Happy Mother's Day

This Sunday is Mother's Day and I hope you remember to say thank you to your mom, grandmother, aunt, or that special someone who helped you along the way to adulthood.  My mom is gone and I miss her very much, but I will celebrate this year with my two daughters.  It will also be special because my oldest daughter is expecting and we can't wait to meet our granddaughter. 

I was thinking about books that explore the mother-daughter relationship.  There are so many.  Some are lighter like the Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood  or Practical Magic while others are more serious.  One of my favorites is The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan.  Her novel delves into the rivalries and deep secrets that can keep mothers and daughters apart. It is an immigrant story but, at its heart, it is about trusting enough to share yourself with another person, especially when that person is your daughter.

The book that spoke to me about the sometimes difficult relationship between mothers and daughters is One True Thing by Anna Quindlen.   On the surface it is about an adult daughter, Ellen, who returns home to care for her dying mother.  But it is really about a daughter learning about her parents as people and discovering before it's too late, that her childhood perceptions may not be all together accurate.  Ellen finds that learning as an adult is difficult and painful.  Quindlen is remarkable at capturing inner turmoil and placing it among typical, everyday scenes.  I read the book not too long after my mother died and so I sobbed through much of the book, but it made me appreciate my mom even more. 

So, remember to say thanks to Mom!

Tonight we are showing The Neverending Story" at our Epworth branch beginning at 6:30.  This is a contemporary classic for the whole family.

Next week is Children's Book Week.  Join the celebration.  Check out three or more Dubuque County Library books from your local branch and receive a prize of your choice!  Reading and a prize, you can't beat that.

Regular storytimes continue next week.  Check out our website (www.dubcolib.lib.ia.us) for places and times.  While you are at our website, take a look at our summer reading flyer, Dig Into Reading, and information on the teen program as well.  You can see all the great programs and events we have planned. 

Have a great weekend!  Dawn