Labor Day
by Joyce Maynard
I saw the film Labor Day before reading Joyce Maynard’s original novel. I loved the film so much I bought the book mere days later and devoured it over a weekend. While I ended up favoring Ivan Reitman’s screenplay adaptation, I appreciate the original ideas in the novel.
Written in the first person perspective of a thirteen-year-old boy, the book chronicles Labor Day weekend in which a mysterious stranger changes his and his mother’s lives. Ever since the boy’s parents divorced, his mother has retreated into her own private world, with behavior that borders on mental illness and unfit motherhood. However, the way the book is written, from the boy’s perspective, her behavior is a little tiresome but not abusive. I disagreed with the blasé treatment of her behavior, and this was one of the main reasons I didn’t like the book. She’s portrayed as a very sad woman who needs to be “seen” by a man to remember the vivacious woman she used to be. I saw her as a mentally disturbed woman in need of massive amounts of therapy, and a terrible role model for her young son.
An injured man approaches the son and mother in a store, asking for a ride. While it’s completely against their characters, they help him and, upon his request take him to their house. It turns out he’s an escaped convict, and while he technically holds them hostage in their home, his behavior is kind and helpful to their dysfunctional family situation.
The other reason I didn’t like the novel was the overpowering sexual elements to the story. The protagonist is thirteen, and his hormones have kicked in. I understand that young boys think about sex a lot, but I would have preferred Maynard cut the number of sexual fantasies in half, let alone the graphic descriptions. Joyce Maynard dedicated this novel to her sons, “who taught me about the hearts of thirteen-year-old boys”; if I were one of her sons I’d be humiliated for the rest of my life. For a less sexually explicit, more mature storyline, watch the film instead.
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of the film adaptation of Labor Day here!
Written in the first person perspective of a thirteen-year-old boy, the book chronicles Labor Day weekend in which a mysterious stranger changes his and his mother’s lives. Ever since the boy’s parents divorced, his mother has retreated into her own private world, with behavior that borders on mental illness and unfit motherhood. However, the way the book is written, from the boy’s perspective, her behavior is a little tiresome but not abusive. I disagreed with the blasé treatment of her behavior, and this was one of the main reasons I didn’t like the book. She’s portrayed as a very sad woman who needs to be “seen” by a man to remember the vivacious woman she used to be. I saw her as a mentally disturbed woman in need of massive amounts of therapy, and a terrible role model for her young son.
An injured man approaches the son and mother in a store, asking for a ride. While it’s completely against their characters, they help him and, upon his request take him to their house. It turns out he’s an escaped convict, and while he technically holds them hostage in their home, his behavior is kind and helpful to their dysfunctional family situation.
The other reason I didn’t like the novel was the overpowering sexual elements to the story. The protagonist is thirteen, and his hormones have kicked in. I understand that young boys think about sex a lot, but I would have preferred Maynard cut the number of sexual fantasies in half, let alone the graphic descriptions. Joyce Maynard dedicated this novel to her sons, “who taught me about the hearts of thirteen-year-old boys”; if I were one of her sons I’d be humiliated for the rest of my life. For a less sexually explicit, more mature storyline, watch the film instead.
Be sure and check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of the film adaptation of Labor Day here!