It’s hard to believe that April is over and Mother’s Day is upon us. Did you know that our yearly observance of Mother’s Day is the result of the tireless efforts of a devoted daughter, Anna M. Jarvis, of Philadelphia? Following the death of her mother in 1905, Jarvis organized the first official Mother’s Day celebration on May 10, 1908. Subsequently, Jarvis lobbied for the creation of a national Mother’s Day holiday and, on May 8, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating the second Sunday in May as “Mother’s Day.” Ironically, years later, Jarvis became so incensed at the commercialization of the day that she spent the remainder of her life (she died in 1948) and her inheritance trying to rescind the holiday she had created.
While Mother’s Day 2020 won’t feature brunches in restaurants and gatherings of extended family, we can still give a shout out to Moms everywhere by reflecting on the value of family, in good times and bad. The following books portray motherhood in all its nuances.
Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott (audiobook)
Louis May Alcott’s most enduring novel, Little Women, is the story of the March sisters, who were devoted to each other despite their differences. At the heart of the family, was “Marmee,” whose understated wit, wisdom and strength were the glue that held the family together while they struggled to survive in New England during the Civil War.
A Spool of Blue Thread, by Anne Tyler (audiobook)
Tyler’s A Spool of Blue Thread tells a poignant story in praise of family in all its emotional complexity. At its heart is Abby Whitshank, whose fateful decisions, all made with the best of intentions, will have ramifications resonating for generations.
Letter to My Daughter, by Maya Angelou (audiobook)
In Letter to My Daughter, a volume of inspiring stories and wisdom, Maya Angelou writes:”I gave birth to one child, a son, but I have thousands of daughters. You are Black and White, Jewish and Muslim, Asian, Spanish speaking, Native Americans and Aleut. You are fat and thin and pretty and plain, gay and straight, educated and unlettered, and I am speaking to you all. Here is my offering to you.”
A Singular Woman: The Untold Story of Barack Obama’s Mother, by Janny Scott
In A Singular Woman, award winning New York Times reporter, Janny Scott, tells the story of President Barack Obama’s mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, the little known but remarkable woman whose fierce devotion and determination helped shape the future President of the United States.
Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng (audiobook)
Ng’s acclaimed second novel, Little Fires Everywhere, explores the complexities of motherhood, the weight of secrets, the nature of art and identity and the danger of believing that following the rules can avert disaster.
Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee (audiobook)
Min Jin Lee’s epic novel, Pachinko, is the story of a poor Korean immigrant family exiled from a home they never knew and fighting to control their destiny in twentieth-century Japan. At the heart of the saga is Sunja, whose steadfast loyalty to her family and self-sacrifice propel the plot through four generations.
Where’d You Go, Bernadette, by Maria Semple
Bernadette Fox, in Semple’s Where’d You Go, Bernadette, is a revolutionary architect and the unconventional but greatly loved mother of 15 year old Bee. When she mysteriously disappears, Bee will move heaven and earth to locate her.
Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant: A Memoir, by Roz Chast
New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast’s relatable graphic novel about dealing with her aging parents will have you laughing through tears. An only child, Chast had used avoidance, distraction and denial to deal with her mother and father. One fateful day her mother, a retired Brooklyn school principal, has an accident that becomes the catalyst for painful changes and emotional readjustments.
When Lillian Leyb’s family is destroyed in a Russian pogrom, she is forced to flee to America, leaving her young daughter Sophie to an uncertain fate. When word comes that Sophie might still be alive, Lillian embarks on an epic odyssey – all in an effort to be reunited with her child.