The complex bond between mothers and daughters

My review of Because I Love Her, an excellent collection of essays written by authors including Rachel Sarah (of Single Mom Seeking), Joyce Maynard, and Tara Bray Smith, and edited by Andrea Richesin, came out today. Read the review, and then check out the book -- it's a wonderful prism of perspectives on the journeys women take in life, and the complex relationships they craft along the way. Here's an excerpt from my review:

August 29, 2009

All about the tie binding mothers and daughters

By Lylah M. Alphonse, Globe Staff

Mothers always tell their daughters to wait until they have kids of their own - then, they’ll really understand family dynamics. In “Because I Love Her,’’ 34 writers share their understanding as they explore and explain the complex bonds between mothers and daughters. Edited by Andrea N. Richesin, the essays are deeply personal, powerful, and poignant. They cover such a wide range of situations and raw emotions, readers are bound to find several that speak directly to their hearts.

“I love all of my children, of course,’’ Catherine Crawford remembers her mother saying in her essay, “A Well-Earned Soak,’’ “but I am just so thankful to have my girls.’’ For some, motherhood manifests itself like a hidden talent, blooming even before a baby is born. For others, though, it’s a struggle. The stories in this book illustrate both, and more. ...

Read the rest in The Boston Globe or online at Boston.com.