3 Novels to Remember Mother's Day

Reading would be the last thing to do during Mother's Day, held on May 11. But there are many books that will make some pause and reminisce their moments with their mother.

Mother's Day, first observed in Pennsylvania and West Virginia in 1908, became commercialized. Nothing to be ashamed of, as man sees his mother as the most important female figure in her life until he meets his other half. In literature, being a Mom is rather complicated. It's due to cultural background on one hand, the author's on another. Regardless of who they are and what they have been through, they still deserve respect and affection.

Here are three novels that depict motherhood:

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. It's hard to judge Anna Arkadyevna Karenina's character, but Tolstoy asks his readers to understand her position. It was the latter half of the nineteenth century, when social changes took place in countries like Russia. The Reformation, followed by the Industrial Revolution, prompted many to question the fundamental role of women in society. It wasn't hard to perceive this in the novel, with Tolstoy's keen eye on the double standards on women, even hypocrisy shown by some women of Anna's rank. Not a few would notice Anna's devotion to Sergei, her son with Count Alexei Alexandrovich Karenin, her husband. Her affection on the boy was more than what she showed to Annie, Anna's child with Count Alexei Kirillovich Vronsky, her lover. One chapter, where Anna visits his son on his ninth birthday, uninvited, may have some wonder if this is born out of guilt (for leaving Sergei for Vronsky). It's up to readers to decide, but there's no doubt about Anna's capacity as a mother.

Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. This best-selling novel examined the lives of four Chinese women, who left a tumultuous existence in their homeland for a secured lifestyle in America, and their four daughters who find it hard to relate to their (respective) mothers, let alone understand their Chinese heritage. It is a classic illustration of high-context culture in contrast with low-context culture. (In countries with high-context culture, such as France, India, and the southern United States, many things are left unsaid, as customs explain for itself. In countries with low-context culture, such as Germany, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, communication needs to be more explicit.) Misunderstanding and conflict arise due to this, but blood is thicker than water.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Nowadays, only a few women like to emulate Margaret "Marmee" March, mother to Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. She is the head of the March household, while her husband, a chaplain in the Union Army during the Civil War, is away. She is engaged in numerous charitable activities, enough to make a good impression on her young daughters. Alcott, who based this character from her own mother, created an ideal portait of a woman in Marmee, whose virtuosity guided her girls. She may be far from the current crop of women, juggling family and career, but she is a role model.