First I would like to mention, there is no anymosity between Malabar, the mother, and Rennie, the daughter in this memoir. The writing is one of healing on Rennie's part, of understanding her mother.
Entering into this memoir I feel it matters to understand the family's dynamics.
A family descendant of the Mayflower, people of privileged and wealth.
Malabar, a mother without boundaries will incapacitated Rennie through her teen years and beyond, she will never understand her indecent misstep.
The healing will consume Rennie for many years, the search for herself.
Distancing herself from Malabar will be her first step. Finding hope and guidance through books suggested by her stepmother Margo will lead her toards fundamental understandings.
I was taken aback by Rennie's lack of literary education, yet not surprised considering the hedonistic lifestyle she grew up around.
Literature will become Rennie's vocation, which can be noticed by the beautiful writing in this memoir.

Thank you NetGalley & Houghton Miffin and Harcourt

Coming from a broken home I was able to relate to this book. My heart hurt for Adrienne as all she wanted was to be loved by her mother. But at what cost?

This book is about a mother/Malabar who needs a friend more then a daughter. She tells her daughter her upmost secrets at the tender age of 14. Adrienne is as any 14 year old girl, wanting the attention and close relationship this has given her. However Adrienne has a hard time breaking away from her mother, even into her 30's. This cost of this relationship is more then Adrienne could ever have imagined.

I don't read many biographical memoirs and this book was excellent. I highly recommend this book!

An achingly honest memoir by a daughter whose mother has no boundaries. Thank goodness Rennie healed from this. A fascinating and sad book that is utterly unputdownable.

Wow! I love reading memoirs, looking at the twisted relationships that produced the author. “Wild Game” is endlessly fascinating, beautifully written and begs the reader to sit down with other women to discuss the unusual relationship between Rennie, the author, and Malabar, her mother.

Should children become the confidantes of parents? Should a parent force a child to keep secrets? Should a child participate in a parent’s immoral behavior?

All of this resonated with me because I was married to someone who was forced into the same position as Adrienne Brodeur. Few people can stand back and examine their life as Brodeur does in this memoir. The writing is lush and beautifully descriptive. I was able to feel the settings and taste the food.

I have a lingering question, and perhaps someone can answer this for me, “how valuable is the necklace?” Since this piece of jewelry became a highly important pawn in the relationship between the women, the nosy gossip in me needs the closure of knowing if it is really valuable or just a tool in their relationship which was hardly worth it’s exalted position.

I truly enjoyed this memoir and obviously urge women to share their own experiences with their mothers. Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book.