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5 Minutes for Books:
Things I Want My Daughters to Know

April 20, 2009 by Jennifer Donovan

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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This review is cross-posted at 5 Minutes for Books, as a part of our Mother’s Day Giveaway, going on through April 30. Read the review to see how to win one of three copies here at 5 Minutes for Mom, but please click over and check out the other offerings — a book a day — at 5 Minutes for Books.

The plotline of Things I Want My Daughters to Know by Elizabeth Noble seems difficult at face value: as Barbara is dying of cancer, she records some thoughts, memories, and advice for her daughters to have after she has gone. Depending on the way it was written, the book could be a four-tissue wiper, or simply a story about how the lives of those grown or nearly-grown young women go on after their mother’s death. I had thought from the description that the story was meant to be more of a family drama than a death-bed melodrama.

I hope I don’t sound callous when I say that I didn’t cry one tear when I read this book. Yes, I got a lump or two in my throat, and objectively the thought of losing a parent is hard — at any age. But as the description of the book alluded, this is really the story of the four sisters. Four young women trying to figure out what it means to grow into adulthood — from the perspective of a teenager, a twentysomething, and two thirty-somethings who are as different as can be. As diverse as their choices and personalities, they all have each other, and they all share their mother in common. From the grave, she is able to tell them things that she couldn’t tell them while she was alive — either because she was too afraid, or because they were too stubborn to listen.

This is basically a year in the life — beginning with the funeral and taking them through that first year. As I read, I realized that it’s not really about one woman’s passing from life. It’s about how we all pass through life, as seen through the young women Hannah, Amanda, Jennifer and Lisa. We pass through childhood, into the testing teen years, into young adulthood where we experience changing expectations of ourselves and others, and then through the many stages of marriage and other relationships where we sacrifice ourselves for those we love.

We could read this book with the intent to dwell on the sadness of a life that was too short, or like the daughters do, we can take the words of this fictional heroine to heart: “Life is short. Even if you don’t get cancer. Even if you die an old lady in your bed. It’s still a blink-and-you-miss-it, ever-increasing-speed-white-knuckle ride” (page 37).

You will see yourself in this novel, in one of these characters. You will see your sisters, your best friend, your husband, your child. Elizabeth Noble writes with spot-on characterizations of people and relationships, and that’s one of thing that makes Things I Want My Daughters to Know a great novel.

The book contains a reading guide, and I think it would spark great book club conversations. You can read the first 60 pages online at Harper Collins using their Browse Inside feature.

Leave a comment on this post to enter to win one of three copies of this book. We’ll announce the winners in next week’s column.

The winner of Empowering Youth is #17 edj.

The Welcome, Little One contest is still open through next week!

Contributing Editor Jennifer Donovan also blogs at Snapshot about life with her tween daughter and preschool son, and is managing editor of 5 Minutes for Books.

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Grazie Olive Garden
Are you a “Soccer Mom”? Am I a “Soccer Mom”? Is anyone???

About Jennifer Donovan

Jennifer Donovan has been a part of the 5 Minutes for Mom team since 2007. She writes product reviews, covers events, and manages the 5 Minutes for Books weekly column and website. She lives in Houston and blogs at Snapshot about life with her family.

Reader Interactions


51 Comments

  1. Kristy C says

    April 26, 2009 at 6:07 pm

    I would love to read this book!

    What a great contest ~ Thanks for posting!

  2. Barb says

    April 25, 2009 at 2:11 pm

    I always enjoy a good read. My mom, sister and I always swap books amongst ourselves!

  3. jan koontz says

    April 25, 2009 at 1:45 pm

    i would love to win this prize

  4. jayne says

    April 23, 2009 at 9:26 pm

    I would really love to win this! Sounds like a GREAT book!

  5. Sheri says

    April 23, 2009 at 11:15 am

    Sounds like am interesting and informative read. A tear jerker…maybe, but probably some good info.

    Please enter me. Thanks!

  6. Lesley says

    April 23, 2009 at 11:08 am

    This is the exact type of books I enjoy. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!

  7. Susan C says

    April 23, 2009 at 12:07 am

    I probably will cry, but I want to read this anyway!
    smchester at gmail dot com

  8. Vicky Boackle says

    April 22, 2009 at 8:31 pm

    i bet i will cry,this sounds good.

  9. Gary Osborn says

    April 22, 2009 at 7:23 pm

    Wooo Hooo Make me a winner!

  10. Sandra says

    April 22, 2009 at 5:19 pm

    As the Mother of 3 mostly grown daughters and as someone who is called to encourage women to reognize & remember their mothering moments – I would love to read this book.

  11. Sarah says

    April 22, 2009 at 3:28 pm

    enter me!

  12. nicole schellhas says

    April 22, 2009 at 2:39 pm

    i’m a book addict! i would love to read this one! i have two daughters.. thanks for the chance!

  13. Bev says

    April 22, 2009 at 12:27 pm

    I’m in my 40’s, my sister’s are in their 20’s and i have 3 teenage daughters, i think we could all learn something from this book.

  14. Heather Goldsmith says

    April 22, 2009 at 6:47 am

    I” be looking for this at the bookstore, in the meantime please enter me.

  15. LivingforGod says

    April 22, 2009 at 5:48 am

    I have a daughter so I’m curious what advice the mother in the story has to offer :).

    Please enter me in this giveaway. Thanks!

  16. Jen says

    April 21, 2009 at 9:38 pm

    Sounds like a book I would LOVE!

  17. LaVonne says

    April 21, 2009 at 6:45 pm

    It sounds like a good read. Thanks for offering this giveaway!

  18. TopazTook says

    April 21, 2009 at 5:53 pm

    This sounds like the sort of book i (and my book group!) would love to read!

  19. Karen L says

    April 21, 2009 at 5:50 pm

    My being both a mother and a daughter (and a sister as well!), makes me relate to the story in this book completely.

  20. Mozi Esmes Mommy says

    April 21, 2009 at 3:50 pm

    This looks like a sweet book…

  21. Melissa Lampugnano says

    April 21, 2009 at 3:23 pm

    I am just recently getting back to the little bit of my time that has been lost since I had my baby. I want to start reading again Maybe it will be my lucky day.

  22. Kristin says

    April 21, 2009 at 3:03 pm

    I would love this book- and I think I would be the 4 tissue type of reader- but love every minute of it!

  23. Deborah Wellenstein says

    April 21, 2009 at 2:34 pm

    I’ve been wanting to read this book-thanks for the opportunity!

  24. Evelyn says

    April 21, 2009 at 1:46 pm

    interesting reading

  25. Jennifer Barr says

    April 21, 2009 at 9:40 am

    would love to read this 🙂

  26. Dawn says

    April 21, 2009 at 7:42 am

    I have to say…if I don’t win, I’m definetly going to have to check it out of the library…I can’t imagine not being here for my daughter…and I think it’s so important to help our daughters grow into women…

  27. stampedwithgrace says

    April 21, 2009 at 7:27 am

    I have 5 girls and would love to win and read this book!

  28. karly says

    April 21, 2009 at 1:40 am

    As a mother, daughter, sister and aunt to many nieces, I’d love to read this book!

  29. Cathy W. says

    April 20, 2009 at 11:59 pm

    This sounds like a great book. I’d love to win a copy and pass it on after reading it.

  30. Catherine says

    April 20, 2009 at 10:35 pm

    Thanx for the contest

  31. Mary Ward says

    April 20, 2009 at 10:34 pm

    I’ll cry reading it. I cry at commercials. I’ve been wanting to pick this book up for some time. I’ve read all her other books.

  32. Nancy says

    April 20, 2009 at 10:25 pm

    I’d love to win!

  33. Ann Fantom says

    April 20, 2009 at 4:43 pm

    This sounds a like avery interesting book that I’d like to read.

  34. Susan says

    April 20, 2009 at 4:40 pm

    This sounds like a book I’d like to read. Thanks!

  35. janeh says

    April 20, 2009 at 3:45 pm

    intriguing…..

  36. Sheri says

    April 20, 2009 at 3:29 pm

    I would love a copy of this book. I have 2 boys and a daughter. I just finished reading Raising Cain so reading a book about girls would be a refreshing change!

  37. Beverly says

    April 20, 2009 at 2:49 pm

    I’d love to read this!

  38. Angela Calvert says

    April 20, 2009 at 1:57 pm

    I would love to win this book. Thanks for the giveaway.

    accoupons at gmail dot com

  39. Adrienne! says

    April 20, 2009 at 1:33 pm

    Would love this. <3

  40. Linda White says

    April 20, 2009 at 1:04 pm

    Id really enjoy this tearjerker of a book! The story sounds awesome!

  41. KellyMB says

    April 20, 2009 at 11:27 am

    I would love to read this!

  42. corrie clemens says

    April 20, 2009 at 11:07 am

    i would gift this to my sister, she would like it.

  43. Michael Capp says

    April 20, 2009 at 10:56 am

    I’d love to win!

  44. Ellen C. says

    April 20, 2009 at 10:54 am

    I’d love to win this book for my sister. Thanks for the chance.

  45. randi oaklief says

    April 20, 2009 at 10:24 am

    I’d like to read it, as a mom, I think about this subject alot. Thanks

  46. Shasta says

    April 20, 2009 at 8:33 am

    I would love to read this book, it sounds so good, like something I would really enjoy!

  47. Melonie K. says

    April 20, 2009 at 6:49 am

    This sounds like a good read. Please enter me in the drawing. Might be good to pass on to other generations of women in my family when I’m done reading it. 🙂

  48. Djp says

    April 20, 2009 at 6:02 am

    this could be put to good use!

  49. Court says

    April 20, 2009 at 1:47 am

    I’m up for some reading now that all my studying is over! Though since my daughter is only two I may have to reread this one to update the info!

  50. Anna says

    April 20, 2009 at 1:29 am

    I don’t know if I will cry reading it or not. I used not to but since I had my children I’m very emotional. Not sure if it’s the hormones :)or the wight of responsibility of being a mom.
    I will read this book even it I don’t win it.
    Thanks for introducing it.

  51. Maddy says

    April 20, 2009 at 12:55 am

    Hard to resist a shot at a bit of therapy!Cheers

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