Letters to Our Daughters: Mother's Words of Love [Hardcover]

Molly Davis (Author), Kristin Van Raden (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 14, 1999

Every mother will find something to recognize in this inspiring collection of letters from around the world and all walks of life. Written by mothers for their daughters, these courageous and incredibly touching personal accounts tell stories of adoption, immigration, single parenting, recovery, and overcoming economic hardship to reveal the heart wrenching and often humorous realities of parenting. Accompanied by beautiful family photographs, each of these forty letters possesses a unique interpretation of a universal truth, that the bond between mother and daughter is as intense and mysterious as any of lifes experiences. Filled with wisdom and encouragement, this celebration of love and life invites mothers, or anyone, to communicate the heartfelt emotions that too often go unshared. This book gives voices to ordinary mothers from all kinds of backgrounds who instill their wisdom and love into letters. I recommend this book to all who seek stories of hope. ~ Mary Pipher, Ph.D., bestselling author of Reviving Ophelia

Editorial Reviews

Review

Letters To Our Daughters is a celebration of the bond between mother and daughter, these intimate and profoundly personal writings reach beyond ethnic, social, and economic boundaries to touch deeply at the heart of the human condition. With tenderness and pride and truths that resonate in all of us, each mother rejoices in the uniqueness of her daughter and desires for her a future filled with hope, strength, and self-worth. Letters To Our Daughters includes over forty letters and photos of mothers and daughters who share their courage and triumph, pain and loss, wisdom and love. Letters To Our Daughters is a marvelous literary and pictorial survey that will share all the pains and pleasures, all the heartaches and heartsongs of that vary special relationship that begins at birth and continues on for the whole of life, and in cherished memories, even after death. -- Midwest Book Review

Letters to Our Daughters is a moving collection of letters by mothers from all over the world and all walks of life, to their daughters. Each one's life situation or circumstance for writing the letter is different, but their common thread is the love and plaintive longing for a future filled with happiness and hope for their child. The mothers in this book don't forget that they were also once daughters, and have been compelled to share a sentiment, based on a lesson learned, a heritage or memory to reinforce, a feeling yet unspoken or a dream to be embraced. Lorea, who has AIDS, writes to her daughters of her love for them and fear of what will happen when she's gone. Marla writes words of hope and love as her daughter prepares for her wedding day. Janella, a deaf woman with two hearing daughters, talks of living in both the deaf and hearing worlds. Marian, one of the first women to be ordained in Australia as an Anglican priest, addresses empowerment and liberation. Matilda, a divorced Nebraska farmwife who raised three children alone, writes upon learning of her daughter's divorce. These are just a few of the stories of women whose honest, open letters are portraits of love and courage. Some are heartbreaking, some are humorous, but all are touching and reveal both the incredible bond between mothers and daughters and the universality of those lucky enough to wear the wonderful title of "Mom." Intending not to be just a special book for mothers or daughters, "Letters" can also become a keepsake because it provides a place for a personal letter and photograph and is accompanied by suggestions for ways each mother can compose a unique message to her daughter. -- From Independent Publisher

This exceptional compilation is driven by every mothers undying hope that the future of her child will be a wonderful one. -- The Bloomsbury Review, May/June 1997 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

This is the only mother-daughter book that is interactive, providing an invitation and guidance for mothers and daughters to create their own letter, transforming and deepening their relationships. As opposed to the other competing mother-daughter books from HarperCollins and Doubleday this season, Letters to Our Daughters is composed of authentic letters from ordinary people expressing genuine feelings. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (April 14, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786865288
• ISBN-13: 978-0786865284
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,777,667 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real, touching, intimate and about what really matters, March 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Letters to Our Daughters: Mother's Words of Love (Hardcover)

I am so tired of bad news, of discouraging information, of a prevailing feeling that we as a people, as families, as a country have little hope of surviving the pit falls around us. This book is written by real women, speaking the truth about the real issues we all face. Yet in their openness and honesty there is a sense of hope, commitment and true unconditional love. The message here is to do the right thing by those you love. It isn't instruction on how to be the perfect parent, or how to model yourself after those celebrities that our country is so enamoured with. It is about having the courage to do the hard work, honor your commitments and extend yourself to those you love. I am impressed and find myself motivated to attend to those relationships that I have perhaps overlooked.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Honestly Moving, February 8, 2008

By 

Patricia A. Kawamoto "Tricia" (Lake Oswego, OR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Letters to Our Daughters: Mother's Words of Love (Hardcover)

I recently attended an event featuring the authors of this book. I haven't read the book yet, but if the book is as genuine and insightful as my impression of the authors, I am sure it will be one that I will treasure always.