Are You My Mother? by Alison Bechdel

Are You My Mother? by Alison Bechdel, 289 pages

In this graphic memoir, Bechdel reflects on her relationship with her mother and her growing interest in dream- and psycho-analysis.  Her first acclaimed graphic novel, Fun Home, was about her father, a closeted gay man who committed suicide, and how their dysfunctional family dynamics impacted her and her acceptance of her own sexuality.  This novel focuses more on Alison as a grown-up: as a serial monogamist, the creator of a successful comic strip, and a woman who still can't tell her mother that she loves her.  Anyone with "mother issues" might find this interesting, but I felt like it really was less of a coherent story, and more of reading someone's dream journal.

The Key Is Love: My Mother's Wisdom, A Daughter's Gratitude by Marie Osmond

The Key Is Love:  My Mother's Wisdom, A Daughter's Gratitude by Marie Osmond, 307 pages

I have read all Marie's books. They are all such heartfelt reads.  In Marie's current book, she writes about being a mother to her eight children and writes for the first time about her son's suicide.  In this book, she also writes about each of her other kids.  I would say this would be a great gift for Mother's Day.  Marie shares many of her mother's words of  wisdom, remembered from her mother's diaries.  Marie seems to draw her strength from her upbringing.  She also writes in this book how she remarried her first husband who is the love of her life.  Marie continues to perform her show in Las Vegas as well as do a talk show from LA and raise her children.  This book is very inspiring.  After all she has been through, her son's suicide, her postpartum depression, her divorce and a house fire, she continues to be a resilient person.

After - Amy Efaw

After By Amy Efaw - 350 pages

Before it all, Devon was a good student, a good athlete, and all-around good girl. But then IT happened - the thing that was so horrible, so shameful, so impossible to imagine the Devon simply chose not to admit it to anyone, even herself. But denial can't make a thing go away, and now Devon's in a juvenile detention center, facing a possible life sentence for her actions.Does she deserve the punishment? Did she know what she was doing? Or was her denial so deep that she was unable to register the seemingly unavoidable changes happening to her? Told with empathy and precision, Devon's story is a gripping page-turner that will challenge your beliefs about conscience and consciousness.