Top Ten Tuesdays are hosted at The Broke and the Bookish. This week is a mother-themed freebie. I was going to do a split list of best/worst mothers in books, but as I began making the list there were a couple I couldn't categorize in those terms but really wanted to include. So instead I'm listing the most memorable mom characters I can think of.
Most terrifying mother ever.
2. Mrs. Bennet from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
She's one reason I couldn't do a best/worst list. I mean, she's totally ridiculous but I really enjoy laughing at her!
3. Bridget's mom from Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
Like Mrs. Bennet, this lady is just too much. I loved how she was portrayed by Barbara Rosenblatt in the audio version.
She had like a million kids, knit them all handmade sweaters, and still found time to fight evil.
5. Rosa from The Hottest Dishes of the Tartar Cuisine by Alina Bronsky
One of the worst mothers I've ever encountered in a book. But like some of the others I really enjoyed reading about her.
6. Caroline Ingalls from the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder
This lady put up with a lot, but always found time to do fun things with her daughters. And anyone who can move into - literally - a hole in the ground and make it feel homey deserves some sort of award.
Moms in teen books tend to either be horrible or absent, but this mom really had a life, and secrets, of her own. She felt so real!
8. Min's mom from Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie
Definitely a bad mom. Min's sister was getting married and their mom deliberately ordered Min's dress too small and then spent months harping on her about eating sweets or carbs or, you know, anything good. She wasn't convinced her daughter was pretty enough to get a decent guy, so it was incredibly satisfying when the lady finally got her comeuppance from Min's fantastic boyfriend.
9. Mrs. Frisby from Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
She may have been a tiny field mouse, but this mom was super determined and knew how to get stuff done.
Last - but definitely not least - is the one nonfiction mom on my list. (I don't count Ma Ingalls because she was so fictionalized.) Not because there aren't a ton of awesome real moms out there (obviously!) but because I don't read enough nonfiction. Trevor Noah's mom is totally amazing and in some ways his memoir is more about her than about himself.
And an extra shoutout to Marge Simpson! She's obviously from tv, not books, but is one of my very favorite fictional mothers out there. (Oh gosh, I could make a whole list of the best tv moms, too.)
Who are your favorite mothers in books, or those you love to hate?
4 comments:
Awww, I love seeing Jennifer Crusie make a list this week, even if it is on the worst moms list! Min's mom definitely was the dirt worst. It was infuriating every time she put her daughter down or tried to control what she put in her mouth. I loved it every time that Cal called her out on her crap and told Min she could eat whatever she wanted.
My TTT.
Molly Weasley is just awesome!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2017/05/16/top-ten-tuesday-107/
This is an excellent list! I loved Mrs. Frisby, Caroline Ingalls, and Molly Weasley! They were some of the best moms I read growing up. Well, Molly didn't arrive until after I was a mom myself, but you get the idea. :D
Here is my TTT. Thanks!
You got that right about Margaret White! XD
Lauren @ Always Me
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