A new favorite British Library Women Writers title!! 😍❤️💜💙🧡
"From forthright mothers and very modern daughters to the quiet dreamers on either side of the generational divide, this anthology sketches a joyous, fraught and ultimately tender portrait of mother-daughter relationships throughout the twentieth century. It brings together the talents of Richmal Crompton, Sylvia Townsend Warner, Jeanette Winterson, Jamaica Kincaid, A.S. Byatt, Inez Holden, Winifred Holtby, Maeve Brennan, E.M. Delafield, and Tillie Olsen to embrace the mother-daughter bond in all its lovely, imperfect forms." —from the back cover of Stories for Mothers and Daughters
Although my top favorite in the series so far is probably still O, The Brave Music by Dorothy Evelyn Smith, Stories for Mothers and Daughters is certainly a super close second. In my top three is also Lady Living Alone by Nora Lofts.
I'm not sure if it's because I love the theme of mothers and daughters (since I am both!) or because these short stories are just brilliant. But, either way, I seriously LOVED this new addition to the Women Writers collection.
Rating: 5🌟
Short stories are such a joy for me because my brain wanders easily and short stories (and, also short chapters) help to my interest fresh and steady. I also find it fun and interesting to have a "taste" of authors I've never read before.
In this collection, I hadn't read any books by most of the authors, so it was such a treat. Although I truly enjoyed all of the stories, these are my favorites (in order of preference):
❤️ The Battle-Field by Phyllis Bottome
❤️ The End of the Fairy Tale by Maud Egerton King
❤️ The Silver Cloak by Winifred Holtby
❤️ Mothers and Daughters by Frances Gray Patton
❤️ The Shadow of Kindness by Maeve Brennan
❤️ History Again Repeats Itself by E.M. Delafield
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| Love the color of the French flaps—so vibrant! |
Overall, I'm over-the-moon excited about this British Library short story collection. Every one in the series so far has been super good. Many thanks to the British Library for sending me this book to read and review! Reading this anthology brought me so much happiness and caused me to be very thoughtful about my relationships to my mother and my daughter.
Stories for Mothers and Daughters is definitely a must-have for fans of British literature, women writers and domestic fiction...any mothers and daughters.
Tell me friends, which is YOUR favorite British Library Women Writers book? Do you have a few books or the entire collection? I'm dying to know!
Keep an eye out for upcoming reviews of The Tree of Heaven by May Sinclair, Dangerous Ages by Rose Macauley, and one more British Library Women Writers title! 🤩
Wishing you the most wonderful day and happy reading!! 💕🌸🤗🌸💕
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POSSIBLE SPOILER: I don't want to say much about each of the stories because I think it would spoil your enjoyment of them. So, I'll just share a few feelings/thoughts on each of the stories:
Week-End: breathless energy, riding the waves and finally relaxation and sweetness
Maternal Devotion: a little chuckle
The Value of Being Seen: confusion, ethereal, slightly abstract
Psalms: stubborn, hint of religion, doing what mother says
The End of the Fairy Tale: initial selfishness, devotion, joy, loving choices
The Pictures: being grateful for the little things, mindful of the present moment
The Silver Cloak: jealousy, understanding, maturity, allowing someone else to have the limelight
History Repeats Itself: modern and independent vs. old fashioned ideas during holiday season
Mothers and Daughters: disappointment, frustration, growing up, nostalgia
The Shadow of Kindness: haunting, strangely comforting
Rose-Colored Teacups: thoughtfulness, imagination, memories
Life is Not a Pie: unconventional relationships, unsettling feelings, love is love
The Battle-Field: healing, anxiety and hope
The Step Mother: eagerness, disgust, keeping up appearances
My Mother: abstract, transformation, connection
It's strange how the first story was my favorite and the last was my least favorite 🤔 But, perhaps that was on purpose? Let me know your thoughts on these stories, if you've read them!
So glad you loved it so much! 'Week-End' was actually the starting point of the collection - I'd suggested it for the summer stories, but it wasn't really summery enough - and the editorial team at the British Library had the great idea of, instead, having a whole collection of stories about mothers and daughters.
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