Mother's Nature: Timeless Wisdom for the Journey into Motherhood

by Andrea Alban Gosline, Lisa M. Bossio, Lisa Burnett Bossi

For expectant and new mothers, Mother's Nature is an exuberant celebration of motherhood through the centuries and from around the world, with readings by Isabel Allende, Maya Angelou, Thich Nhat Hanh, Marlene Dietrich, Princess Grace of Monaco, Vladimir Nabokov, Adrienne Rich, Amy Tan, Carl Jung, Mother Teresa, E. B. White, Ursula LeGuin, Mary Wollstonecraft, the Dalai Lama, Simone de Beauvoir, and many others. Join the circle and share in the boundless joy and wonder of becoming a mother.

Genres: Parenting

319 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1999

About the author

Andrea Alban (a.k.a. Andrea Gosline) was born in 1959 in Baltimore, MD but spent her childhood reading voraciously in San Francisco, where she still lives with her family. On a weekly basis, she visited the Merced Branch Library and returned home with a pile of books on many different subjects. She received her B.A. cum laude in English/Creative Writing from San Francisco State University.

Andrea self-published her first poetry book at the age of sixa hand-lettered scroll tied with red ribbon. Today, she is mother to Jake and Lily and the author of three picture books: The Happiness Tree (2009 Florida Children's Book Award nominee); Ten Little Wishes, and Januarys Child: The Birthday Month Book. Her forthcoming debut novel, Anyas War, is loosely based on her fathers childhood as one of the Shanghai Jews. (Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan; February 1, 2011)

Andreas inspirational parenting titles include: Little Moments of Peace; Welcoming Ways; and Celebrating Motherhood, a NAPPA Gold Award recipient.

Andrea is a dynamic speaker at schools, museums, libraries and literary festivals throughout the Bay Area and beyond. She serves on the faculty of Book Passage and its annual Childrens Writer Conference and consults privately with writers of all ages to shape, polish and package their manuscripts.

Read Andreas blog at calmandconfidentmoms.blogspot.com. Visit her websites: www.albanbossi.com and www.redroom.com/author/andrea-alban-g...."

Reviews

[C · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the idea of this book, but found the way that it is compiled into meditations to be annoying and not very useful.

In the wee hours of the morning as I'd be up with insomnia I'd crack it open and read a few dozen pages. Then, later when I'd recover my brain and want to go back to something I remembered being interesting I couldn't find it.

There is no clear progression in the grouping of chapters, so if you're in a particular phase of pregnancy – and I truly believe each has it's own challenges & quirks, building on the previous ones – it was hard to tease out useful quotes and inspirations for your current mindset.

Great concept, beautiful layout, poor execution.

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the IDEA of this book but did not find it to be all that satisfying of a read. It is more of a meditation-type book, something to mull over in small sections over a long period of time. I didn't have the patience for that and I skipped many of the passages.

I did find a good number of quotes, stories, images, passages, and mediations that spoke to my interests, however. Once I pull them out and do my own style and pace of reflection over them, I know I will appreciate this book much more.

[Alejandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

loving it so far...