Dear sister: a "Mrs. Everything" review
Siblings: you can't stand them, but you can't live without them. Although I'm close with my twin brother, there are times when we clash, get on each other's nerves and under each other's skin. At the end of the day, we'll always be there for each other whenever the other needs it most. Even if life takes us in different directions, so be it; we'll still have each other's backs, no matter where we are.
Our scope of life is unknown at this point (hopefully we each live a long and beautiful life), so why not read a sibling saga, its scope set, courtesy of Jennifer Weiner? A change of pace from her commonly associated chick-lit titles, Mrs. Everything sounded like a promising novel from Weiner. With a literary approach to the writing and plot construction, following the Kaufman daughters over the course of seventy decades, inner thoughts developing and personalities shifting, sounded intriguing. When this was available at the e-library, I grabbed it, hoping for a good read.
For my first Weiner novel, this was a great read. A compelling portrait of familial ties throughout significant moments in American history, Mrs. Everything reveals the messiness of finding your identity, true self seemingly always out of reach. The Kaufman sisters are rich characters that shift throughout the book, transforming into opposites of how they started life but embracing their contradictions and initial spark as they keep going. Also included are great discussions on being Jewish, gay, a feminist, and anti-racist, as those ideologies impacted the last half of the twentieth century and still do today (although I feel Weiner could have done more to address the intersectionality of feminism and racism, especially among Black women and other women of color). Although there are a few continuity errors with the interests and personalities of significant players in the Kaufman's lives, Mrs. Everything is a great title, perfect for book club discussions and those curious about where Weiner could take themes she may have touched upon in prior work.
The Kaufman family moves into a brick house on Alhambra Street in 1950. Josette, who goes by Jo, is the eldest daughter, a precocious tomboy who constantly gets in trouble with her mother and is keenly aware of the racial injustice in the world. Elizabeth, nicknamed Bethie, is a girly girl, pampered and adored and never a naysayer; she always does the right thing. Although their relationship is strained by parental expectations of being young Jewish women, the sisters remain close, Jo telling Bethie bedtime stories and looking after her younger sister as she grows up. But throughout their lives, the Kaufman sisters find themselves challenged. Bethie experiences sexual harassment at the hands of her uncle, ultimately resulting in a recurring eating disorder and a hallucinogen addiction just to escape her body as a woman in college. Jo realizes she has feelings for her best friend in a homophobic society, and when that friend doesn't return her feelings to the extent she does, she finds another woman at college, unfortunately leading to the same heartbreak. The sisters switch trajectories, Bethie becoming the counterculture hippie and floating from place to place while Jo settles down with a husband and a family, attempting romantic fluidity but burying her true desires as a result. Both end up with a life they weren't expecting, but is it too late for them to seek what they truly want? Or is it time for the sisters to pack those dreams away?
One thing about this novel that immediately impressed me was its scope. Weiner does an excellent job handling the longevity of Bethie and Jo, beginning with Jo in 2015 before hurtling back into the past, building up to present day as each sister recounts pivotal moments in her life. Their voices are distinct, and their reactions to the history forming around them follow suit. The dialogue, fashion, and attitudes of the times are handled well, and although some of the phrasing is no longer appropriate, it is reflective of past vernacular, especially around the late 50's and early 60's. Additionally, the discussions on antisemitism (particularly from the point of view of the girls' mother), racism, feminism, and being an advocate and ally for Black people are all powerful and important ones to note, especially as Jo grows up in a household where her mother discriminates against Black people. In her eyes, they "haven't worked as hard," so "birds of a feather must flock together." I do wish, however, that Weiner had discussed intersectionality in regards to racism and the response to sexism, especially as Black women and other women of color do face the brunt of both issues. Letting Bethie and Jo recognize their advantages as white women compared to their peers would have made a stronger impact if it hadn't been mentioned fleetingly, but Jewish people face their own share of discrimination, something Weiner does capture effectively throughout the early parts of this book.
Another effective part of Mrs. Everything is the narrative. Weiner puts an acute focus on both sisters, and as I mentioned before, it allows for great depth and intriguing growth. I was surprised by how full-circle their stories were, how threads introduced throughout came back together at the end, even if some may feel convenient for several readers. Although certain details fluctuate throughout the narrative, especially with the personality traits and interests of Jo's children, each sister reads consistently and operates as a mirror for the other. Although I relate more to Jo's suppression of her sexuality in favor of a seemingly perfect life, Bethie's grappling with a world that works against women, blaming them for the sexual violence they face, is just as captivating. It's fascinating how, although these attitudes the women face have evolved since the twentieth century, they still exist in a heteronormative society that maintains them subconsciously. Also gripping is how Weiner explores shifting identity, letting each sister try on each other's skin before coming back to a fuller picture of who they once were. The ending is bittersweet but uplifting, reminding readers that it's never too late to become who you want to be, even if it doesn't match others' expectations of you or what you thought yourself would be. It may take multiple tries, but you'll get there eventually.
Jennifer Weiner's Mrs. Everything is a literary feat, perfect for chick-lit lovers and those who want to see the genre catapulted to heights perhaps unseen. Although lacking intersectional commentary and consistency with some characters, Bethie and Jo's journeys are rendered poignant through Weiner's great eyes for character-building and historical context. There's lots to contemplate about within the pages of this book, and it's up to the reader to figure out how best to adapt that contemplation into their own life. My hope is that it leads them to the right path, one just and fair to the world and to them.