My Mother's Daughter

by Judith Henry Wall

Book Overview

A deeply involving and beautifully written novel of a Texas family and three generations of its women -- a story about mothers, daughters, sisters, and the bonds of trust that can bind or destroy a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0684837668
• ISBN13: 9780684837666
• Release Date: May 2000
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Small-Town Texas Families

This novel is set in a small town in Texas and begins when Martha Claire is hastily wed on the eve of her husband, Grayson's, departure for World War II. Her sister, Justine, far more adventurous than Martha Claire, also heads off to war to join the WACS. Grayson returns years later a changed man, and Justine returns pregnant and unwed. In order to preserve the family's reputation, a dead spouse is invented for Justine, and after the child, Iris, is born, she is turned over to Martha Claire and Grayson to raise while Justine pursues a glamorous career in photography. Since Martha Claire and Grayson are childless, Iris is as beloved as their own daughter would be. Several years later, they adopt two other children, Cissy and Buddy and for some time their family seems complete.Martha Claire eventually learns who fathered Iris, and the news devastates their home life. She becomes bitter and resentful, drives Grayson away and her unhappiness infects everyone around her. Cissy becomes obsessed with knowing the secrets of her real parents and trying to unravel the mysteries that caused the deterioration of their happy home. Happiness, pain, bitterness and forgiveness are woven throughout this novel into an enthralling combination that will keep you turning the pages to learn why the characters are motivated to act as they do, and to discover how they can rebuild their lives. The characters are finely drawn, real people whose joy and misery become your own through the masterful storytelling of Judith Henry Wall.

Warm, funny at times, superb reading.

This is a fabulous story of a family growing old together. It includes all of the family secrets, all of the rough times, all of the good times, and a growing hatred between two sisters that will touch your heart. There is treachery of the worst kind, and love of the best kind. There is a kind father, a bitter mother, confused children, and an ending that will leave you very glad you invested your time in reading this book. Martha Claire is a character you will love and adore, and then resent, and finally despise, a trick I have yet to see any other author pull off so beautifully. The children will touch your heart, and a man named Grayson is one you will not soon forget. READ THIS BOOK!

One of the Great Family Sagas of Our Day

Judith Henry Wall tells a spell-binding story of three generations of Texas women. The middle generation comes of age during WWII and illustrates the changing times. One sister, Martha Claire, dreams of a happy home life and having babies as she waits for her soldier/husband to return from Europe. Meanwhile, her beloved and career-minded sister Justine joins the WACS and sees first-hand the horrors of war. The free-spirited Justine returns home unwed and pregnant and gives birth to Iris. Martha Claire and her husband adopt Cissy and Buddy, orphan siblings, and they all live together in their happy, family home until a horrible secret shatters their world and drives them painfully apart. The younger generation, devastated by what has happened to their once-loving family, struggles to learn the secret. Only Cissy does and is able to bring some degree of healing to her destroyed family through her own troubles. You will never forget these mothers and daughters and will delight in their joys and cry over their heartbreaks. This is the first novel I've ever read by this author, but I now intend to read all her work. She is a master story-teller.

The ties that bind

I was drawn to the story of two sisters in Columbus, Texas....beginning as the second world war winds down to its end. Justine Mayfield, the free spirited sister, hell-bent on getting away from the confines of small town life. Martha Claire, waiting for her husband to come home and for the two of them to embark on the life they had always talked about, nestled in Columbus, surrounded by children. Life does not always bring what you hope for. The two sisters are forced to deal with the realities. Each sister on her chosen path, facing the many twists and turns those paths bring. Life brings hurt and loss and betrayal and heartbreak along with the joys and love and accomplishment. This book captures life in Columbus....I visited the town many times as a child, climbing the steps of the gingerbread trimmed house of my Aunt Daisy Lee. In my mind's eye, I could see the Mayfield house, hear the stories of how the original wrought iron fence had been donated to the scrap metal drive for the war effort. The characters are true to life, almost too heartbreakingly so. The book captures the feel of small town Texas, the urge some have to break free , the drive others have to remain forever in its embrace. None of the choices come without a cost...My Mother's Daughter is a wonderful tale of those choices and the price paid, and the redemptive power of love and forgiveness.

My Mother's Daughter

Once I started reading this book I didn't want to stop. Justine and Martha Claire seemed to be people I could actually know and care about. Martha Claire nursed a grudge for so many years, which resulted in the alienation of her family. I felt sorrier for her than any other character. She missed so much. Her husband, Grayson, was almost too saintly to be believed. I can't say I laughed much but I did cry and I was pleased with the way the story ended. I am definitely going to read more of Judith Henry Wall's books!