April 15, 2009

Old World Daughter, New World Mother

Written by Dawn

When I read the title of Maria Laurino's new book, Old World Daughter, New World Mother: An Education in Love and Freedom, my immediate expectation was that I would soon be reading a memoir filled with anecdotes of a typical Italian family, and I was curious to discover what the author would describe as the contrasts of the Old and New worlds. While I wasn't disappointed on those fronts, I was also pleasantly surprised to find that this book presented much more food for thought.

While Ms. Laurino shares with us a fair amount of reflections on her experiences straddling the two worlds, as she begins to make her way in the world as an adult, and especially after becoming a mother herself, she also brings a trove of information and research to the table with this book. Delving into the history of feminism in our country and marking the points at which the various theories that have been labeled feminist over the years also remarkably intersect with more traditional, or Old World values intrigued me. Opting for a "feminist belief in the autonomy of the female body" (i.e. natural delivery) during labor, rings very much the same as an Old World birth experience with a midwife, for example. There's much to be said about the ideals behind the many faces of feminism, but I found Ms. Laurino's approach to the discussion quite refreshing.

While she tackles many aspects of experiences of women today, from forging careers to having children, there was one subtopic that she weaves throughout the discussion that interested me the most. The idea of dependency on others seems to immediately carry a negative connotation in our society, and it seems to be that independence is sold as the ultimate goal for people today. Yet the author makes the emphatic case that this is an unavoidable aspect of life– dependence, and interdependence, is key to everything. Families are essentially interdependent units, and she argues that our New World values often seem to forget this key fact when expressing expectations and making policies. At the heart of this book are thoughts about balancing work and family, and exactly what that looks like for women today, but more importantly, how it could look with some societal tweaking.

I find it difficult to label this book a straightforward memoir, since it alternates between that tone and one of a well-researched social commentary or editorial piece. Ms. Laurino brings attention to a wide variety of issues that face all women today, while also bringing her unique perspective as the daughter of second-generation Italian-Americans. As a mom who has tried her hand at working both full-time and part-time, as well as my current gig as a stay-at-home, I found this book to be affirming of many of my own personal struggles, as well as uplifting in its hopefulness for a different direction in the way we think about the lives of women.

Dawn enjoys reading books that make her think about something beyond Clifford the big red dog and changing diapers. She can be found blogging about all the random things that come into her head at my thoughts exactly.

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The giveaway will close on April 30, and the winner will be announced on May 1.
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Filed under Dawn, Memoir, Non-Fiction, Women's Interest by Dawn

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116 Comments

Comments on Old World Daughter, New World Mother

April 15, 2009

Serena @ 3:54 am

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Laura @ 8:32 am

This one sounds interesting, I'd like to win it.

Rebecca @ 10:21 am

I would love to read this book! Great giveaway, and I can't wait to see what's next!

Corinne @ 2:52 pm

This sounds like something I'd enjoy – nice review

courtney from mommie blogs @ 3:11 pm

I would love to win this book! Thank you for hosting a great giveaway.

edj @ 3:46 pm

I have had similar thoughts. I live overseas in a Muslim country, where parts of culture resemble ours as it was 100 years ago. But not all of our changes are positive in any way. This book sounds intriguing. I'd love to read it.

Rachel @ 4:36 pm

Sounds like it's right up my alley! I love memoirs!

Ginny @ 5:36 pm

Looks like a great book!

Debbie @ 6:50 pm

Please include me in your giveaway.
Thanks
Debbie
debdesk9(at)verizon.net

Lisa Heins @ 9:09 pm

As am Italian-American myself, it sounds like a fun read. I would probably relate to many things. I'd like to win it.

April 16, 2009

Melissa in Mels World @ 7:42 am

Wow, that sounds really interesting…I'd love to check it out!

Melissa

stephanie @ 8:19 am

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Jenn S. @ 9:21 am

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Nicole C. @ 9:45 am

This book sounds great!!

Alicia @ Experiencing Each Moment @ 9:50 am

This is so fun!

Hyon @ 10:30 am

Great review! Would love to read it.

cris @ 11:20 am

This sounds great – my old neighborhood was almost all 1st gen moms and dads and immigrant elders.

Denise @ 12:11 pm

This sounds interesting, thanks.

corrie clemens @ 1:54 pm

oh nice prize.

Elizabeth M. @ 3:05 pm

It sounds interesting.

Angie @ 4:17 pm

I love to read and need to devote more time to it as I thoroughly enjoy it! I have a book giveaway on my blog if anyone's interested.

Amy @ Hope Is the Word @ 4:25 pm

This one sounds good!

dorothy l @ 5:16 pm

sound like a interesting book

Kim @ 5:36 pm

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Janel @ 7:20 pm

I've never heard of this book before. It sounds really interesting!

MRS.MOMMYY @ 7:46 pm

would love to read

Kathy D @ 8:39 pm

Looks like a great book…..

Kathy D @ 8:39 pm

e-mail subscriber

April 17, 2009

nfmgirl @ 8:13 am

I think my mother and I might both enjoy this. Please count me in. Thank you!

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Diane Westerbeek @ 8:23 am

My Mother is gone but I have 3 daughters-in-law with 5 girls between them who would enjoy this.

Katy Lin @ 9:18 am

this sounds fantastic! i would love to read it! please count me in!

Holly @ 11:23 am

I would love to win this.

Sarah @ 2:46 pm

Sounds good! Please enter me!

Heather S @ 6:54 pm

This looks like a great book!

Carey @ 8:11 pm

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Tiffany @ 10:54 pm

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Michael Capp @ 11:01 pm

I'd love to win!

April 18, 2009

Djp @ 12:11 am

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Lucia @ 12:41 am

Thanks to your review this book is on my library list…you have really been shaping my reading list lately. And keeping my fingers crossed on winning.

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beth shepherd @ 10:10 am

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Jen Nutzhorn @ 11:42 am

I love reading and love being a Mom! Thank you for your giveaway!

Kim @ 12:10 pm

Enter me for this one please!

Patti Hess @ 1:07 pm

This books shows the balance between work and family!

Rita @ 1:16 pm

I chuckled when I read your last paragraph about Clifford, the BIG red dog! I am a bilingual specialist. Just this week, I read a couple of Clifford books with my kindergartners. They fight over them!
I confess my interests go beyond red dogs too. And multiculturalism is way up on top.

James Coyne @ 2:12 pm

Enter me please

Terri @ 2:41 pm

I'd like to win this one because it sounds like an interesting read.

Susan @ 8:55 pm

I haven't read this yet!!! I would love to! What a great review!

Catherine @ 10:59 pm

Thanx for the contest

Christina @ 11:40 pm

Old World Daughter, New World Mother sounds wonderful and I'd love to win it!

April 19, 2009

Elizabeth @ 1:14 am

Sounds like just the kind of book I enjoy! Memoirs are definitely my favorite genre.

Just Mom @ 12:49 pm

Please enter me in the giveaway and thanks for hosting!

Angela Calvert @ 2:00 pm

I would love to win. Thanks for the giveaway.

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Sharon Walling @ 3:42 pm

Memoirs are one of my favorite genres to read.
Please enter me.

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Susan C @ 8:20 pm

I have been a memoir kick lately, I would love to read one more!
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Tina S. @ 9:22 pm

Would love this one!

April 20, 2009

sarah @ 12:08 pm

enter me!

Barbara @ 4:48 pm

Sounds like a book I'll enjoy reading.

Angie Gulley @ 10:58 pm

Please enter me in your contest!! Thanks so much!

April 21, 2009

renee @ 12:37 am

i would enjoy reading this and sharing it with my mom. thanks for the giveaway.

Annmarie @ 6:46 am

This book looks great! As an American of Italian heritage, it sounds like a lot of what I've encountered in my own family. It'll be interesting to read the social commentary that this book provides…

Terra Heck @ 12:08 pm

I'd like to read this book. Thanks.

Sherry @ 6:55 pm

Sounds like a great read, thanks for the review and chance to win.

Kim V @ 7:27 pm

Sounds great! Thanks for the giveaway!
kimspam66(at)yahoo(dot)com

Heather Goldsmith @ 10:19 pm

Sounds like a great read! Thanks

April 22, 2009

Vera @ 9:40 am

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Michele @ 11:54 am

This sounds like a wonderful book. Thanks for the great review!

KarenPr @ 4:26 pm

Sounds great, please enter me.

michele anne @ 7:42 pm

Looks like a great proze. Would like to win it.

April 23, 2009

Adrian Lamont @ 1:02 am

Sounds like a great read, please count me in.

Susan Smith @ 5:00 pm

Sounds like a nice book

Carole @ 5:20 pm

please enter me to win, sounds like a great book!

April 24, 2009

Marianna @ 1:09 pm

This sounds like a book I would really enjoy! Thanks for the chance to win!

Jo @ 3:56 pm

I would love to read this book! My Baba handed down a lot of customs and tradition to me, and even in today's society, I try to hand these down to my own daughters
jceko77@yahoo.com

Christina @ 7:31 pm

I myself was born in New York City but raised very Ukrainian because both my parents came from Ukraine, speaking Ukrainian and being involved in the culture of Ukrainian cuisine, dance, embroidery, Easter egg making, and more. I've very curious about the experiences (how they're similar to mine and how they're not) of another person with similar culture raising!

Sheila H @ 10:07 pm

I'd love to win! Thanks!!

April 25, 2009

Karen Gonyea @ 1:15 pm

Sounds great

jan koontz @ 1:31 pm

i love a book as a gift, just to cool

Linda M. @ 2:59 pm

Your review was so spot on, I can't wait to read this! Better yet, I hope I win it! Thanks for the chance!

Jessica @ 4:18 pm

Sounds like a great read! I hope I win

Sue W. @ 7:50 pm

Having lived in Italy of six years, I know a little about the old world ways. I would be very interested in winning this book to learn the authors points of view.

April 26, 2009