Mom, mummy, mamam, mother, mum—it doesn't matter how it’s spelled or pronounced, the role remains the same. Being a mom is equal parts invigorating and intense, exhilarating and exhausting, divine and difficult. Every now and then, a mom needs to hear that she isn't alone in this wacky world, which is where the magic of a good audiobook comes in. What are the best books for moms? This list covers a lot of ground, but you can rest assured that all of the titles featured here make perfect gifts for new moms and great-grandmas alike.
A difficult yet inspiring listen, Feeding My Mother follows Alberta's own Jann Arden as she struggles to come to terms with becoming a parent to her own mom. Jann's mom suffers from Alzheimer's disease, and the degradation caused by the disease meant the musical voice behind Insensitive, Could I Be Your Girl and other hits found herself mothering her own mother, upending the typical mother-daughter dynamic.
Arden takes control of the narration herself, putting in a fantastic performance throughout what is clearly an emotionally daunting experience. What follows is a memoir of sorts, a life-changing process that Arden details in a style that is simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming. Daughters aren't supposed to feed their mothers, after all.
Feeding My Mother is a great book and an even better audiobook, as Jann Arden shepherds the listener on a most difficult journey. An absolute must-listen for anyone going through a similar situation, Feeding My Mother manages to transcend its main focus and develop into a deep take on the mother-daughter relationship.
From one end of the spectrum to the other. The debut work from Ottawa's Laurie Gelman is a joyous listen, detailing the trials and tribulations of Jen Dixon, a Kansas mother of three who is far from ordinary. Despite the occasionally madcap details of Jen's life, Class Mom is a gorgeously down-to-earth listen that eschews improbability in favour of all too real motherly situations.
More so than anything else, Class Mom is a downright hilarious book. Gelman is a marvellous storyteller and a fantastic narrator, filling the ups and downs of Jen Dixon's life with a magnificent charisma and an ear for a cadence that you just can't teach. If you're looking for a Mother's Day gift that will have moms doubling over in laughter, Class Mom should be top of the list.
A favourite of book clubs around the world and a must-listen for new moms worried that the world might be caving in on them, Class Mom is the sort of audiobook that becomes a best friend before the first chapter is done. Laurie Gelman's debut novel is very much fiction, but there is plenty of real-life waiting in these words.
