Book Review: Bettyville By George Hodgman

There was just something magical about Bettyville by George Hodgman that grabbed my interest and held me captive until the final pages.

George leaves his home, friends, and job in New York City to return to his small mid-western hometown of Paris, Missouri to care for his frail, aging mother. She has a sharp tongue and a dedication to her worn out Mephisto sandals, she can shrink George with a glance and never stops seeking perfection.

At times frustrated yet emotional about Betty, George cannot bring himself to consider placing Betty in a nursing home. He struggles with giving his mom the best care he can although it becomes clear she needs more than what he can give her. Throughout the book, George revisits childhood memories about his father and Betty and growing up feeling out of place in a small town. As an adult, he looks at Paris with new eyes and has an appreciation for his childhood, especially his mother.

George writes with kindness and clever humor that made me smile but the deep love he feels for his mother made me teary eyed. This is an incredibly well-written memoir that left me feeling a bit melancholy about being a mother to a son who will one day hopefully take care of me like George took care of Betty.  Put this one on your spring reading list!