Dear Mom: Women's Letters of Love, Loss, and Longing

Rating:
Summary: Great read on a fascinating subject
Review: As a man, I've always had a hard time "getting" the relationship between women and their mothers. My wife read this book and recommended it to me. It really opened up a "terra incognita". First of all, instead of the usual boring academic analysis on this kind of topic you get first hand accounts from women from all kinds of angles. Some express gratitude, some are filled with regret over missed opportunities to repair a broken relationship, and some mourn the loss and celebrate the memories of a dead parent. Considering that the contributors are not professional writers, it is somewhat amazing that this book is so well written-- by any standard,professional or otherwise. The stories dig deep and are quite personal compared to the usual chatter you hear when people talk about their parents. If you have an interest in this subject, DEAR MOM will definitely enlighten you.

Rating:
Summary: Missing Mom
Review: I was in Finland , doing research when my mother died unexpectedly. I still have the letter I wrote before learning of her death but never posted. I did not re-open the letter until I returned to Washington DC and re-settled myself. I was her only child, I had to take care of her , even after her death. I took care of her ashes, watched them disappear into the Atlantic foam. I inherited her incredible art collection. I was told I was lucky, I was weaIthy. I had so much. I felt empty and didn't know what to do with myself. My mother was a successful career woman, and I often wished she could have bent a little, that willowy woman, to nurture me. I read my last letter to her and wept. I thank God every day that we did write each other often and with great affection , however that affection was on paper, and not fully formed. I know she loves me still, but so much is changed. Everyone should write their own Dear Mom letter, I found two of the letters in the book to be inspirational. It's all about you when a parent dies, no matter how much it seems otherwise.

Rating:
Summary: Well worth a read
Review: No matter how old you are, you are always somebody's daughter. Some of these letters were written by women in their 90s. It is interesting to see how certain conflicts changed through the generations--and some remained exactly the same. Well worth a read. I learned to appreciate my own mother by reading this book.

Rating:
Summary: Dear Mom is memorable
Review: Once you pick this book up it's hard to put down. I found myself identifying with parts from so many of the women's letters. The profiles that precede each letter put the women's comments into a provocative context. I knew Dear Mom would be good, because Deborah Berger is a good writer and meticulous editor- but I wasn't ready for it to be this good!

Rating:
Summary: Share this book with your siblings
Review: Reading this wonderful collection of letters was like being in a room with a group of wise, thoughtful women, all sharing their stories about their mothers. Whether the letters described love, loss, or longing, they revealed the rich complication at the heart of most mother-daughter relationships. I enjoyed lingering over the letters and insightful profiles--one or two at a time--and ended up feeling less alone in my feelings about my mother. I'm going to send a copy to my sister.

Rating:
Summary: For all daughters
Review: These letters speak to the beauty, misunderstandings, longings and love that dwell within most mother-daughter relationships. Not only will it inspire women to pick up a pen, it will help women find the words and courage to say what often remains unsaid. An inspiring and poignant collection of essays.

Rating:
Summary: Dear Mom, letters of love, loss and longing
Review: This book is a wonderful exploration of the mother/daughter relationship--good, bad and indifferent. It helped me focus on what I have not said to my mother and to know that I am not unique in the conflicted butloving relationship I have with her. A great gift for Mothers' Day!

Rating:
Summary: Dear Mom, letters of love, loss and longing
Review: This book is a wonderful exploration of the mother/daughter relationship--good, bad and indifferent. It helped me focus on what I have not said to my mother and to know that I am not unique in the conflicted butloving relationship I have with her. A great gift for Mothers' Day!

Rating:
Summary: Well worth your time
Review: This book is one I will recommend to my friends and put on my "read again" shelf. I felt the love, loss and longing of each of these women--so much so, that a few of the letters could have been written by me. So many of us are at the stage in our life where we want to know and understand our parents, if for no other reason than to know and understand ourselves.
In reading Deborah Berger's book, questions are answered and more questions are raised. DEAR MOM --Women's Letters of Love, Loss and Longing is thought-provoking, well-written, and very much worth the time it takes to read it.

Rating:
Summary: Well worth your time
Review: This book is one I will recommend to my friends and put on my "read again" shelf. I felt the love, loss and longing of each of these women--so much so, that a few of the letters could have been written by me. So many of us are at the stage in our life where we want to know and understand our parents, if for no other reason than to know and understand ourselves.
In reading Deborah Berger's book, questions are answered and more questions are raised. DEAR MOM --Women's Letters of Love, Loss and Longing is thought-provoking, well-written, and very much worth the time it takes to read it.