How I Learned to Cook
and Other Writings on Complex Mother-Daughter Relationships
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A Booksense (now IndieBound) Bestseller for Reading Groups. |
Every woman has something to say on the subject of her mother. In fact, many of us spend our lives trying to figure out just how we are like – or unlike – them. In How I Learned to Cook and Other Writings on Complex Mother-Daughter Relationships, women authors explore what is perhaps the most complicated of family relationships. In this elegant collection of writings, daughters describe their relationships with mothers whose own lives sometimes stood in the way of their ability to fulfill society’s ideal of what a good mother should be. Critically acclaimed authors – including Jamaica Kincaid, Alice Walker, Paula Fox, Vivian Gornick, Nawal El Saadawi, Ruth Kluger, Nahid Rachlin, Rosemary Daniell, Kate Braverman, Joyce Maynard, and Kim Chernin – share the page with emerging writers as they explore the shadow worlds that exist between mothers and daughters.
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“The battlefields of women’s psyche are wonderfully revisited in this multifaceted collection, each story deeply personal and immediate, historically unique, stylistically diverse, collectively resonant.” Janet Fitch, author, “White Oleander”
“These stories offer a remarkable display of confusion, helplessness, and anger mixed with adoration and love, as well as formidable talent …” Publishers Weekly “Full of fine writing …” The Washington Post “Thank goodness for a group of courageous women writers …” Dallas Morning News “This is an utterly delicious collection of bite-size memoirs that affirms my belief that insane childhoods produce great writers.” Jane Anderson, filmmaker/screenwriter of “The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio” “Perceptive, cathartic … curiously uplifting …” Booklist “Women write candidly about their struggle to understand and be understood by their mothers.” Library Journal “[The] writers acknowledge our often-prickly relationships with our moms.” More “Amazing collection of essays …” ElleGirl “An inspirational anthology, full of strong stories …” Curve “It is hard to read ‘How I Learned to Cook’ without looking at our own mothers, our own experiences, our own stories. It just may lead to more understanding, not only of our mothers but ourselves.” J News Weekly “The combined effect of these stories is both disturbing and impossible to dismiss … stunning … profound.” Psychology Today “The writing … comes across … as a series of heartfelt laments for the mothers the authors wished they had.” BUST magazine “The beauty of these stories is the authors’ willingness to be honest …” Small Spiral Notebook “This collection is a compelling, challenging exploration of a relationship that has too often been portrayed either as simply adversarial or as perfect and loving.” Literary Mama |