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A review by _askthebookbug
Everything My Mother Taught Me by Alice Hoffman
5.0
• r e v i e w •
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"There are those who insist that mothers are born with love for their children and place them before all other things, including their own needs and desires. This was not the case with us." - Alice Hoffman.
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Everything My Mother Taught Me is a story of unconventional mother-daughter relationships.
This is the second story I picked from the collection of Amazon Original Stories and I wasn't disappointed. Set in the early 1900's New England, this novella is about a young girl who wades through life all alone. Adeline, a twelve year old girl grew up with both the parents but loved only one, her father. With the demise of her father, she turns mute to punish her mother who was rarely present as a parent. To earn money, her mother accepts a job at the lighthouse on Thacher Island, a cold and gloomy place. Upon arrival, Nora (the mother) realises that handling laundry and cleaning up the place is a much difficult task than she expected. So she finds an alternative way to ease her burden.
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Adeline finds friendship in Julie, the wife of another caretaker and finally finds a sense a belonging. But Nora doesn't make things easier for the two of them. Adeline considers seeking revenge but will she go through with her plan?
Since this book is short, I'll refrain from putting much of the plot out here. This novella is compelling and chilling, keeping you at the edge of your seat till the last page. Comprising of just 28 pages, this story is a real pleasure to read. It's wonderful how a book as short as this is capable of luring in its readers so greatly. Many thanks to Shumaila @books_and_teaa for recommending this fascinating little story. I highly recommend this.
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Rating : 4.7/5.
.
"There are those who insist that mothers are born with love for their children and place them before all other things, including their own needs and desires. This was not the case with us." - Alice Hoffman.
.
Everything My Mother Taught Me is a story of unconventional mother-daughter relationships.
This is the second story I picked from the collection of Amazon Original Stories and I wasn't disappointed. Set in the early 1900's New England, this novella is about a young girl who wades through life all alone. Adeline, a twelve year old girl grew up with both the parents but loved only one, her father. With the demise of her father, she turns mute to punish her mother who was rarely present as a parent. To earn money, her mother accepts a job at the lighthouse on Thacher Island, a cold and gloomy place. Upon arrival, Nora (the mother) realises that handling laundry and cleaning up the place is a much difficult task than she expected. So she finds an alternative way to ease her burden.
.
Adeline finds friendship in Julie, the wife of another caretaker and finally finds a sense a belonging. But Nora doesn't make things easier for the two of them. Adeline considers seeking revenge but will she go through with her plan?
Since this book is short, I'll refrain from putting much of the plot out here. This novella is compelling and chilling, keeping you at the edge of your seat till the last page. Comprising of just 28 pages, this story is a real pleasure to read. It's wonderful how a book as short as this is capable of luring in its readers so greatly. Many thanks to Shumaila @books_and_teaa for recommending this fascinating little story. I highly recommend this.
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Rating : 4.7/5.