Book Nook: Things I Wish I Told My Mother

 Things I Wish I Told My Mother is a novel that comes from the heart. From 2 hearts, actually.

It's hard to imagine a mother or daughter who won't identify with, and be moved by, the story. 

Every daughter has a distinctive voice, style and secrets. That's true of Laurie Ormson. She's an artist who sees the world in a very special way. When she travels-as she does in the novel- all she brings is a worn duffel bag.

Mother's have their own voice and styles, too. Laurie's mom, "Dr Liz" is a perfectionist. In everything. She travels with a matched set of Louis Vuitton suitcases.

Laurie and Dr. Liz decide to travel to Europe together. First Paris and then Norway. They want to go beyond being just mother and daughter. They want to become best friends.

Does it work out that way for them? Well, that's the fun of reading Things I Wish I Told My Mother. You probably won't guess the ending, but you will have some laughs and you'll shed some tears. 

Susan Patterson and Susan DiLallo decided to write this novel because of a very emotional shared experience. Both of their mothers lived into their 90s then died in the same year. 

There were so many things they wished they'd told their moms, Lorraine and Geraldine.

Oh yeah, what about James? He was always around to read a draft, but more important, to fetch coffees and sandwiches. He did offer this thought:

"I knew that Things I Wish I Told My Mother was a beautiful title. Now you've written a book that's just as beautiful."