Motherless Daughters (20th Anniversary Edition)

May 2, 1994
The death of a mother--particularly during one's young years--is traumatic. Writing of her own experiences of losing her mother when she was 17, and the grief of hundreds of women she interviewed who lost their mothers through death, abandonment or another form of separation, freelance writer Edelman marshals a wealth of anecdotal evidence, supplemented with psychological research about bereavement, that indicates that one's longing for a mother never disappears. Though the focus is on early loss for girls and the implications for their developing identity, adult daughters also speak in these pages to provide another poignant perspective. The author succeeds in opening up cathartic dialogues, personalizing a life-changing event and offering guidelines to help women of any age live with their loss. Author tour.

May 1, 1994
Edelman was 17 years old in 1981 when her mother died. Ten years later, she wanted to share with other motherless daughters the profound influence and continuing effects of their mothers' deaths. She advertised in eight local, regional, and national publications for women willing to be interviewed or surveyed for this book. In all, 246 women were polled, ranging in age from 17 to 82, their losses occurring from infancy into their thirties. Anecdotes and reflections from Edelman's and the respondents' lives comprise the bulk of the book. References to authorities, studies, and statistical data add insight and support. The book is divided into three parts: "Loss," "Change," and "Growth." Chapters address particular issues, e.g., stages of grief, changes in family roles and relationships, and developing an independent identity. The book provides more insight into why motherless daughters feel the loss throughout life than advice on overcoming it. For public libraries.-Carol R. Nelson, Ball State Univ. Lib., Muncie, Ind.