A Remarkable Mother

It's clear from the very opening of "A Remarkable Mother" how deeply Jimmy Carter loves his mother, and the book comes across as a very warm, affectionate, and loving tribute that avoids becoming a hagiography of Miss Lillian. By turns Miss Lillian is tough, outspoken, loving, and complex; quite different from the stereotype of women of her era. What emerges is how great an influence Miss Lillian was on shaping all of her children's character, and with Jimmy especially his sense of social justice and political ambition. What is most interesting is Carter's style of prose. It's so very conversational it sounds as though he's sitting in the room with you, relaying stories from the heart and he pulls in conversations with friends and family about their remembrances of Miss Lillian. Carter touches on virtually every facet of Lillian Carter's life: her courtship with her husband Jimmy Sr., her marriage, her many careers, her widowhood, and in the process Jimmy Carter's political rise, fall, and rehabilitation. And Jimmy doesn't sugarcoat anything about his mother. While it is a reverential book it is warts-and-all, touching on her outspokenness that sometimes got her and son Jimmy into some hot water or made her the butt of jokes. In the end it was Lillian's own humility and outspokenness that kept Jimmy honest and humble. What emerges is a portrait of how extraordinary Lillian Carter was for her age. At a time when most married women were homemakers, Lillian was working as a nurse and health care provider, and she explains why without pulling any punches. And much of her work was often volunteer work, as well as long hours, sometimes as much as 20 hours a day, evidence of a selflessness of character that would be imprinted on her son Jimmy. Her strong principled stand against segregation in the time of Jim Crow marked her as being quite different from most women in South Georgia of the era; proof she was no ordinary woman. In some ways Lillian Carter is almost akin to an American version of Mother Teresa; albeit one who drank bourbon and loved to watch wrestling on television. It is her boundless intelligence, wit and humor, wisdom, and charm that emerge, along with her passion for public service and selflessness. "A Remarkable Mother" is equal parts love and devotion mixed with inspiration and a sense that you too can aspire to do more.

Similar to "An Hour before Daylight," this book shares stories of life in rural south Georgia during the 20's, 30's and 40's. The book shares a great glimpse into the lives of the former president's ancestors. Anyone who remembers life with telephone party lines, chamber pots, and polio scares will reminisce and those who are younger should read this to learn what life was like for his/her grandparents. The reader also gets a picture of an extraordinarily confident woman and what she can accomplish even in what was then a no-where town in the grand scheme of American geography. "A Remarkable Mother" is a quick and easy but rewarding read.

Jimmy Carter has penned an insightful and inspiring book that chronicles the amazing life of Miss Lillian Carter- Peace Corp volunteer at the age of 70, registered nurse, pecan grower, university housemother, early civil rights advocate, and enthusiastic Brooklyn Dodgers fan. "A Remarkable Mother" is an engaging, uplifting read that makes for a terrific Mother's Day gift regardless of the recipient's political persuasion.

I read this wonderful book with great enjoyment. President Carter does a great job making this bio entertaining as well as inspiring. Lillian was not a saint but a very outspoken "live life to the fullest" woman. I was impressed by her respectful treatment of African Americans and the great example she was to her son. She was a great help in meeting foreign dignitaries etc. A great read!

This book was a gift, which appropriately came from my mother. President Carter was a remarkable president, but even more remarkable was his mother, Miss Lillian. The reader learns very quickly, how this hard working, no- holds-barred woman was the way she was and how she won over everyone she met. Her friends included Walter Cronkite, Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin, sports figures, heads of state, and the down-trodden. Miss Lillian saw people for who they were, not what they had. Although, her witty commentary could be viewed as sometimes embarrassing to the straight-laced person, she was beloved even more. This book is a fine tribute to one of America's greatest good will ambassadors.