Mother and Two Daughters

A Southern writer, Godwin captures the family life of the titular characters after the father dies. The women are all very different, but this touching book shows how family is important and how being independent isn't a bad thing. After the father's death, each character examines her life and future. I found it very real and interesting. Though the epilogue was a bit blah.

Mother and Two Daughters - After the death of their father, Cate, a woman with a crusading streak, and and her more conventional sister Lydia must learn to come to terms with their differences. The three main characters: Cate, newly divorced Lydia, and their mother Nell are well-drawn and three dimensional. While Cate deals with the possible loss of her teaching job and a new boyfriend, Lydia faces life as a single woman; she goes back to college and gets a job. Well written and intriguing, though the last chapter felt too calculated.

I don't understand the 1 star either. This is one of my favorite books of all time. You come to really care about the characters. The mother 'not true to herself'? I don't understand that at all. Self-sacrificing maybe .... in a way many mothers are. All in all, I've got nothing but good things to say.