Book Review: "Mona of the Manor" by Armistead Maupin

There's something quite irresistible about reading on the topic of great country houses, especially when there are interesting stories happening inside. Armistead Maupin's Mona of the Manor is one of many books in a series (others of which I have not read) and covers a woman named Mona who's husband has since passed away and now she is the lady of the manor. A couple named Rhonda and Ernie come to stay as now, without much of an income left, Mona has had to open the manor to the public. When Rhonda and Ernie walk in, it is clear that there is something up inside the manor and Ernie isn't particularly enjoying very much of it.

Rhonda and Ernie are a couple whom I felt from the outset were two very different people. Rhonda is cautious and somewhat likeable, whereas Ernie is detestable in a way I'm not actually able to fathom. In this Tale of the City, Rhonda and Ernie make it to the manor and are met inside with the elusive Mona who shows them to their room. Once there however, it is clear there is tension between the couple as Ernie wants to leave as fast as he got there and yet, Rhonda seems to be relaxing a lot more now that they are in their room. Maupin writes the couple from the outset as having difficulties, not just because they are different, but because Ernie is a man who dislikes everything about everything.

When they sit at dinner to eat the wonderful food that Mona and her 'son' Wilfred have made for them, they begin to argue and though Mona doesn't really see anything, Wilfred likes to lurk the hallways and witnesses the whole thing. Ernie picks up a dish and throws it at his wife's face, causing a big bruise. By the account and instrospective thoughts of Rhonda after the event, the reader can tell this has happened before. Eventually, Rhonda hatches a plan with Mona and Ernie leaves thinking his wife has made for the station to leave him and go home. Rhonda however, sits in a different room in a plan that was helped by Mona and Wilfred. The author starts to show us some serious topics that lurk beneath the whimsical Mona and her manor. We have just witnessed our first fit of domestic violence and brave Rhonda has had the courage to finally leave. The question is: will it stay this way and will she be safe?

Wilfred is a great character. Though Rhonda reveals herself to be a religious woman who does not approve of the lifestyle Wilfred leads, there is something about Wilfred which always seems to calm the room. He is a gay man who, according to the author, has lost many friends to a horrific illness wiping its way through the country: AIDS. Excited to see someone he has not seen in five years, Wilfred hopes it isn't another 'goodbye' meeting. He spends a lot of time in the house gallery and also makes biscuits. He just seems like the kind of person whom you'd love to spend the day with in the town or market square.

As we read on, we are met with a whole host of great characters such as Poppy, Anna and Michael. But one thing is true, there is something special about experiencing sexuality in this book and Mona, when she reveals to Rhonda that she is, in fact, a lesbian - seems to be more vulnerable than ever. There's a lot to unpack, especially the fact that eventually that rift between Rhonda and Ernie is not fully settled and yes, there may be a lot of side stories for such a short book but it's all part and parcel of this great story. It's like a love letter to people who want to find themselves. Whoever they might be.

I'm going to conclude with this: this book is wonderful and might in the future make me seek out all the others in the series. I'm not sure whether you have to read them in any order, I just know about them. But if you do have to read them in order then I don't mind reading this one again as I pass by!