There are many motherless daughters in The Moonshine Women. How do the women mother each other? How do sisterhood and female friendship become even more important when our mother figures are unavailable or gone?

BookBrowse Book Club The Moonshine Women by Michelle Collins Anderson
1

There are many motherless daughters in The Moonshine Women, from the three Strong daughters to Birdie and little Wren. How do the women mother each other? Do sisterhood and female friendship become even more important when our mother figures are unavailable or gone?

2

This book is a testament to women everywhere and what we do to keep our families together and survive in an unforgiving world. In this case, the Strongs are as much mothers to each other as they are sisters, and where would they all be without Lidy! We see how important women in this book are again with Rebecca and Eulalie (even before they fell in love), Shine and Birdie, and even with Bernyce, as they take care of one another time and time again.

1 Like
3

The Strong women hold and support each other, when necessary, whereas most men from this era were unable or unwilling to do so. This fosters deep love between the women whether they are sisters, friends or neighbors, as well as resilience to face what life holds for them. This “mothering” seems to be innate in women.

1 Like
4

I’m older and from a small town. I remember my mother visiting the neighbor ladies for help. When I became a mother, I had a neighbor who would give me motherly advice. It seems that women nurture other women because we understand that we need each other.

5

The Strong girls were faced with one loss after another. They were fortunately close from childhood and had always pulled together to accomplish what needed doing on the farm. They had not experienced any other life and with their grandmother as a strong model and providing the leadership they seemed to always know what they needed to do to protect each other.

6

I think everyone needs a mother in their lives, someone to look up to and be close to. The Strong sisters each took up that role and helped one another when needed.

7

I think leaving Alta out of the novel as a living character gave room for the other Strong characters to develop closer relationships.

8

These women all nurtured and supported one another in their own ways. Sisters, friends, mothers, all of these to each other. I loved how they were always there for one another.

9

With the lost of a mother, there are others “who simply fill the void” in a way. Sure, memories serve to help handle the lost of a mother but friends are important in daily living. A true friend offers unconditional love, time and understanding just like the characters in this story.

10

Yes, technically the Strong daughters do not have a mother. But they have the love and support of their sisters that give them a mother’s love, guidance and sometimes a tough message.

My mother died when I was young, so it has been my strong girlfriend relationships that have helped me in so many ways. In both the workplace and in personal life I try to support others but especially women when they ask for advice or assistance. In my experience, women understand other women and even if they can’t make a situation better, they can listen and understand.