Cover to Cover: Mars Needs Moms! by Berkeley Breathed
Hello, and welcome to the second meeting of the Book Stacks Book Club, Cover to Cover. Today we are discussing Mars Needs Moms! by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Berkeley Breathed. This book has been labeled controversial by some for its depiction of Motherhood. Check out the SFGate article and the Salon article for more information about this controversy. In the SF Gate article, Mr. Breathed explains where his inspiration for this book came from: “His inspiration for “Mars Needs Moms!” came from a moment when he was coaching his older child at a softball field, and his younger child, who was then 4, wandered off and got very close to the railroad tracks bordering the playground, and he rushed down to grab him.
In that moment, “I imagined him on the tracks and a train coming, and me running across the tracks and pushing the child off while I got smashed,” he says by phone. “And it occurred to me that for the first time in my life, that scenario would have occurred without thinking. I would have knowingly gone to my death to push my kid out of the way of the train. It’s not really until you’re a parent that that notion suddenly springs to mind.” –(SF Gate, 5/9/07)
A strong emotional response to an event generated this book, which seems to be generating other strong emotional responses. What did you think of the book? As is becoming customary, I would like to begin the discussion with the following question:
1. Did you enjoy the book?
Yes! I thought that this book was well-written, well-illustrated, and most entertaining. Milo was a believable kid and the depiction of his relationship with his mother was portrayed quite realistically. My Mum is very fond of broccoli, too, so I can relate. Though I never tried sister-tinting…
2. What did you think of the author’s depiction of motherhood?
Apparently, I’m not feeling very PC today, because I totally disagree with the nay-sayers on this one. Mr. Breathed has crafted a beautiful story. As you might gather from his quote above, he could just as easily have written a story about fathers. I maintain that most loving parents would have done the same thing as Milo’s Mum…if they weren’t too busy freaking out about finding themselves on Mars, that is.
3. This is a picture book, so what did you think of the art?
I have long been a fan of Berkeley Breathed’s cartoons, so you will likely be unsurprised to discover that I liked the art in this book. It’s colorful, full of motion, and very detailed. Simply put, it is entertaining to look at. And, best of all, (for me anyway) Mars actually looks like Mars in the pictures of the Solar System. (Yes, I have a picture of Mars on my wall.)
4. Did you have a favorite character?
I’m going with Milo. He’s the main character that we experience everything through. He even figures out why the Martians have kidnapped his mum, and agrees with their logic…mostly. I’m glad that he finally learns what makes moms so special.
To Sum Up: I enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it for parents especially. (Yes, Mom. You may borrow my book now.)
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And now, the book which we will be discussing next time is: The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. I’ve had several folks recommend this book to me, so we’ll give this Sci Fi Mystery a try. We will be discussing The Eyre Affair on June 22, 2007. Won’t you join us?
The Book Stacks, Cover to Cover, Book Club, Mars Needs Moms!, Berkeley Breathed, The Eyre Affair, Jasper Fforde
June 8th, 2007 at 8:54 am
Oh I’m the first, yeah! Ok I loved the book for the pictures. The story is very simple and has places where Breathed could have filled in like an apology form the Martians for any trouble caused. I found no problem with this dipication of motherhood, as being told from a little boy’s persective his mom is watching what he eats, protecting his sibliling for accidental permant harm, and making him do chores. She was kind of a sexy lady though. I was amazed at the polished art I am wondering what medium he used, computer or watercolors. And the details like when Milo takes out the garbage all the cans have the British Heinz labels and when the martians are returning Milo and his Mother their faces are visable in the cosmos. I liked the silent Baby sister oh and the puppy. Very nice selection, thank you for giving me a reason to read it.
(SO excited about the Next selection)
June 8th, 2007 at 9:11 am
I’m back. I just read the suggessted articles and some of the letters sent to Solan. And this anti-feminism is crap. All of the action is at night or could be weekends the author never says she is a stay at home mom, that is what the aliens want. And even if she is that is this situation and while the father is only shown in the last image he could be as much a “giant, summer-stealing, child-working, perfumy garden goblin” no one asks Milo his opinions on fathers. I think people are bringing their own issues to this book. If everyone wants one book to speak directly about thier complex stituation the are never going to find it.
June 8th, 2007 at 4:36 pm
Glad you liked the book, Rebekah. (I hope you still do after reading the articles…)
I’m thinking of bringing up King Elvis and the Aliens Space Ducks at some point. What do you think?
June 9th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
I don’t know either of those
June 9th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Ask Mike. It was originally a way not to give away the end of a book in Book Club. It turned into quite the fun and useful device.