Book Review//Mamma by Diana Tutton

When I heard that the British Library was going to be reprinting a book by Diana Tutton I was intrigued. Her novel, Guard Your Daughters, was widely read and reviewed on the internet a few years ago. I read and reviewed it as well but had much more mixed feelings about it than most readers seemed to. Nevertheless, I felt the author had distinct possibilities and I was very pleased to receive a copy of Mamma from the British Library.

On the surface, Mamma seems like it would not be my type of book at all. It tells the story of Joanna who is the 41-year-old mother of Libby. At the beginning of the book Libby is 20 and about to marry 35-year-old Steven. The young couple end up moving in with Joanna and slowly a love triangle begins to develop. I don’t like books about love triangles and I especially don’t like the sound of a love triangle involving a mother, her daughter, and her son-in-law. However, I liked this book.

I think I liked it because the characters were likeable and trying to be and do the best they could. Libby is very young and innocent and very much in love with Steven. This quote tells the reader so much about her and their relationship.

She would take Steven to be properly photographed soon, and doubtless he would want to have her done, too. She closed her eyes, and at once saw a large, highly polished drawing-room, herself seated before a bright fire, pouring out Steven’s after-dinner coffee, and on various pieces of furniture huge leather frames, in which smiled, or meditated, her own slightly improved face. On her writing-table, beside her engagement book and blotter, one enormous photograph of Steven would stand. She opened her eyes. But first darling Steven had got to abbreviate his moustache. He didn’t know it yet, but that was the first thing she was going to alter about him, bless his heart.

Doesn’t she sound like a modern young girl who wants to put her life on Instagram? Steven is horrified at the idea of the photos decorating their drawing room and Libby doesn’t understand his reaction. Joanna does and this is not the only time she and her son-in-law instinctively understand each other. They also have a meeting of the minds when they discuss poetry. Libby doesn’t appreciate poetry and is a little lost during the conversation. Joanna realizes she must be on guard.

During the next few days, however, Joanna became almost glad that Mrs. Pryde was to come. Her attitude to Steven had drastically changed, and she had to guard her behaviour when they were all three together. It seemed a single evening of unforced friendship towards him was to be all her allowance. Before it she had been constantly trying to uncover interests in common, and to show Libby that he was liked by her: now she must check her spontaneity, lest she allow Libby to feel left out. It was good to find him suddenly so likeable, and she was pleased out of all proportion when Libby told her how much Steven enjoyed her company and admired her looks. She was half annoyed to notice that her looks actually did improve from that moment, and that she could not help taking more than usual trouble with her face and hair. Alone with Steven, when Libby was busy elsewhere, she found his company both restful and stimulating. But she took care, when Libby joined them, to retire into herself, and she found this oddly exhausting.

Joanna is agonized by the situation she finds herself in. After 20 years of widowhood, she is attracted to a man again and that man is her own son-in-law. She loves Libby and she is jealous of her. She loves Steven but she wants her daughter to be happy with him. In another author’s hands, this could have been a much different book but Tutton’s deft touch avoids the prurient aspect and concentrates on the love the characters have for each other and the best ways they can show that love. Joanna is a loving mother, Libby is a loving wife and daughter, and Steven is a good man. There are no shocking revelations and forbidden sex scenes. Instead, the reader encounters good people trying to be the best, most loyal people they can be. I like that.

Mamma also has a lot to quietly say about women and their role in life. Joanna is only 41 but she, and others, obviously believe she is past being sexually attractive. She is very firmly put in the role of middle-aged woman. The title of the book comes from the fact that Libby decides that Steven, only 6 years younger than his mother-in-law, should call her “mamma.” In fact, when Steven’s mother dies Libby tells him that he must never forget that he still has a mother in her mother. There is a constant juxtaposition between the youthful appeal of Libby and the maturity and slightly faded beauty of her mother. That role of momma is what Joanna puts first but is that all she ever has and all she ever wants? I’ll let you read and find out for yourself.