Every woman will recognize aspects of herself in Rona Maynard’s clear-eyed memoir of the brilliant, devoted, fiercely controlling mother who shaped her life. Fredelle Maynard expected a stellar academic career, but found herself sidelined by her gender and forced to start over as a writer. She lavished her blocked ambitions on her daughters: Joyce, the pleaser, and Rona, the rebel. When Rona began to forge a promising career as an editor, Fredelle called her a neglectful mother. The criticism stung, yet for Rona there was no one funnier or more compelling than Fredelle. She looked forward to years of laughter and gossip on Fredelle’s couch, with endless cups of mint tea. Then Fredelle was stricken with a lethal brain tumor. At her death bed, Rona found permission to pursue a big, bold dream she had been keeping to herself.
My Mother’s Daughter is out of print, but you can buy the e-book at Amazon. Rona sells signed hardcover copies for $30 including postage, within Canada only. Sorry, no international orders—the postage would cost more than the book.