This memoir is a hilarious, sad, poignant, tale of Richard Russo and his mother, Jean. It begins in Gloversville, NY, where he was born and raised. His father is mostly out of the picture as soon as he returns from WWII and Russo and his mother are living with her parents. His mother has a good job with GE in Schenectady and is well paid. She is prone to spells of depression and feels trapped in Gloversville. She and Russo have a very close bond. When he decides to attend college in Arizona, she decides to go with him and start a new life. “Don’t I deserve a life?” is one of her mantras.
And so begin moves around the country that continue until her death. Russo marries Barbara, who must be an angel to put up with Jean early (middle and late) in their marriage. The pull of Gloversville, and the downhill slide of the town never completely leave mother and son.
Unbelievable as it is, Russo doesn’t tumble to the fact that his mother severely suffers with OCD and is probably a manic depressive, until his daughter is diagnosed with OCD, and he learns about the disease and realizes his mother was not “difficult” without reason. I think deep in his heart he knew something was seriously wrong or he wouldn’t have had the patience to try to love and protect her as he did.