Mothers and Daughters (Kylie Ladd, A&U)

Mothers and Daughters begins brashly with a deluge of noisy characters and dialogue (not to mention the kind of language that might offend the more genteel-minded). However, it’s worth persevering, because as the characters become familiar and their inner worlds are revealed, it’s a fascinating journey. A group of female friends, who bonded when their children were small, head for a reunion in a remote Indigenous community on the spectacularly depicted Kimberley coast. In tow are their now-adolescent daughters, who are reaching the age of sexual exploration in a world of Facebook and smartphones. This novel gives insight into the diverse and complex relationships between the mothers and their teenage daughters, as well as the friendships between the women. Each bond has different strengths, weaknesses and tensions, and through this, Kylie Ladd explores the relationships that work well and those that don’t. She also delves into Indigenous culture, and the quandaries of women facing middle-age. All the characters are drawn well, except perhaps Fiona, whose racist attitudes and wisecracks make her seem slightly caricature-ish, albeit recognisable. Ladd is the author of Last Summer, After the Fall and Into My Arms. Mothers and Daughters will appeal to her fans and is recommended for female readers of quality popular fiction. 

Joanne Shiells has worked as an editor and bookseller, and is the mother of two girls, who, thankfully, are not yet teenagersDeborah Crabtree is a Melbourne-based writer and bookseller

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Category: Reviews