Mothers and Daughters

Warning -- Domenica Ruta's With Or Without You does not have a nice, neat, happy ending . . . but it doesn't have a bad ending either.  In fact, it really doesn't have an ending at all, just the honest depiction of a life in progress.  In this memoir, Ruta explores her relationship with her narcissistic, drug-addicted mother and how that relationship ultimately led her to both destroy and attempt to redeem herself.  At the same time darkly humorous and heart-wrenching, With Or Without You brings home the point that in at least some ways, we are all just like our mothers.  HM

Mother Daughter Bonds

In Winter Garden Kristan Hannah, the author of Firefly Lane and Night Road, tells the story of two sisters and the shocking story that their mother shares with them.  This story spans their mothers past from war-torn Leningrad to modern times and changes the girl’s belief in what they thought they knew about their mother and about each other.  Hannah’s writing is always a pleasure to read, with believable characters and a ‘can’t put it down’ story line.  This book starts out slowly but picks up speed and is a very enjoyable read. SG

Go Get 'Em Tiger

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua stereotypes the Chinese and Western ways of parenting. While Ms. Chua acknowledges that you don't have to be Chinese to be a "Chinese Mother" she still boasts throughout the book that the drive for excellence in children is more Chinese than Western. If you can get past this then the book is actually an enjoyable memoir and a quick and interesting read. If you would like insight into a mother who is truly a tiger, pushing her children to the extremes with an iron-will, but not without humor and mishaps along the way, then this book is for you. SG

Many Sides, One Story

Emily Giffin, author of Love the One You're With and Baby Proof, brings us another compelling story of the messiness of life. Tessa has a surgeon husband, two sweet children, great friends, and a full life. Valerie is a single mother and lawyer living in Boston. The two women's lives intersect when Valerie's son, Charlie, has an accident and Tessa's husband treats him. Heart of the Matter is told from alternating perspectives that will captivate you until the end.