Lost Roses: A Novel

Several mother-daughter relationships play key roles within the novel. How are each of the central characters shaped by their mothers or mother figures?

It’s mentioned that Taras was changed by his years in prison, growing from a loving member of the household to a constant threat. Why does Varinka retain her relationship with him for as long as she does?

Though Varinka is not Max’s mother, she does become a mother figure to him over the course of the novel. How does her role as Max’s caretaker contribute to her developing sense of self?