6 years, 11 months ago

My mother and the books that bind us

When I was little, I would pick three books to read each night with my mom before bedtime. In college, I was taking women's studies courses, and during our weekend talks we would chat about Gloria Steinem's "Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions" or Betty Friedan's "The Feminine Mystique." Such conversations were a springboard to discuss more books, like Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye" or Gloria Naylor's "The Women of Brewster Place." We marveled over Barbara Kingsolver's storytelling powers in "Animal Dreams" and later confessed that we'd both fallen in love with an old Western, Larry McMurtry's rollicking, big-hearted "Lonesome Dove." She introduced me to Michael Perry's "Population: 485," another book steeped in place and a strong sense of community.

Salon
Books Mother Book Mom My Mom My Mother Read

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