This book is written in turns by mother Sheila and daughter Perri as a collection of fond memories, which includes discussion of the women’s very different philosophies of housekeeping and raising children while balancing those responsibilities with achieving successful and fulfilling careers. It is also a love letter to their husband/father, who has recently passed away unexpectedly.
Both women are published authors: Perri is a practicing pediatrician, and Sheila is an English professor. As a parent myself, I find it interesting to read how one pediatrician raises her own children. The chapters have amusing names (eg. “The Shoes on the Staircase;” “Waiting for Godot’s Golf Cart”), foretelling the humorous anecdotes within. The women speak to us in turns, sometimes correcting or criticizing the other, which makes the reader feel like a voyeur in an intimate conversation. Although the women’s opinions are repeated throughout the book, their reflections on life make for easy reading and I wanted to jump right into their dialogue. I enjoyed reading about the family dynamics and Perri’s and Sheila’s exotic travels together.
