MANILA, Philippines – Mothers possess a kind of strength rooted in love and unwavering support.
But the demands of motherhood can sometimes be a bit much. From having to quickly adjust to situations, to managing hectic schedules, to balancing work with family life, often while putting the family’s needs before their own.
So what’s a better way to show our appreciation and support — while also lending comfort, inspiration, and a temporary escape — than by gifting them a book for Mother’s Day? Books can do all of the above, making for a thoughtful and personalized gift. That is, if it’s the right book.
Whether our strong mommies and nanays need something to make them smile, laugh, or cry, warm their hearts or tug at their heartstrings, here are nine different books to satisfy all types of mothering needs:
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
A beloved classic that has captivated readers for generations, Pride and Prejudice tells the story of the burgeoning relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy, which begins with an extremely negative first impression. The Jane Austen novel also focuses on family, zeroing in on the various happenings within the Bennet family.
Pride and Prejudice can be a wonderful Mother’s Day read for moms who enjoy classic literature or have an affinity for themes of love, family, and social expectations. It’s also just a comforting and enjoyable book — with its charming romance and witty observations about social dynamics.
Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid
If you’re looking for a more compelling, character-driven story, Carrie Soto Is Back is a fast-paced, emotional story about a tennis superstar’s comeback.
When Carrie retires from tennis, she’s the best player the world has ever known, sacrificing nearly everything to reach these heights, with her father as her coach. But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds that her record has been taken from her by a stunning, brutal new player named Nicki Chan. Now 37 years old, Carrie decides to come out of retirement and let herself be coached by her father one last time, to reclaim her record.
Delving into family dynamics and featuring strong female characters, Carrie Soto Is Back is also a great choice for Mother’s Day. From its focus on parent-child relationships to its core themes of love, loss, family, and healing, this book offers a story that might resonate deeply, particularly with mothers, making it a good fit for the occasion.
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
If you’re more interested in a historical fiction novel that explores themes of science, feminism, and the importance of family, then Lessons in Chemistry is an excellent choice. This book tells the story of Elizabeth Zott — a brilliant chemist balancing motherhood with fighting systemic sexism and discrimination at her workplace.
After a series of events, Elizabeth finds herself taking on new roles: becoming a single mother and the host of a cooking show. Despite initially disliking the cooking show idea, Elizabeth would later find herself empowering women to go for the dreams they’ve always wanted to achieve.
Lessons in Chemistry is for the moms who want to prove that they can do it all. This book’s themes chart themes that women and all mothers may feel strongly about: women empowerment, gender roles, societal expectations, and a woman’s place in the world.
Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
Where’d You Go, Bernadette is the story of mother Bernadette Fox, who has vanished into thin air, and daughter Bee Fox, who finds herself weaving together email messages, invoices, official documents, and secret correspondence, in an effort to find her mother. In doing so, she uncovers a secret past that Bernadette has been hiding for decades. Where’d You Go Bernadette is about a family coming to terms with who they are, and a daughter’s love for her mother.
Where’d You Go, Bernadette is for the moms who enjoy fun and witty, yet thought-provoking stories about the complexities of motherhood. The book also explores the mother-daughter relationship, and features a mother who is not the stereotypical perfect mom, which may resonate with many mothers who might be facing challenges in their roles.
Duty Ka Ba? by Tepai Pascual
Like motherhood, healthcare requires attentive caregiving and support. The graphic novel Duty Ka Ba? draws from the real-life experiences of healthcare workers and the hectic and complex healthcare world of the Philippines. But Tepai Pascual approaches these experiences and realities with laughter and romance, providing readers with unique insight into the lives of those on the frontlines.
This one is for the moms in need of a good laugh amidst all the chaos that comes with caring for those around you.
A Different Sound: Stories by Mid-Century Women by Elizabeth Bowen, Daphne du Maurier, Elizabeth Taylor, Lucy Scholes
If you’re looking for a book for your mom who wants to read but just doesn’t have the time — mothering is a full-time job after all — short story collections might be your new best friend. Enter A Different Sound: Stories by Mid-Century Women a collection of short stories written by British and Irish women, for women.
Set in the 1940s and ’50s, the stories in this collection offer unique perspectives of women’s experiences and aspirations, as the characters navigate the shifting norms and transforming domestic roles of women, against the backdrop of war, the rise of technology, and the end of the Empire.
A Different Sound: Stories by Mid-Century Women Writers is worth picking up for mothers looking to explore historical fiction, with many of its stories focusing themes of love, loss, ambition, and the complexities of relationships.
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
None of This Is True is a psychological thriller that follows popular podcaster Alix Summers, as she crosses paths with Josie Fair, a part-time seamstress, by chance at a local pub. A few days later, Alix and Josie bump into each other again, outside Alix’s children’s school. Josie has been listening to Alix’s podcasts and, Alix thinks she might be an interesting subject for a future episode.
As their paths cross further, Josie’s secrets are revealed, and before Alix knows it, Josie has found her way into her life — and into her home — eventually making Alix the subject of her own true crime podcast.
This is for the moms who enjoy psychological thrillers. Its focus on mothers and family dynamics, with a mother protagonist navigating a difficult situation and finding strength, aligns with the sentiments of Mother’s Day.
WTF: Women Turning Fifty by Marga Ortigas
WTF: Women Turning Fifty is a collection of former journalist Marga Ortigas’ personal essays, or rants, as she calls them, written just when she was entering the midlife — a stage she was unprepared to go into. This collection reflects universal themes that might be common experiences for many women — loss, mortality, aging, and uncertainty, among others.
WTF: Women Turning Fifty is perfect for the moms who are reflecting on their midlife or are on the cusp of that transition, or who might be struggling with uncertainty. Through Ortigas’ humorous storytelling, moms might find comfort in this collection.
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
Another option for mothers who enjoy literature and appreciate the beauty of language, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is a letter from a son to his mother who can’t read. Written when the narrator, Little Dog, is in his late twenties, the letter reveals a family history that started before Little Dog was born — a history rooted in Vietnam — and from there ventures into parts of his life his mother was never privy to.
Ocean Vuong’s novel is a great choice for a day celebrating mothers, powerful and moving, and focusing on motherhood, love, and family, as seen through a son’s relationship with his illiterate mother. It’s also an honest exploration of trauma, addiction, gender and sexuality, and the complexities of family life, which might make for a comforting and relatable gift for mothers who may have faced similar challenges or hardships. – with reports from Bea Gatmaytan/Rappler.com
Bea Gatmaytan is a Rappler intern studying Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature at the University of the Philippines Diliman.