My review of Mothering Mother and blog tour!

The author has made a generous offer. She will give away a copy of her book to any person who comments on this post. However, I can only pick one, so your name will go in a hat. I'll select a winner within the next few days. To link to her website, click here... www.mothering-mother.com


From the Publisher:

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Kunati Inc. (April 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 160164003X
• ISBN-13: 978-1601640031

Compelling and heartrending, this personal memoir chronicles the author's decision not to put her mother, who has Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, in "one of those homes" and relays the far-reaching consequences this choice has on her entire family. Detailing the challenges of reversing roles and learning to mother one's own mother, this refreshing and entertaining autobiography will help those struggling with their own decisions on elder care in the home. It touches on the importance of relationships—such as how they impact our souls and beliefs about ourselves and the quality of life—and explores the larger questions of faith, hope, and ultimately death.

My Review:

Mothering Mother is the most open and honest memoir I’ve ever read. I do believe it captured the author’s experience in a powerful way. For the duration of the book, which is told in first person, you are living Carol’s life. You feel her joy, her stress, the love she had for her mother, and the discouragement and disillusionment she experienced as age and disease slowly ate away at the vibrant mother she once knew. Since I also lost my mother to disease over a twenty year period of time (although in my mother’s case it was MS) I could totally identify with the author and thus road along on the emotional roller coaster with her. For that reason it took me awhile longer to read this book than it normally would as it was heavy material for me to ponder even with the continually interjected humor.

In a sense I relived a bit of my own experience through this story. Unlike Carol’s experience, however, I regret that I was not present when my mother died. Thus I experienced the “going home” segment of the book in a special way as I imagined those final hours. Mothering Mother will stick with me for a long time. For me, this book is a keeper. I think it would be a fabulous resource for someone who feels like their entire life centers around taking care of someone they love, and it will encourage them despite the challenges that might make them want to give up. I found the story very inspiring and give it my highest rating.

Author Description:
Carol D. O'Dell is a teacher and author whose work has appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines, including AIM—America’s Intercultural Magazine, Atlanta Magazine, MARGIN Magazine, The Pisgah Review, and Timber Creek Review. She lives in Jacksonville, Florida.

To read an excerpt of Mothering Mother
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To purchase Mothering Mother on Amazon
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