Reader discussion: Mother

Public reader discussion about Mother in the WeRead Catalog by Maksim Gorky.

Is Mia from "Little Fires Everywhere" a good mother?

By Fuzzy-Cougar

I just finished the book and I’m honestly really mad. Part of it is that it feels like the author is basically waving a giant flag at us telling us who’s “good” and who’s “bad.” Like Mia is automatically the good one, and Elena is somehow the bad one, even when it doesn’t feel that clear. Everything in this story is kind of shoved down your throat. The whole nomadic, barely getting by, “free artist” lifestyle is treated like it’s automatically right and good, but the stable, privileged, planned-out life is painted like it’s the worst thing ever. And to me Mia’s just not likable at all. She comes off as a terrible mother too. She takes her kid from her dad, lies to people (including her daughter), runs off from home, and basically robs her parents of a grandchild they actually would’ve loved. Then she drags her daughter into this whole gypsy lifestyle without letting her choose, uproots her whenever she wants, just because she has some big “idea” about what should happen. And when the kid finally seems happy somewhere and doesn’t want to go anymore, Mia just shuts down all those feelings by dropping this “I’ve been dying to tell you the truth” past bomb… after hiding it for 16 years. Like, what kind of mom does that and calls it love? And don’t even get me started on what happens with Maribelle and her parents—Mia’s awful, but the book and the author act like she can do no wrong. Anyway, rant over. I can’t remember the last time a book pissed me off this much. And I’m not even getting into that ending where everything is just casually fire-related and it’s like, cool, let’s run while the house is burning. So yeah… what did you all think?

Book recommendation for mother/daughter book club

By starlight_vector21

This is a place for getting book recs from people here. Useful stuff: - weekly appreciation threads - book suggestions for beginners, vets, and experts - what to read after Harry Potter? - books like Game of Thrones - best picks from two books you liked - best books of 2019 - most incredible fiction ever written - what any library really needs Other book subs: /r/Books /r/LetsReadABook /r/ReadingUniversity /r/ReadingSuggestions /r/52book /r/readalong /r/52in52 /r/RateBooks /r/shortstoryaday /r/10PagesaDay Posting rules: Spoilers Use spoiler tags for plot stuff about a book. Format is: ! Spoilers ! < (take out the spaces) That gives: Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father. Not allowed: - posts that aren’t actually asking for book suggestions - stuff with no real book connection - DAE/TIL/ELI5/PSA/(SERIOUS)/CMV titles - petitions, surveys, crowdfunders - mobile links, link shorteners, Facebook links - blogspam or any other spam - affiliate links - piracy links or anything helping piracy - reposts: search first - obvious self-promo, like sharing your own writing for feedback Comments not allowed: - low-effort stuff or comments that don’t add anything - image-only comments - memes, jokes, circlejerk, spam - trolling, insults, or too much hostility - link shorteners or Facebook links - social media links and blogs like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube - affiliate links - unmarked NSFW links - piracy links or help with piracy - blatant self-promo Mods can step in whenever they want. If your post got caught by the spam filter or you have questions, message the mods.

Good books for a mother & daughter to read?

By CoastPlanet18

My mom has been pushing for a “just us two” activity since my other sister is moving soon, and she wants it to be a little book club where we both read the same book. The problem is our tastes are so wildly different. I’m usually into horror, murder mysteries, and psychological thrillers, but she’s more into wellness and cute stories (which I honestly don’t really get excited about). I’m not sure what we’d even agree on, especially since she won’t read anything I’ve already read—when I suggested *Where the Crawdads Sing* she shot it down. I’m kind of hoping for something that’s fiction or nonfiction that’s just…easy and pleasant? Like not super dark or heavy, and not a slog to get through. Also, I collect books about presidents, so we could do one of those, but I feel like she’d probably prefer something more light-hearted.

A mother who wrote a book about grieving to help her sons is now on trial accused of killing her husband

By trail-pale

I can’t tell what’s true here, but Kouri Richins is really going through it. She’s in trial over her husband Eric’s 2022 death. Prosecutors say she slipped fentanyl into a cocktail and did it because she wanted out of financial trouble and to move on with someone else. She’s saying she’s innocent though, and that Eric actually died from an overdose tied to THC gummies. I’ve also seen that there were things like her being taken out of his will and her getting life insurance right before he died, which just makes everything feel messy and hard to believe. And honestly, the whole “she wrote a kids’ book about grieving” angle makes it even more ironic, because if the allegations are right, it’s like she was dealing with the exact thing she’s accused of causing.

Happy Mother's Day! Memorable Mothers from childhood books

By comet-hidden8

It feels like every book I loved as a kid sort of begins with “the mother,” in every flavor imaginable—sweet ones, awful ones, gone ones, clingy ones, totally unhinged ones, you name it. Like, the parade never stops. So here I am, giving props to some specific book moms (even if I’m not naming all of them, because that would be insane). First up: Ma Ingalls. Caroline. She’s basically this endless super-mom memory for me—she’s always doing something, like churning, cleaning, cooking, teaching, making clothes, wearing all these big beautiful dresses, and somehow she can still dance in them. And the kids! And never being angry! I’m pretty sure reading about her made me secretly wish my own mom was more of a home-making wonder-woman type. Yeah, I was jealous. Then there’s the mother in The Railway Children—at least I think she’s unnamed? It doesn’t matter. She’s still a huge part of the story. Smart, capable, warm, kind of intense/“a bit mad,” and somehow mysterious. She writes a poem as a present for her kid’s birthday?? And gets mad because the kids accept help from someone—what even? But then it turns out to be “but downright beautiful” (??). Still, I loved her. She feeds everyone toast and jam like it’s no big deal, which feels like her whole vibe is “I can do everything.” Marmee from Little Women too. I thought she was great, but I also kind of hated her? Especially the way she talks to Jo about dealing with her anger and the whole charity thing. And I can’t shake the feeling she’s sort of indirectly responsible for Beth getting sick. That one’s a rough take, but it’s how I remember it. Also, some “honorary” mother figures even though they weren’t childhood books: Mrs. Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. Awkward and embarrassing, but somehow also spot-on. Like, she’s basically all of our moms—standing there while you cringe because they said something cringey and totally didn’t realize it. Lady Marchmont from Brideshead Revisited. And one more unnamed one: the mother in Portnoy’s Complaint. So yeah—who were the mother figures in books that really stuck with you? Did you love them, hate them, or just somehow end up understanding your own mom a little better?

Octavia Butler’s “Bloodchild”

By CumminMug1990

I don’t know what it is about this short story, but it honestly threw me off emotionally, and I’m still feeling weird about it, so I wanted to check what others thought. I was uncomfortable the whole time, and then the afterword just made it worse for me. The way I read it, it’s basically abuse and manipulation, but the afterword frames it like some kind of romance between different species, and I guess it’s also tied to the author working through a fear of botflies? Am I totally missing the point here? This is the first time a story has left me feeling this unsettled and anxious, so I really can’t see it any other way than someone with power grooming a kid, no matter what species it’s supposed to be. And the ending is what really gets me—the part where the protagonist lets an egg be implanted just to protect his sister.

A book to read to my mom

By comfortCreek

We usually just watch movies and TV, but my mom’s in the hospital now and I want to read to her since the TV doesn’t really have that many options. Plus she sleeps most of the time, so it’s hard to pause anything. We’ve done a bunch of stuff she likes—Nancy Meyers movies, Gilmore Girls, Bridgerton, When Calls the Heart, Anne of Green Gables, even some Mexican telenovelas. I’m looking for a book that has a similar cozy/drama vibe, but please nothing with smut. Bridgerton was already a bit awkward to watch in front of her, and I definitely can’t imagine reading that kind of thing to her. Something she could kind of doze off to too would be great, and it should be easy to follow. Maybe stories about moms and daughters? We’re big on romance and small, not-too-stressful drama. I’m queer, so I’d also love sapphic romance recommendations if there’s something like that. Thank you!

[Discussion] I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy | Beginning - Chapter 27

By Superuser

Hey everyone! This is the first chat thread for *I’m Glad My Mom Died*, and we’re starting from the beginning up through chapter 27. Wow… what a gut-punch of a start. I definitely knew Jennette from iCarly, but I never would’ve guessed how much was going on with her at home behind the scenes. Since she tells the story in little pieces/vignettes instead of doing chapter-by-chapter summaries, I’m not really going to try to break down every single chapter. I’m more just combining the main stuff that stuck with me from this section. Totally get that other people will see things differently though, and I’m curious what everyone else thinks. Next discussion is being hosted by u/Vast-Passenger1126 next Thursday, the 24th. Also—so far it starts with Debra in the hospital, really sick with cancer and in a coma. Jennette is convinced that if she tells her mom she’s hit her goal weight (like 89 lbs / 40 kg) it’ll wake her up. It doesn’t… and then it’s like Jennette finally realizes her mom is actually dying, and she doesn’t really know what to do with that or what her “purpose” is anymore. Then the “Before” chapters go into Jennette growing up with her mom, dad, 3 brothers, and grandparents in Garden Grove, California. They’re Mormon and home-schooled. Debra has OCD tendencies and tends to have emotional blowups if things don’t go how she wants. There’s this weekly hospital video thing too where they watch Debra basically talk about herself and whether her behavior is “appropriate” in the situation—so Jennette is just constantly stressed and trying to keep her mom happy. At some point Debra decides Jennette should become an actor, because Debra wanted that for herself and wants Jennette to get the life she didn’t. Jennette tries to do it (she says no isn’t an option) but it sounds miserable and exhausting, and she’s scared to disappoint her. And in between all of that, her home life isn’t great either—messy house, dad around less, and sometimes Debra kicks him out. Even the church stuff is kind of a short break, and they’re not really super active, so other church members definitely notice that. Jennette mostly gets background roles, which annoys Debra because she wants her to be a child star. As Jennette gets bigger roles, Debra pushes classes (acting/dancing) like she can force it to happen faster. There’s even a moment after one of the outings where Debra freaks out because it means she can’t make it to class. Basically, Jennette’s whole life is controlled and restricted by her mom—from what she eats and wears to her body and routines. Even her hair and clothes get regulated, and later it turns into anorexia. She also talks about not being allowed to go to the bathroom by herself for years, and her mom constantly checking on her. And at some point Jennette starts hearing something she calls the “Holy Ghost,” but it feels like it’s really tied to her own internal voice and OCD. Anyway, I don’t even know how to feel about all of this so far. It’s intense and heartbreaking, and I’m not fully sure yet where my head is at—but I’m definitely here for the discussion.

"But then there was a star danced..." Making sure I'm really understanding this moment.

By PantherSky

Hi everyone, I’m putting together a little birth gift and I was thinking of using that quote from Much Ado About Nothing. But I’m not 100% sure I’m reading it right. When Don Pedro says Beatrice’s birth must’ve been a “happy hour,” Beatrice basically responds that her mom did cry—but then a star danced and that’s when she was born. To me, that sounds like she’s saying the actual birth moment involved pain, but it wasn’t the painful part that mattered. The “real” moment is tied to the star/dancing and the happiness of her arriving. So kind of like how when people talk about giving birth, they might remember how hard it was, but what they *really* focus on is the joy of meeting the baby. Am I way off, or is that the general idea? I’d love to hear other takes on what she means there.

Someone explain to me the ending of Vonnegut's Mother Night

By sharpRough1645

It feels like a bunch of the characters in this book could fit that whole “schizophrenic” idea, so I don’t really get why Campbell is the one who ends up hanging himself. Like, I know he’s having all that stuff about not wanting to be saved and only getting freedom after he can’t enjoy anything anymore, and he says it’s for “crimes against himself,” not anything against humanity—but still, it’s hard for me to understand why it’s only him that goes there.

A book for my mother that is calming but engaging and generally positive

By clutter48

She used to fly through books when she was younger, but lately she’s kind of hit-or-miss with reading. This winter I’m trying to find something that’ll actually hold her attention and feel calmer and more uplifting than TV. Not something that’s too heavy or overwhelming, but still a real journey—something that has genuine positive vibes without being all preachy. I want it to remind her that life can still be beautiful in simple ways, and that it’s emotionally engaging, but not super dramatic. She’s 60, just retired, and she’s pretty lonely since my dad passed and she didn’t really have many friends outside of work. She’s into nature, cooking, helping people, and she likes a little sweet, kind humor. Also please nothing super surreal or fantastical—she’s just a normal mom. Edit: and ideally it should be pretty contemporary and smart, not stuck in old-school “values” or outdated ways of relating. Thank you!

book recommendations for my mom?

By yellowHare73

I’d love some book ideas for my mom for Christmas! She used to read all the time and I think she’s the reason I’m such a big reader now, but she hasn’t really picked up a book in a couple years. I’m hoping a book or two could help get her back into it. She’s 56 and I’m leaning more toward fiction. I don’t want to share too much personal stuff, but she watches reality TV (like The Bachelor) and also those cheesy rom-com movies/shows on Netflix. She’s got a dog and she speaks Spanish, too. Also—please nothing with smut or explicit sex scenes, even though light implications are probably fine. I’d be a little embarrassed giving her something like that. Thanks!

Books to read when you have just become a mother

By BraveRabbit

Can people recommend both fiction and nonfiction? I just had a baby girl a few weeks ago. I’m mainly looking for fiction, but if you’ve read any really life-changing parenting/mom books, please share those too. Thanks!

Mothers in literature

By Desk45

I’ve been reading a lot of kids and YA books lately, and it’s got me thinking about how moms are usually portrayed. A lot of the time they’re either not around, or they’re kind of there just as the sweet caring type with nothing much going on, or else they’re the angry/strict kind. Am I missing something, or does everyone else see it too? What do you think?

Book recommendations for my mum and i

By distantFalcon79000

About a year and a half ago I started a little book club with my mum—just the two of us. She wasn’t really a reader before, but this has honestly been such a good way for us to bond, and now it’s something we both look forward to. I’m mostly after books that spark good conversations and give us plenty to discuss, arguments included. The best part for me is hearing what she thinks and going back and forth about it. I’m happy with fiction or non-fiction, and I don’t really have a genre preference. If it helps, the ones we’ve both liked so far are: Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks Shakespeare, The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench The Bee Sting by Paul Murray The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck Really looking forward to hearing what you’d recommend!!!

Picture books with deep messages for both kids and adults

By listens_song1983

I feel like with a lot of kids’ books, it’s pretty easy to find stuff that adults and kids both get something from. I’ve loved Coraline, and I keep meaning to read The Polar Express and The Phantom Tollbooth one day. So yeah, there are basically tons of those. But with picture books it feels way tougher. I’m kind of a minimalist, and I like the idea that any kind of format can still make really meaningful art. Why does a picture book have to come with a super clear lesson or morale? Can’t a kid just read a simple story and somehow still feel what the author meant in the first place? And honestly, trying to explain to a child what makes a story “great” can go really wrong—it might even ruin the magic. Sometimes it’s better when you’re happy with a book and you can’t quite put your finger on why. A few examples, since we all know these already. Also, I am using one of my own books as an example here, so just fair warning: I’m definitely promoting it a bit. The Giving Tree is an “awesome tree” moment that kids might latch onto without realizing it’s basically a metaphor. Parents are probably seeing something way darker, or at least way more complicated, and I get why some people say it’s a messy model for relationships. But then I also think it’s a pretty intense example of giving and giving and not expecting anything back. The Rainbow Fish is still kind of controversial, and I’m not fully sure what to think, but I do like it for that. It makes you wonder how much you change yourself for other people. Like, how much do you have to sacrifice just to fit in? And if you really give up everything—your time first, but also your body or your “natural beauty”—does it even work? It reminds me of those “everyone’s having pizza and cake and you’re just trying to be healthy” situations. The Boy Who Wanted to Be a Deer hits on fear and growing up with this deep stuff you don’t want anyone to see. If people knew the “real” you, it would be a disaster, so you hide and pretend. Deer works like a stand-in for anything your “tribe” might reject. And sure, there are obvious examples, but what if a kid says they want to be some kind of streamer/YouTuber and their family treats it like it’s unacceptable? It feels like there’s room in there to start a conversation that can be really hard. What Do You Do With an Idea? is probably the prettiest picture book I’ve seen. The art is mostly gray tones, and it still feels like it’s saying a lot. The message lands hard—kind of pure optimism—and I think everyone needs that sometimes. You know how it feels when your ideas get shut down, but to you they’re more than “just an idea.” They’re like little things you grow, and the whole process matters. Then once they finally “hatch,” they’re out in the world and you’re left behind. Other honorable mentions for me: Oh The Places You’ll Go, The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse, and Love You Forever. So yeah—what picture books are you thinking of that kind of do this in their own way?

Could you help me find an app for my mother?

By heatherkey1989

Hey folks—sorry if I’m messing up the rules. I saw that posts asking for book recs aren’t really allowed, but asking about apps sounded a bit different, so I figured I’d try. If this is a problem, my bad. I know about Goodreads and StoryGraph already, but I’m trying to find something similar that I could get my mom to download. She reads an absurd amount, and it’d be nice to have an app where she can track what she’s read and also get recommendations. I’m not super familiar with book apps though, so I don’t really have a good option to suggest. Do you all have a favorite app for that kind of tracking/suggestions? Also, if Goodreads or StoryGraph are actually worth it, I’m open to hearing that too—I just tried looking through posts about them and most of what I found seemed really old (like 1–2+ years), so I wasn’t sure if the complaints would still apply. Thanks in advance, and again, sorry if this isn’t allowed.

Women’s bookclub - short read

By Bottle66

Hey everyone—looking for a faster read for my book club this coming month since our meetings are closer together than usual. We’re a group of women ages 25–35. We usually go for fiction, but we’ll try across a bunch of genres. One requirement: the book needs at least 4 stars on Goodreads (or pretty close, like around 4.0).

Book club suggestions

By cafeDog1995

Hey! I’m in a book club with a bunch of women in our 30s and 40s. We usually read a mix of genres, but right now I’m hoping to find something uplifting and really heartwarming. If anyone has suggestions, I’d love to hear them—thank you!

Here is my Mother's Grandparents' Family Bible. She doesn't know much about it and is wondering what she should do with it. I've done more than a basic search and cannot find any information on, or images that match this one. Imgur album in text.

By wild-ticket

I’ve seen a bunch of different versions and dates for Cassell’s Illustrated Family Bible online, but I haven’t come across any that match the same cover design. Also, I can’t find any date anywhere on it. Hopefully the album link has more info—does anyone who knows this stuff think they can help pin down the date (or anything else about its history)?