Mini-Review: Mamma's Bank Account by Kathryn Forbes

[DATo]

Mama's Bank Account

by

Kathryn Forbes

I find it sad that this 1949 classic has been seemingly ignored by contemporary readers, especially young adults, who seem all too preoccupied with vampires, sci-fi shoot-em-ups, wizards and teenage survivalist novels.

Mama's Bank Account is the story of a family of Norwegian immigrant's living in the United States in the 20th century told in first person narrative by one of the family's daughters. It is a story of adolescence and survival in a new land. This gentle novel is told much like a collection of interlocking short stories. The narrator's mother, ever mindful of her children's emotional stability, encourages them in times of economic distress to contribute to the family's bank account to ward off the wolf of poverty which is always threatening at the door so they can remain economically stable. The bank account is the fortress which protects them and as long as they have it they will have nothing to worry about. Mama, herself, works as a floor scrubber in a hospital at night and the children take on various jobs both domestically and in the workforce to maintain the home and the bank account.

Those of you who have read my own short stories know that I am a sucker for a twist ending and this book has one of the first, and best, killer endings I had ever encountered in my own early reading and has certainly contributed to my love of this literary device.

Take a break from all of the space ships, sword wielding, and blood & guts novels for once and read a book written the way good books were once written long ago. It is a relatively short and easy to read novel. I think you will like it.

Light hearted and beautiful ... it will leave you with a smile, and perhaps a tear.

EDIT: Make sure the author is Kathryn Forbes.

[gali]

Great review and it sounds like a very good book. A pity it isn't available as an ebook.