Dear Elizabeth:
How to begin this? It’s early morning and I’m sitting here wondering where you are, hoping you’re all right. I haven’t slept since you left. Your father says there’s no sense in phoning the police yet; you’re probably just blowing off steam, and you’ll be back as soon as you run out of money or the car runs out of gas, whichever comes first. I shouldn’t be so hard on myself, he says, What with the way you spoke to me last night, it would take more forbearance than anyone’s capable of not to react the way I did, and besides, it wasn’t even that much of a slap.
Waiting for you, writing this letter, I feel like I’m teetering between these two sentiments, a pessimism born of experience and a desperate hope born of helplessness. In dredging up these old griefs from my past, I cling to the thought that this act itself will somehow create a better future for both of us, that with these words I’ll weave a charm that will spell our reconciliation and draw you home. (page 70)
15 Comments
Sandy Nawrot
This book has been flitting around in my peripheral vision, but haven't picked it up. My daughter, who is 12 and change, has been taken over by an alien spirit I think. All we do is bicker! So I can totally relate with the frustration/guilt/love that exists between a mother and her daughter. I'm impressed that the author is a male. Obviously this guy has lived amongst women!
Coffee and a Book Chick
I must admit, that opening paragraph drew me in as well. You are spot on that mothers and daughters tend to bicker and fight the most, and sometimes it's truly just silly little things, isn't it? How devastating though, for the daughter to have run away/gone missing after one of those silly little moments.
Bibliophile By the Sea
I have a son and daughter and rated this book a 4/5. I liked it, but don't ask me why…LOL
bermudaonion
I only have a son and I liked this book and would probably rate it a 4. I agree that the author nailed the mother's voice.
Kathleen
I'm intrigued by the fact that the author is a man who is writing the voice of the woman character. And I'm impressed that he got it right. I've been hearing about this one for awhile and think I will pick it up to see what I think of it. I have a son, not a daughter, but can remember the relationship I had with my mom as a teenager and the friction that was sometimes present.
Aths
I have been pretty interested in reading this one since I first saw it for the same reasons you found captivating. Great review!
Michele at Reader's Respite
I enjoyed this book, but I think you nailed it when you mention that my enjoyment came more from realizing that a man could write so well of a woman/mother's psyche. It was amazing, wasn't it?
Anonymous
I've totally missed seeing this book! Sounds good too.
Beth F
Well, I don't know. If you are a daughter then you surely have some idea of the mother-daughter relationship. Not sure if it's for me though.
Lisa
I am raising a daughter–about the same age–and, while I liked the story in the letter, I found it hard to believe that a mother would pass this time writing.
ds
I have the awful feeling that this book would literally hit a bit too close to home for me. But I like your review. So interesting that he chose to have the mother write the letter. Wonder what the father would have said?
Kathy (mommysreading)
I have seen this book all around, but never gave it a second glance. Your review was great and made me really want to read the book. Thanks
Anonymous
You write an intriguing review here, Molly, and pose an interesting question with your friend's surmising that it was because she raised sons. I would still think it would be interesting because, though the mother of sons, she is still a daughter with a mother/daughter relationship. I have two daughters and would be drawn to the story from that standpoint, though our relationships have been good and my mom is deceased, but, there was a good but different relationship there. Thank you for bringing Letter to My Daughter our way.
Jenners
It is interesting to think about whether you would relate to this as much if you didn't have a daughter. I love the premise of it though.
Anna
(Hopefully I won't lose my comment this time to some error! I forgot what I said originally.)
I really liked this book and could relate to the mother-daughter tension. I thought the book was more about Laura coming to terms with the events of her past, as the daughter's running away seemed almost secondary. But it worked.
I'll link to your review on War Through the Generations.