tiakiwi's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
This book was so interesting because it is about mothers and daughters but it's also about parenting you parents when they are older? How the author is handling all the new things while her mother is suffering from dementia.
molexreads's review against another edition
5.0
As I sit and try to write a review I’m just flooded with memories of my grandmother, of my childhood, motherhood, of so many things. Maya is a beautiful storyteller. The way she explains Alzheimer’s, “Alzheimer’s is devastating because it annihilates one’s story. It vacuums it up. Even the name feels greedy to me. It drags your loved one away from you. My mom no longer belongs to me. She belongs to her illness.
My time with her is a way of countering that apostrophe.”
We all have an image of what our parents story is but I don’t think we ever take off our blinders to actually see or even ask questions to find out more, afraid of what the answers may be. This book asks the hard questions and deals with real life situations and surviving them. There is so much I can say about this book , that I’ll carry with me, so I’ll just say this read this book. You won’t regret it.
My time with her is a way of countering that apostrophe.”
We all have an image of what our parents story is but I don’t think we ever take off our blinders to actually see or even ask questions to find out more, afraid of what the answers may be. This book asks the hard questions and deals with real life situations and surviving them. There is so much I can say about this book , that I’ll carry with me, so I’ll just say this read this book. You won’t regret it.
newtons's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
britlovestoread's review against another edition
5.0
This is a book I needed that I had no idea I needed until I picked it up and I am literally a puddle on the floor after finishing this.
"Maybe at our most maternal, we aren’t mothers at all. We’re daughters, reaching back in time for the mothers we wish we’d had and then finding ourselves."
That quote literally shakes me to my core because, I mean, wow.
Following Maya's journey learning hard truths about her mother and learning how to care for her as her dementia worsened, it was captivating. And her analysis on women, especially as mothers, and all that we carry- how we are constantly expected to sacrifice ourselves over and over again- it was dead on. The weight is so heavy.. Maya learning how to balance that weight, or at least how to *try* and balance that weight, and ultimately choosing herself more frequently was so encouraging. Such a beautiful story.
"Maybe at our most maternal, we aren’t mothers at all. We’re daughters, reaching back in time for the mothers we wish we’d had and then finding ourselves."
That quote literally shakes me to my core because, I mean, wow.
Following Maya's journey learning hard truths about her mother and learning how to care for her as her dementia worsened, it was captivating. And her analysis on women, especially as mothers, and all that we carry- how we are constantly expected to sacrifice ourselves over and over again- it was dead on. The weight is so heavy.. Maya learning how to balance that weight, or at least how to *try* and balance that weight, and ultimately choosing herself more frequently was so encouraging. Such a beautiful story.
hthill25's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
In the beginning, I didn't think I was going to like this book; it was quite dark and depressing. However, by the end it was a wonderful story of mother-daughter relationships and the relationship with your self. Recommended for those with aging parents!
ppratz's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
5.0
krebtown15's review against another edition
5.0
As the daughter of a mom with dementia, I found this illuminating, reassuring, distant from my experience, and also revealing. Beautifully written and honest.
lmau's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.75