Mumentous

I'm not a native Texan. I grew up in Louisiana and headed off to Texas for college. The first time I saw a homecoming mum, I nearly dropped my teeth. (And this was in the mid-80s, before mums got supersized – the ribbons didn't even touch the ground!) I could not wrap my brain around this major production, statement piece, whatever you wanted to call it. There was nothing like it in my experience, and honestly, I didn't really want one!

But in Mumentous, Amy J. Schultz gives us a marvelous look at the history of the mum, from its humble beginnings as an actual chrysanthemum corsage to the heavy-duty bedazzled versions of today that almost require scaffolding to hold them up. And her telling of that history is SO. MUCH. FUN!

I loved reading the mum stories that people shared with her. Some made me laugh, some made me tear up a little. And I had no idea that mum-making was such big business. It was fascinating to read about the detailed work and time and effort that goes into creating the perfect mum. Pretty sure if I tried to make a mum, it would suck, because I do not have that kind of creativity.

The pictures were a fantastic addition. From the small to the supersized, from a simple corsage to the Whatamum (that I now deeply regret not having the opportunity to see), they highlighted different aspects of the mum tradition and really made it pop for me.

So I didn't grow up with the whole mum experience. After reading Mumentous, I kind of wish I had! It would be nice to be part of such a longstanding, joyous tradition. Whether you've known about mums your whole life or were raised somewhere outside of Texas like me, this is worth the read. It's a well-written and well-researched look into a fascinating aspect of the high school and college experience that started – where else? – in Texas.

Five mums from me!