THE MASON HOUSE is T. Marie Bertineau's memoir, a compilation of memories. She grew up with her three sisters, a brother, and alcoholic parents in many different homes in many different school districts in a few different states. Their upbringing was unstable and obviously difficult.

I was under the misconception that Bertineau grew up in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (UP) because that's where the Mason house was. It was her grandmother’s home, where she spent part of her childhood, in Mason, Michigan. But no, only the first third of THE MASON HOUSE takes place in the UP, although Bertineau does continue to have ties to this area.

Maybe, then, THE MASON HOUSE really isn't the right title for this book. After all, 2/3 of it barely mentions the Mason house. My impression is that this book is about the instability of growing up with alcoholics.