Mothers and Daughters, by Rae Meadows (Review and Giveaway!)

DONE

 Mothers and Daughters, by Rae Meadows
4 STARS

About the book - A rich and luminous novel about three generations of women in one family: the love they share, the dreams they refuse to surrender, and the secrets they hold.
Samantha is lost in the joys of new motherhood—the softness of her eight-month-old daughter's skin, the lovely weight of her child in her arms—but in trading her artistic dreams to care for her child, Sam worries she's lost something of herself. And she is still mourning another loss: her mother, Iris, died just one year ago. When a box of Iris's belongings arrives on Sam's doorstep, she discovers links to pieces of her family history but is puzzled by much of the information the box contains. She learns that her grandmother Violet left New York City as an eleven-year-old girl, traveling by herself to the Midwest in search of a better life. But what was Violet's real reason for leaving? And how could she have made that trip alone at such a tender age? In confronting secrets from her family's past, Sam comes to terms with deep secrets from her own. Moving back and forth in time between the stories of Sam, Violet, and Iris, Mothers and Daughters is the spellbinding tale of three remarkable women connected across a century by the complex wonder of motherhood.

***SPOILERS***

My Review - Wow, what an incredible story. This is basically about three women, three generations (Grandmother, Mother, and Daughter) all grown women, three different time periods.
Violet - I believe early 1900's (there are no dates in this book, that would have been helpful).basically raising herself on the streets of NY city due to a druggie, vagabond mother who will do anything for money. At eleven yrs old her mother puts her on the "Orphan Train" headed for the west.
Iris - (Violet's daughter) Iris has cancer that starts out as breast cancer. She has decided to take matters into her own hands and asks for her daughters help.
Samantha - (Iris' daughter) This goes back and forth between past (before her mother's death) and present (after her death). Sam's brother sends her a box that their father has found in the basement. It is a box of their mother's belongings. What will Sam find in the box, maybe a past she didn't know about?

The only problems I had with this book was - The time line is all out of whack and it takes you a few minutes to figure out when you are. It doesn't say if you are in the present or past or how far in the past, so I got confused several times. It doesn't really take away from the story though, once you figure it out. Dates would have been helpful.
And - I would have liked to have known more about what Sam finds out. It kind of leaves you lingering.

I was very connected to this book and to the characters almost like I never have been before. Almost 3 yrs ago I lost a friend to what started out as Breast Cancer. I have been avoiding books on this subject like the plague! So... I did not know that was what this book was about! Surprise, surprise! Needless to say I had to put the book down several times because I could not see the pages through the tears. I made it through, I am proud of myself. OH! Also - I read this book in one day!
This is a very good book about Mother - daughter relationships.
I really recommend it to anyone Female.

Thank you "Librarything Early Reviewers" for sending me this book to review!!!

Giveaway - I am giving away my copy of this beautiful book (the cover is gorgeous!).
*Please comment here with your email address!!! Or email me at forevereading at gmail dot com
*Please only US and Canada
*Winner will be chose via random.org and announced on - March 18th.

Comments

  1. Excellent review darling! Sounds moving :)
    (not an entry)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I agree I love the cover! My daughter will love the girl with the wings!

    Margaret (goodreads)
    singitm@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Looks like a wonderful book! Chantelle on goodreads
    delaneysmommy01@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sounds like a fabulous book!

    pocokat AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'd love to read this!
    rach62803 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. The book sounds very moving. You know I love books that make you put down the pages and wipe the tears from your eyes.

    ashmandabar[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love stories about mother-daughter relationships. Please enter me.

    monagarg@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello,

    I'm a recent follower of your wonderful blog. Firstly, thank you SO much for hosting this giveaway! Secondly, this book has been on my radar for a while,& I even entered the First Reads contest for it on Goodreads - but alas! no luck. I'm glad I have a second chance, because this book sounds so touching and amazing, and reminds me of "The Memory Stones" and "The Probable Future" (two of my favorite books - perhaps you should check them out). Besides, who doesn't love stories about mother & daughter relationships? :)

    Email: Enamoredsoul@gmail.com or Enamoredsoul(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. This sounds like a wonderful book. Thank you so much for the chance to read this.

    kristen_babygurl@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. This book sounds amazing! Thanks for the chance to win it.

    ellie.bfaos(@)gmail(.)com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sounds good.
    Maybe there will be a sequel... then you will find out what Sam found out.
    RJB
    loki304(at)tds(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  12. Very touching review, nicely done.
    Mike Draper

    PS Stop over at my blog and say hi.
    http://mikedraperinguilford.blospot.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I would love to read this. I didn't read your review yet because it did contain spoilers, but I really would love to be entered.

    thank you
    Laceymatt26@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. This sounds so awesome Wendy. Please enter me.

    darreads (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  15. This sounds really good. Please enter me in the drawing.
    mirandell87@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I enjoyed your review and would love to read Mothers and Daughters :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!
    theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  17. This sounds like a great book. Please enter me. I just became a follower too. Look forward to reading more reviews.
    ~Stacie (scouts579@aol.com)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Im You newest folower, What I great giveaway singlecountrygal34@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Sounds moving. I love multi-generational family books.

    helpersarah2009@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Great review. Sounds like a very touching story.

    Blessings,
    Jo
    ladio40(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks for the giveaway.

    lillieblue613(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Sounds like a great book! Just the kind of thing my mom/aunt/cousin would read for our book club. :)

    Thanks for the chance to win!

    shortcut_2_mushrooms(at)yahoo(dot)co(dot)nz

    ReplyDelete
  23. hahhahaha my name is Samantha :D I'd love to read this book! (I closed my eyes and scrolled when I saw "spoilers" but I saw my name anywa LOL)
    please enter me!!

    hsiu_an(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hope to win!

    blissfulrains(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts