Me Gone" from 2016 and "You Are Not a Stranger Here," his short-story collection published in 2002)—Haslett stands out as an exceptional storyteller when it comes to depicting the complexities of familial affection. This narrative delves into a household grappling with historical pain alongside contemporary societal upheavals.

For Peter, the specter fueling his work addiction traces back to his teenage years when he grappled with unacknowledged feelings and ultimately acknowledged his homosexuality. This tumultuous period intensified during his parents' separation triggered by Ann’s affair with another man; at this same time, Peter developed an intense infatuation with the alluring and magnetic Jared, which tragically soured. Ann’s choice to depart from her marriage not only shattered their family unit but also terminated her career as an Episcopal priest.

Peter's work erases his memories and acts as an excuse to dodge intimate connections and reject Ann’s requests to get together. Each case requires him to quickly learn about the politics of his client's home country and the persecution they faced, which forced them to escape. Missing deadlines in immigration court could result in arrests and deportations, with deportation potentially being life-threatening for individuals fleeing due to political reasons. Some cases involve children whose futures might be ruined, and clients who lose hope and vanish without a trace. Peter stands as the final barrier between these clients—originating from places like Honduras, Russia, Nepal, and Albania—and potential disaster.

Haslett has a law degree and has done volunteer immigration work, And I've never come across an account that captures both the depth and vibrancy of Peter’s challenging career as clearly as this one does. In reality, his profession appears poised to face even greater hardships under the new presidential administration's pledged efforts to tighten restrictions on immigration.

Peter withstands the stress until Vasel, a young Albanian refugee who narrowly escaped death due to homophobia, breaks through his barriers and triggers Peter’s deep-seated past traumas. As a result, he starts making errors, and these missteps could lead to significant repercussions.

Similar to Peter, Ann is also a supportive figure, and much like him, her idealistic nature often makes her oblivious to routine needs. Peter reminisces acidly, "Even as my father might have been passing away in the next room, she remained engrossed in whatever was written down. It felt as though this existence—our reality—was merely an interlude from what truly matters." The sustainability of the retreat center hinges on both Ann and her companion; however, their earned peace is jeopardized when Ann finds herself drawn to someone else.

It appears that the mother and son are fated for perpetual separation; however, six years following their final encounter, Peter finds himself at Ann’s house when feelings of vulnerability and loneliness become too much to bear physically. Slowly, he begins reintegrating into his family unit. This journey isn’t without challenges, as they uncover deep-seated emotions such as sorrow, remorse, and bitterness, searching beneath these layers for hidden love. Occasionally, the characters within this household scrutinize one another’s intentions with extreme severity, which made me wish for greater compassion among them. Liz, who serves as a breath of fresh air through her carefree nature alongside her young child and gaming spouse, adds comedic elements amid tense familial interactions. More focus on her character, along with everyday details about both Peter’s and Ann’s daily existence, would have been appreciated.

A side story involving one of Ann’s forebears from the Revolutionary War, who was involved in genocide, fails to develop further. However, Haslett’s depiction of Ann and Peter stands out as unparalleled, with various maternal figures showcasing an intense connection through their actions: Vasel’s highly protective mom; a Honduran client whose son would do everything to safeguard her; Liz and her vivacious young child; Jared alongside his fashionable yet mysterious mother.

Even with evasion, fault-finding, and recriminations, a flicker of desire for mending fences remains. "Mothers and Sons" captures an emotionally charged journey that ultimately seems fulfilling and authentic. Haslett’s depiction of Peter’s existence stands out in its illustration of a frontline laborer in America’s immigration conflicts crumbling beneath their load. Both he and Ann poignantly highlight the price paid when one prioritizes others over oneself.

Ultimately, the story of this intricate mother and son duo meets one of the finest purposes of reading fiction: to gain insight into others and their daunting challenges, to grieve with them when they falter and rejoice with them when they persevere.

Mary Ann Gwinn, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist residing in Seattle, focuses her writing on literature and those who create it.

This tale initially surfaced in Los Angeles Times .