NPR's Book of the Day
Two authors consider how being a daughter shaped their relationship to motherhood
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Overview
Joy Harjo and Ruthie Ackerman reconsider motherhood and daughterhood, confronting grief, ritual, ambivalence, and generational inheritance through poetry and memoir.
Takeaways
  • Joy Harjo channels unresolved grief for her mother into poetry, exploring the healing power of ritual and the complex intimacy between mothers and daughters. She illustrates how writing bridges gaps left by unfulfilled traditions.
  • Ruthie Ackerman uncovers generational myths around maternal abandonment, confronting societal expectations, financial inequities, and ambivalence toward parenthood. Her memoir questions family legacy and advocates for self-acceptance.
  • Both authors emphasize the psychological weight and transformative insight derived from honest reflection on maternal relationships, highlighting how creative acts foster compassion and self-discovery.
Mind Map
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Chapters
  • This is a chapter‘s title.
    The Fragility of Society and the Pendulum of ChangeThe Fragility of Society and the Pendulum of ChangeThe Fragility of Society and the Pendulum of ChangeThe Fragility of Society and the Pendulum of Change
  • This is a chapter‘s title.
    The Fragility of Society and the Pendulum of ChangeThe Fragility of Society and the Pendulum of ChangeThe Fragility of Society and the Pendulum of ChangeThe Fragility of Society and the Pendulum of Change
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