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Mothers and Daughters: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.03) - 326 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
A rich and luminous novel about three generations of women in one family: the love they share, the dreams they refuse to surrender, and the secrets they hold Samantha is lost in the joys of new motherhood—the softness of her eight-month-old daughter's skin, the lovely weight of her child in her arms—but in trading her artistic dreams to care for her child, Sam worries she's lost something of herself. And she is still mourning another loss: her mother, Iris, died just one year ago. When a box of Iris's belongings arrives on Sam's doorstep, she discovers links to pieces of her family history but is puzzled by much of the information the box contains. She learns that her grandmother Violet left New York City as an eleven-year-old girl, traveling by herself to the Midwest in search of a better life. But what was Violet's real reason for leaving? And how could she have made that trip alone at such a tender age? In confronting secrets from her family's past, Sam comes to terms with deep secrets from her own. Moving back and forth in time between the stories of Sam, Violet, and Iris, Mothers and Daughters is the spellbinding tale of three remarkable women connected across a century by the complex wonder of motherhood.
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"I read this book on the airplane to NYC. Gaylen and I were on our way to see one of our daughters. Our other daughter is expecting her first child, a son, and because of her pregnancy, I understood the emotions and conflicts presented in this book. It made the flight enjoyable."
— Carla (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Wonderful...A perfect book-club pick…What mothers leave daughters is loud and proud in this book…It will prime conversations about your own choices, which may change your whole sense of self, or at least make you feel not so alone.
— Minneapolis Star Tribune -
A poignant look at three generations struggling with loss and love.
— Good Housekeeping -
Tender...perceptive...Mothers and Daughters should appeal to both of its titular groups, and may even spark the kinds of discussions and openness so uncharacteristic of many earlier parent-child relationships.
— The Capital Times -
Mothers and Daughters showcases Meadow's ability to create generations of fully formed women as they navigate life-defining moments...This is the story of how much we often don't know about the people who raise us.
— Bookslut.com -
Rae Meadows has written a richly textured novel of three generations of mothers and daughters who by finding each other, find themselves. In these beautifully interwoven stories of birth and death, love and loss, Violet, Iris, and Samantha explore the genetic threads that connect each to the others. Mothers and Daughters is a powerful novel of women's secrets and strength.
— Sandra Dallas, New York Times best-selling author of Prayers for Sale and Whiter Than Snow -
A little girl boards New York's orphan train at the turn of the 20th century and shapes generations to follow in this satisfying portrait of the many faces of motherhood.
— Kirkus -
A book you'll want to sit and read straight through...It will have you considering your own choices and those of your mother: What has she chosen not to tell you? What happened before you? What do you want to know?
— Bookpage -
An engaging story of three generations of strong women and the choices they make.
— Library Journal
Mothers and Daughters Listener Reviews
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" Interesting multigenerational study, and writing was okay, but it just sort of ended. "
— Patty, 2/20/2014 -
" Very interestingly-written. Unsatisfying ending. Could have had much more substance. "
— Mamama, 2/1/2014 -
" Had to get used to moving back and forth among mothers and daughters and different times in their lives but once I did I really enjoyed the poignant stories of lives shared and, especially, not shared. Well done "
— Eileen, 1/31/2014 -
" A little hard to follow at first, but once you understand the connections between the characters it becomes easier. The book illustrates how little we really know about the thoughts and feelings of the women who raise us. It's one I might read again in a few months now that the characters are clearer in my mind. "
— LaVerne, 1/22/2014 -
" Interesting historical fiction that jumped in each chapter between characters and time periods. Sara, current time. Iris, her mother, current day to daydream flashbacks of the late 50s. And Violet, the grandmother, following her story as a child in the early 1900s. "
— Carol, 1/22/2014 -
" A lightweight book. Easy read. Forgettable "
— Natalie, 1/8/2014 -
" The orphan train story line really tugged at my heart strings but in this case I found the alternating narrators a lil hard to follow. "
— Deidre, 1/2/2014 -
" Loved this book. Highly recommend it Very quick read. "
— Carol, 12/14/2013 -
" I really enjoyed this audio book and the three women. Liked how the author tied up all the loose ends. "
— Avalon91, 11/7/2013 -
" I enjoyed this book. I thought it was very well written. I liked that she took the idea of the Orphan Train and created a story that portrayed three generations of women who all shared one another's gifts and limitations. Very well done. "
— Elizabeth, 10/27/2013 -
" 3 1/2 byt a good story about the way mothers and daughteres interact, also a bit of information about the orphan trains. Well written and enjoyable. "
— Diane, 5/15/2013 -
" Interesting Tale of the orphan trains. Some of the voices weren't as developed. Overall a good read "
— Sandra, 1/1/2013 -
" I loved this book - I thought the writing style was really great. I related to all of the characters and had a hard time putting it down! "
— Mari, 11/17/2012 -
" Had no ending, don't really like the books that don't wrap it up nice and pretty "
— Kelsey, 11/8/2012 -
" Disappointing. Multigenerational story of three women in a lineage, told interspersed and back and forth across time. Lots of potential but never amounted to much. Writing was average at best. "
— Jenni, 10/23/2012 -
" Good. Wouldn't say it's the best book I've read but it kept my interest. "
— Ann, 8/31/2012 -
" Touching story spanning three generations. I enjoyed it. "
— beachbooks, 8/23/2011 -
" Very interestingly-written. Unsatisfying ending. Could have had much more substance. "
— Mamama, 5/20/2011 -
" 3 1/2 byt a good story about the way mothers and daughteres interact, also a bit of information about the orphan trains. Well written and enjoyable. "
— Diane, 4/28/2011 -
" I would have enjoyed this book more if it was just Sam and Iris, didn't really enjoy Violet's part of the story much, although I understand why it was necessary. "
— WMMM, 4/11/2011 -
" A slow starter but I am glad I stayed with it. Three generations of women...their struggles and decisions. I think all mothers make the best decisions they can under their personal circumstances. I liked this. "
— Nancy, 4/3/2011 -
" Wonderful story of three generations of women in a family. Loved it! "
— Sue, 3/18/2011
About Rae Meadows
Rae Meadows is the author of Calling Out, which received the 2006 Utah Book Award for fiction; No One Tells Everything, a Poets & Writers Notable Novel; and the widely praised novel Mercy Train. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Brooklyn, New York.
About Maggi-Meg Reed
Maggi-Meg Reed has performed as an actress and singer both on and off-Broadway. She is a narrator of many popular audiobooks, including A Very Long Engagement and The Time Traveler’s Wife. She is the winner of several AudioFile Earphones Awards.