Mothers-In-Law and Daughters-In-Law: Love, Hate, Rivalry and Reconciliation

Rating:
Summary: I'm glad I'm not alone...
Review: Finally there is a guide book about mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law that makes me feel like I'm not the only one. Barash covers every issue imaginable, from interfaith marriages to marrying someone of another race, to holiday time and money matters. She interviewed hundreds of mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law of all different backgrounds and ages. But certain issues seem to be the same for everyone. Even the thorniest of relationships can be healed if one reads this book. There is a questionaire in the back which is very insightful. I highly recommend this book to every mother-in-law and daughter-in-law -- before or after the wedding! It's a terrific read for women.

Rating:
Summary: Healing Trouble in Paradise
Review: I am so pleased to find a book that explains the complexities of the mother in law/daughter in law connection. Susan Shapiro Barash, relationship expert and gender specialist, uncovers all the troubles and tribulations between these two women, citing psychologists, sociologists, divorce lawyers to give insight into why these two women harbor negative feelings toward each other. Barash also reveals positive stories, of mothers in law and daughters in law who fill a void in each other's lives. Interviewing women of all ages, working class and college educated, Barash finds that over time, even the worst of these relationships can be healed. The book includes a survey in the back and is well written and thorough. I recommend this book as aguide for every mother in law and daughter in law out there, regardless of how long they've been a mother in law or a daughter in law.

Rating:
Summary: Typical one-sided book
Review: i really thought I would give this book the benefit of the doubt. I thought the author would be subjective, but once again, she takes the mothers-in-law side. I happened to read a newspaper article in which she stated something like daughters-in-law usually have problems with their mothers-in-law in their twenties and then learn to appreicate their mothers-in-law later in life. That is so untrue. Unfortulately, the author found an interesting subject to write about, but it does not feel like she really knows what it feels like to be a daghter-in-law in distress. Good try,but I will keep searching.

Rating:
Summary: It was good.
Review: I think that the book was VERY neutral. I don't think that she took either side. I am the Daughter-in-Law and I saw myself in many of the examples. Some things were hard for me to read, like I do have to accept that this woman is part of my life whether I like it or not and.... I do have to try to avoid conflicts with her for my husband's sake. Other things were great to read like "A mother-in-law has to give you her idealized vision of a daughter-in-law", and that her fear of losing her son comes from her being insecure and unhappy in life (or so I understood). I think that the book is good. It did give me a sense that my mother-in-law will never change and she will never apologize to me for being intrusive. I bought the book b/c I recently finally confronted her and I was looking for something to validate my feelings. This book certainly has.

Rating:
Summary: Good book, but.....
Review: This was a good book, but most of what is written as "solutions" is common sense. The book focused more on why problems between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law occur than anything. Good if you're trying to understand why you and your mother-in-law can't stand each other! If you're looking for a solution to the problem I would (and did) keep looking.

Rating:
Summary: Good book, but.....
Review: This was a good book, but most of what is written as "solutions" is common sense. The book focused more on why problems between mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law occur than anything. Good if you're trying to understand why you and your mother-in-law can't stand each other! If you're looking for a solution to the problem I would (and did) keep looking.