Letters to my Mother

by Kate Kaiser

“Dear Mom,"

Are these words any easier to write when Mom is gone? What if there were things you never told her? Things you've left unsaid. Things you've always wanted to know? And after you've poured your heart out to your mom, would you then show the letters to your ...

Kate Kaiser did just that, in this touching, tearing and true story of one woman's open letters to her past, her family, and herself.

Genres: Memoir

92 pages, Paperback

First published September 5, 2012

About the author

Kate Kaiser is currently finishing her third book, Learning to Drink Coffee in China. Kate won Fiction Fix's Issue 9 Editor's Choice Award. She was also nominated for the 2011 Pushcart Prize / 2011 Sundress Publication's Best of the Net Award for Dessert & Sudden Death by Fiction Fix. She has been published in Mr. Beller's Neighborhood 2010, Thin Thread Stories: Mother & Grandmothers (Kiwi Publishing) 2011, Fiction Fix Issue 9 - 2011 and The St. Petersburg Review 2011-12. Kate's memoirs include, Letters to my Mother (but really for my father) and Love Sex Death Betrayal.

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh I loved this little book. Very personal letters exploring feelings for your parents and life and loss, all in the context of a really big family.

[Maialen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a quick read.
I really liked it as you can either relate right now or realize that you can find yourself in that situation sooner than you think.

It makes you think back to your relationship with your parents, and realize that if you want to change or do something, now is the right time.

[❤Marie Gentilcore · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice, short book where author Kate Kaiser shared 16 letters she wrote to her mom Barbara who passed away 4 years prior. I lost my mom 7 years ago and I thought it would be comforting to read. In the letters Kate shares memories and comes to understand both her parents and herself more. And, as I read the letters, I feel like I was able to do this a little also as I reflected on memories of my own mom and my still living widowed father. No ones parents are perfect, and I'm no where near a perfect mom either but we all do the best we can at the time. The last letter ends with, "... time to live is now, with the people we love and who love us. When those are the same people, we are very lucky indeed. So Mom - I miss you, I thank you and I loved you, very much."

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kate writes a series of letters to her mother who passed away four years earlier. They contain everything she wanted to say to her mother but couldn't/didn't get the chance when her mother was alive. They contain everything from stories of her past, to stories of her family, to favorite memories shared. They're open, honest, and an interesting, enjoyable, easy read.

Book received via Goodreads First Read.

[Jaishree · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a very short book that consists of a series of letters that are meant for her mother who has passed. The author goes back to her past and says what was then left unsaid. The story of her family through her eyes.

A good, quick read.

PS. I received as a part of the First Reads initiative on Goodreads.

[Amy (DemonKittie) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*This book was won from a First Reads giveaway on goodreads.com*

This is a nice short book of letters that the author wrote to her mother who passed away, but are really for her father too. It helped her work through some things. I really liked this book because it made me think about my parents. If you have lost a parent you might want to check this out.

[Melissa T · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

This is an interesting collection of letters that the author wrote to her mother, after she passed away. It is a nice mix of memories, and lessons learned. It reminds us that parents aren't perfect, and we should remember that they are human, too, instead of these infallible beings that children can sometimes make parents out to be.

This is a bit of a challenging read for me as I've never had a very good relationship with my own mother, but it's not something that would be easily fixed by a good heart to heart, so these kinds of books always make me a little sad for "what could have been."

[Greg Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this after my wife had read it. I understand why she liked it and it made her laugh and thoughtful as she worked her way through it. For me however i did not have the same journey, i did not finish it, maybe one day i will.

[Marla Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definately made me thing of so many simple things in life and also to appreciate those people and activities more. I will be passing this book on for friends and family to read.

[Liz Hahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brava!!