Review: Mothers & Daughters by Rae Meadows

First line: Sam was hungry for pound cake.

Why I read this: I was sent a request to read and review this book.

From the back cover: When a box of Iris’s belongings arrives on Sam’s doorstep, she discovers things about her mother she never knew – or could even guess. But she is puzzled by much of what she finds. She learns that Violet, the woman she knows as her grandmother, left New York City as an eleven-year-old girl and found a better life in the Midwest. But what was the real reason behind Violet’s journey? And how could she have come that far on her own at such a tender age?

Mothers and Daughters is a luminous novel about three generations of women, the love they share, the dreams they refuse to surrender, and the secrets they hold.

My thoughts: This was a beautifully written and powerful novel with many strong messages throughout. It is the story about how three generations of women – grandmother Violet, mother Iris and daughter Sam – lived their lives, passing on their immense courage to the generations that came after. Each woman’s life is absolutely magical and heartbreaking all at the same time, which we see as we’re led through three very different worlds. The individual histories of each of the characters are absolutely riveting, and the in-depth look at the mother-daughter ‘link’ is truly inspirational. I think my favorite story is that of Violet’s – I felt that story was the most vivid. Moving back and forth in time, this book propels forward and leaves you wanting more of each of the three women’s stories. This is a technique I’ve come to really enjoy in a book – the moving back and forth in time. I look forward to reading more by Rae Meadows.

I received a complimentary copy of Mothers & Daughters by Rae Meadows from Jason at Henry Holt and Co.