My Mama's Waltz (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"I loved my mom very much. I also hated her." The confusion and pain experienced by daughters of alcoholic mothers remains a somewhat taboo subject, but is thoroughly explored in this fascinating and inspiring book by Eleanor Agnew and Sharon Robideaux. The two authors come from entirely different backgrounds: one is the daughter of an educated East Coast professional family; the other, from a family of poverty-stricken, uneducated Southerners. What they have in common is their childhood with alcoholic mothers, their consequent suffering of mental and physical abuse, and their struggle with the need to protect, keep secrets, and survive. Agnew and Robideaux gathered the stories in My Mama's Waltz from more than 200 other daughters of alcoholic mothers, and the book brings with it the force of truth in numbers. Though all the tales in this compassionate and important book ring with clarity, it is the personal stories of Agnew and Robideaux that most strongly resonate with anguish, and, eventually, hope. --Ericka Lutz --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

Academics Agnew (English, Georgia Southern) and Robideaux (writing, Univ. of Missouri) are also offspring of alcoholic mothers. They recount stories of their childhoods as well as the experiences of some 100 women they interviewed for their book. Their point of departure is the persistent view that alcoholism in women is more shameful than in men because it suggests weakness, inferiority and promiscuity. However debatable that contention, the authors argue convincingly that a drunken mother is more hurtful to a daughter than to a son, whose prescribed social role is to seek independence, whereas it's traditionally anticipated that a daughter will bond with her mother and use her as a role model. Thus a mother who abuses her daughter physically or verbally leaves unhealed wounds. The authors claim that repercussions of the abuse poison the daughter's relations with both men and women, although, they report, most resolve that their children will be spared the suffering they endured. Agnew and Robideaux estimate that at least four million women in America are afflicted by this legacy. These women should draw consolation from these harrowing accounts, if only to realize that their upbringing was not unique.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Atria (March 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671013866
• ISBN-13: 978-0671013868
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #432,313 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best book I have found, March 23, 2006

By	Jessica Johnson "JessieJay" (CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: My Mamas Waltz: A Book for Daughters of Alchoholic Mothers (Hardcover)

As an adult daughter of an alcoholic mother, I have read several ACoA books but never really found anything that spoke to me like My Mama's Waltz did. I was amazed at how many issues stem from growing up with an alcoholic mother. It was so comforting to read others' experiences and know that I'm not crazy and other women are going thru the same things. This book is a gem and I have recommended it to my three sisters and a girlfriend. So far, everyone has loved it as much as I did. If you are an adult daughter of an alcoholic mother you have to read this book!!!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Healing words, July 16, 2004

By A Customer

I have not even finished this book yet, but already I feel like I'm healing. My mother was an alcoholic (now dry), her mother was an alcoholic, and I used to drink heavily myself. It's shedding light on some of my tendencies (trying to bend over backwards to please everyone, feeling abandoned by my mom at times, and so on). It also explains to me some of her behaviors and why she has anger lingering in her life and how it affects her still. Very insightful.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, June 25, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: My Mamas Waltz: A Book for Daughters of Alchoholic Mothers (Hardcover)

My mother was not an alcoholic, but her mother was. I helped me to understand my mother so much better and how being raised by an alcoholic effected her life. As a person in recovery 7 yrs and now a mom, this book solidified my sobriety to see what a burden an alcoholic mother can be to a child. Thank You.