MOTHERS AND SONS by Adam Haslett

Peter Fischer is a lonely gay immigration lawyer who specializes in asylum cases, many of which involve persecution for sexual orientation.  Until now, Peter has avoided cases involving gay immigrants, possibly because they force him to dredge up his own past.  His relationship with his lesbian mother, a former priest who now co-owns a women’s retreat in Vermont, is strained.  Theirs is just one of several mother/son relationships that support the book title.  We also have Vasel, Peter’s first gay client, whose mother helped get him out of Albania but whom Vasel cannot ask for a letter confirming his homosexuality.  Another client is Sandra, whose son Felipe is terrified that she will be deported back to Honduras and leave him alone in the U.S.  Last but not least is Peter’s sister, Liz, whose 4-year-old son, Charlie, whom she adores, is still not completely potty-trained.  Despite the peaceful tone of this book, its subject matter is anything but peaceful.  I would say that it is an uncomfortable, squirm-inducing read with several violent backstories.  I also found it baffling at times.  How can a traumatized teenager whose mother is a priest not receive any sort of counseling?