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A review by caitlinxmartin
The Mother-Daughter Show by Natalie Wexler
3.0
I accepted this book for review out of curiosity more than anything. The world of big fancy houses and private school and Kate Spade handbags for teenaged daughters is pretty far removed from me and my choices. I'm not criticizing people who choose to live this way - people need to do what works for them - but this is so far removed from my own choices as to be almost science fiction. Nonetheless, I am one-half of a mother/daughter relationship and I think those are difficult for everyone involved.
In fact, parenting is really hard. There isn't a handbook, the rules change all the time as your kid ages, if you have multiples what works with one won't work with the others, it's just hard. Some days the best you can hope for is that you didn't do anything today that was so damaging that your child would be in therapy forever.
I think that I am very fortunate to have had a son rather than a daughter. Mother/son relationships are just easier. Your sons pretty much always love you without the kinds of conflict you have with daughters. My son and I are very close (and we always have been). So far as daughters go I know that I turned into a complete bitch when I was 13 and I'm not sure I got over it until way into my late twenties and early thirties. Most of the women I know who have daughters report similar kinds of horror stories to what I remember growing up.
The Mother Daughter Show really captures this along with the empty nest feeling that occurs when kids go off to college and the changes and choices and possibilities that come with that. I really liked the three primary female characters - all of whom have made choices in their lives that may or may not be working as they shift into new phases in their lives.
Much of the book is really funny, sometimes in a plain humorous way and sometimes in an oh-my-god-I-can't-believe-that-just-happened way. I can imagine nothing more horrible than to have to put together a show with a bunch of women in celebration of their daughters - many of whom are alpha personalities with high-powered careers who are used to being obeyed. That's a horror story scenario, eh?
Ms. Wexler does a great job of creating likeable characters and putting them into situations that are bound to become awkward and funny. This is a very enjoyable book, even if you think the world is science fiction. Trust me, you have things in common with everyone in this book. Very fun read.
In fact, parenting is really hard. There isn't a handbook, the rules change all the time as your kid ages, if you have multiples what works with one won't work with the others, it's just hard. Some days the best you can hope for is that you didn't do anything today that was so damaging that your child would be in therapy forever.
I think that I am very fortunate to have had a son rather than a daughter. Mother/son relationships are just easier. Your sons pretty much always love you without the kinds of conflict you have with daughters. My son and I are very close (and we always have been). So far as daughters go I know that I turned into a complete bitch when I was 13 and I'm not sure I got over it until way into my late twenties and early thirties. Most of the women I know who have daughters report similar kinds of horror stories to what I remember growing up.
The Mother Daughter Show really captures this along with the empty nest feeling that occurs when kids go off to college and the changes and choices and possibilities that come with that. I really liked the three primary female characters - all of whom have made choices in their lives that may or may not be working as they shift into new phases in their lives.
Much of the book is really funny, sometimes in a plain humorous way and sometimes in an oh-my-god-I-can't-believe-that-just-happened way. I can imagine nothing more horrible than to have to put together a show with a bunch of women in celebration of their daughters - many of whom are alpha personalities with high-powered careers who are used to being obeyed. That's a horror story scenario, eh?
Ms. Wexler does a great job of creating likeable characters and putting them into situations that are bound to become awkward and funny. This is a very enjoyable book, even if you think the world is science fiction. Trust me, you have things in common with everyone in this book. Very fun read.