In My Mother's Closet; An Invitation to Remember [Hardcover]

Eugenia Zukerman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2003

Forty-three accomplished women recall their mother's closets, where they tried on clothes, jewelry, and shoes and imagined the world they would one day enter, the world of being a woman. When Eugenia Zukerman invited these women to talk with her about memories of their mother's closets, she unlatched a floodgate that goes far beyond clothing and possessions.

This is a unique approach to an exploration of the intense, dynamic relationship between mothers and their daughters, tapping into myths, mysteries and rites of passage. The memories open the door to the special bond that belongs uniquely to mothers, daughters, sisters and girlfriends.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

To a little girl, there is magic in her mother's closet. It's a place to discover forbidden things, to glimpse what Erica Jong calls "the paraphernalia of femininity." And most of all, it can offer profound comfort in its smells and familiarity. In this appealing volume, writer and professional flutist Zukerman collects the words of more than 40 accomplished women, including herself, as they reminisce about their experiences in their mothers' closets. Most selections tap right into a child's view of the world, and not all are reverential; Carrie Fisher's humorous, loving piece, for example, mentions her fascination with her famous mother's "weird-ass giant underwear." Many names will be familiar to readers: Leslie Stahl, Judy Collins, Renee Fleming, and more. And the memories may be of particular interest to baby boomers, who will recognize much of the jewelry, clothing, and lifestyles mentioned. Best of all, these moving pieces capture those moments when girls realize that their mothers are mysterious, complicated people, not just parents. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

". . . a deliciously naughty and nostalgic anthology . . . " -- O, The Oprah Magazine, April 2003

"A touching book of reminiscences about moms from such daughters as Lesley Stahl, Judy Collins, Joy Behar . . . " -- People, May 12, 2003

"Amazing what memories were unearthed." -- Victoria, June 2003

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 254 pages
• Publisher: Sorin Books (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893732479
• ISBN-13: 978-1893732476
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 7.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #979,223 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Powerful and Poignant Treasure, April 7, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: In My Mother's Closet; An Invitation to Remember (Hardcover)

I don't know if Ms. Zukerman meant to create a new kind of connection and common ground with the other women in her readers' lives. But she has, in this intimate, powerful and poignant treasure. Not only did I gain entre to the childhood and adolescent memories of these creative and accomplished women -- memories I hazard many of those interviewed for the book rarely shared with others before -- but through it, I found myself reminiscing about my own early relationship with my mother. I found myself reading "My Mother's Closet" over a series of evenings, lingering over each interview, reading many twice. And, as I did so, memories of my own mother's closet came drifting up to me.

But this is not a book I could keep to myself. I think it's meant to be shared with the other women in your life. My daughter likes me to read her the stories, and we talk about when she was small, and what dressing up in things from my closets meant to her. My friends who have bought and read it and I also share thoughts raised by the book. Through it, we have discovered new topics of conversation, new musings on the wonderful, funny, wistful and formative memories of our mothers and their powerful influence on our lives -- thoughts and wonderings that have brought us deeper understanding of one another. I can't wait to see what happens when I give it to my mother on Mother's Day!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Lovely Book, March 12, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: In My Mother's Closet; An Invitation to Remember (Hardcover)

Wonderful rememberances which go right to the heart of the mother-daughter relationshipin a unique and moving way. The lives in this book couldn't be more disparate, and yet the magic of the objects we associate with our mothers seem to carry a universal power. I sent a copy to my mother and another to my sister. Then my mother sent a copy to HER sister. It's one of those books you'll want to share with your friends. I couldn't recommend it more highly.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Enchanting Book for Women... and Men to Enjoy!, March 30, 2003

By 

Matteo Bevilacqua (Rockville Centre, New York USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In My Mother's Closet; An Invitation to Remember (Hardcover)

A friend was recently reading "In My Mother's Closet" and she was moved to tears by some of the compelling memories that are brought back to life by author Eugenia Zukerman. Even while understanding it was a book rooted in different women's childhood experiences, I was still intrigued and got the book anyway. From the first page, I was immediately captivated and gained great insight into the early lives of Carrie Fisher, Anne Spielberg (Director Steven's sister), Lesley Stahl, and many other endearing women. We men also have these fascinating recollections of their parents' closets where there were secrets or clothing that would signal the beginning of a special event. I always knew where to look for my hidden birthday and Christmas presents. I even called my sister to reminisce about the times we both played in the closets and were frightened by our mom's Fox stole that peered back at us with many eyes, as it was unbelievably comprised of several animal skins. I also remember wearing my dad's jewelry proudly in my teenage years when I was coming of age.

Eugenia Zukerman wrote this book for easy reading to be picked up often, as each chapter is dedicated to and describes one of the sharing contributors. Sometimes the stories would initiate nice and warm conversations with my wife and even with my mom. I recommend this charming book not only for women to enjoy reading, but to also share them with the men they love...and love to talk with as well!