Letters from Motherless Daughters: Words of Courage, Grief, and Healing

by Hope Edelman (Editor)

Overview

After a mother's death, a daughter embarks on a personal journey of grief and healing. Hope Edelman shared her journey in Motherless Daughters; afterward, she received letters from motherless women all over the world who felt compelled to share their own stories of mother loss. Comforted by the shared experiences that appeared in the book, they wanted to hear more from women like them. Letters from Motherless Daughters was created to fulfill that request, and now, in this updated edition, Hope compiles letters received over the two decades since the publication of her New York Times bestseller.

In their own voices, these daughters--ranging in age from thirteen to seventy-eight--share their journeys of mourning and regeneration. Beginning with the initial period of adjustment and acceptance, covering the first years after a mother's death, and describing lives shaped by loss more than twenty years later, these letters reflect the challenges and triumphs motherless girls and women face over time. The words of these brave women illustrate the profound pain, astounding strength, and personal growth inherent in living through the loss of a mother--without ever outliving the need for her.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780738217543
Publisher:	Hachette Books
Publication date:	04/08/2014
Sold by:	Hachette Digital, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	1,007,425
File size:	487 KB

About the Author

Hope Edelman is the internationally acclaimed author of five nonfiction books, including the bestsellers Motherless Daughters and Motherless Mothers, as well as the memoir The Possibility of Everything. She has lectured extensively on the subjects of early mother loss and nonfiction writing. Her articles and reviews have appeared in numerous publications, including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Huffington Post, Real Simple, and Parents. Her work has received a New York Times notable book of the year designation and a Pushcart Prize for creative nonfiction. She lives in Topanga Canyon, California, with her husband and their two daughters. hopeedelman.com

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Preface xi

Introduction xiii

Chapter 1 Adjustment and Acceptance: The First Year 1

Chapter 2 Searching for Meaning: One to Five Years 31

Chapter 3 Pain Turns to Longing: Five to Ten Years 57

Chapter 4 Experience Turns to Insight: Ten to Twenty Years 85

Chapter 5 Lives Shaped by Loss: Twenty Years and Beyond 121

Epilogue: A Web of Support 183

Appendix: Starting a Motherless Daughters Support Group 187

Sources and Resources 193

Index 195