What's a Mother to Do?

This is a collection of essays by the Salt Lake City "Deseret News" columnist Ann Edwards Cannon (who is, incidentally, the daughter of legendary Brigham Young University football coach LaVell Edwards--a funny guy in his own right.) Her subject is the travails of modern family life with small children. The voice of this book is plucky, smart, someone you would like to be friends with; it's closer to Garrison Keillor than the forced, irritating wackiness of Erma Bombeck. She occasionally hits "Simpsons" levels of hilarity. But Cannon also shows a touching, down-to-earth, common sense spirituality that can bring tears to your eyes. Admirers of Anne Lamott should enjoy this.