Customer Reviews

Letters to My Daughters

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a fine book as far as it goes. As a parent who knows that there are no easy answers, I appreciate the fact that she doesn't give a toolkit or a formula for childraising or growing up. But there is a book out there with a surprisingly parallel title, Letters to My Son, by Kent Nerburn, that is a truly brilliant work that deserves to be read along side this or any other parenting book. I have daughters as well as a son. I would give both these books to my children of both genders. Don't be seduced by Matalin's high profile. There are other authors out there who have as much to say. Give Matalin her due; she's done a good job. But if you want more wisdom and less psychology, get Nerburn's book as well.

This audio book was not something I would have picked out myself. It was sent to me by a girlfriend so I took the time to listen. I have heard my husband talk about this "politically opposite" husband and wife team many times and admired their ability to make a life together when they work on such opposite sides of the political fence.

Listening to this compilation of thoughts and desires from Mary Matalin to her daughters brought back things my mother try to pound into my head as a teenager. From the bittersweet happenings in a teenager's life to the everyday down-to-earth, get-it-right thoughts on life, these letters provides the basics every child needs to grown up right. They tell about the fears of being a mother and the hopes to "get it right" for your child. They provide insights into the fact that just because a mother is now over 21, she can and does remember what it was like to be 8 or 10 or 16.

Ms Matalin tells about her own family background and some of their hopes, dreams and family tragedies. She shares with the listener some of those wonderful growing up stories that happen in every family and the same stories that are told and retold and handed down through the generations. If you are looking for a good way to talk to your daughters - or sons for that matter - grab a copy of this audio book and go for it.

I do not have any children of my own, but plan to buy copies of this book for ALL my friends' daughters. Matalin's advice is humorous and humane. It is a compendium of her life lessons as well as maternal advice handed down through the generations in her family. Contrary to what some may expect from the author, the book is no doctrinaire tome espousing a particular political philosophy, but the advice of a warm and wise mother.

Matalin covers all topics of interest to young girls (and their moms) including friendship, academic issues, self esteem, dealing with mean girls and relating to boys. She is firm in her convictions without being overbearing or patronizing. She comes across empathic to teenage sentiments and concerns without advocating the "do whatever feels good" party line of many a parent who thinks themselves au courant. I have observed that teenagers (with their unsure sense of self) actually appreciate behavior guidelines from their parents but can easily become resentful when the strictures are too harsh. Admittedly, this is a delicate balance to achieve and Matalin does an admirable job of walking the tightrope.

Mary's book touched me deeply because like her, I lost my mother before I got married and had a child (a daughter). Like her, I read everything I could get my hands on, from Spock to Sears, but nothing filled the huge void created by my mother's untimely death at 52 (Matalin's died at 50). While her specific advice to her girls may not be earthshattering in its originality, it serves as a poignant reminder to all of us parents that we just might not be around to tell our kids what we'd want them to hear from us first. I will use this book as a jumping off point for letters to my own baby girl. In this busy world we live in, it's far too easy to think we'll get around to teaching our kids important life-lessons "when the time comes," but before we know it, they're grown and all-too-often, our busy lives have gotten in the way of those all-too-important conversations. If you have a daughter, of any age, read this book. A great mother's day gift too!

I enjoyed this book immensely (I did the audio version) although I raised only sons (3) and had to wait many years to get a girl (my granddaughter.) Matalin does an admirable job of using humor and common sense in her individual "letters" to her daughters on such subjects as 10 or 15 minute segment on such subjects as "boys, bad hair days, PMS/menopause, politics", etc. I plan to share much of this information with my granddaughter. The audio book is ideal for listening to in the car where kids are a captive audience, right? You can listen to one of the "letters," then turn it off and use it to launch a discussion of that subject with your girl (or boy.) Throughout the letters, Matalin pretty much avoids taking a political stance one way or the other, and she was a lot funnier and more sensible than I had expected.

After I read and enjoyed this book ,I purchased the cd for my daughter and granddaughter to share.

I like both Matalin and Carville and find it charming that they have such an odd-couple relationship, so when I had this book recommended to me by a friend, I was eager to give it a listen.

This was a fun, light, sweet read. Matalin writes the book as a series of letters to her daughters on different topics, and I enjoyed hearing this wisdom passed down from Mary's Mom to Mary and now to her daughters.

The only issue I had is that at times the book sounded a bit too sanitized - like Matalin wasn't writing to her daughters so much as she was writing for her editor and all of us. It had the net effect of dulling her writing and advice somewhat because it wasn't as personal and heartfelt as it might have otherwise been.

But in general, this is a kind-hearted, sweet read and I enjoyed it a lot.

I won't add much to the great reviews already listed, but this is a nice read to add another dimension to parenting. Good bedtime reading that you can pick up and put down, but also makes you think about what you're teaching your children. Helps you look at the balance of challenging and pushing and having high expectations, while still maintaining love and forgiveness and tenderness in your parenting.

Mary Matalin has been supporting the publications of people like Jerome Corsi. Any statements that she makes should be taken with extreme care and checked before being accepted. It is likely that what she says about herself and her daughters is also distorted, and likely in a way favorable to herself.

As a mother of a daughter, I thought this book had a lovely message. I highly recommend it for anyone with children.
Debbie Farmer, parenting columnist and author of 'Don't Put Lipstick on the Cat!'