Reviews for The Bad Daughter

The average rating for The Bad Daughter based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2018-10-29 00:00:00 Michael Mcdowell some sad news. this past spring, Julie Cope Hilden passed away. she was just 49. she was my friend. she was my mentor. and more than that, she was a tireless advocate for the defenseless: animal rights, First Amendment, and the experiences of writers in an uncaring world. at this stage of my life, as I encounter peers who are just starting their literary careers, the promise of a bright future for my friends enlivens my day. but the premature death of one of the shiniest stars in the artist constellation reminds me of the mortality we all share, and how the day will inevitably arrive when more of these shining points of light will flicker out. The Bad Daughter is Hilden's debut work. it captures, in its memoir format, Hilden's tortuous relationship with her mother, who was suffering from dementia related to early-onset Alzheimer's. as a confession, it took courage in every page. moreover, the book lends truth to the old adage, "there's at least one book in every person." Bad Daughter can't help but be obsessed with its topic. and the betrayals committed in the shadow of the first, primary relationship are all there as promised by the book's back cover ad copy. if you have the time, take a chance on a small (200+ page) book. with a good ear for prose, Bad Daughter displays a professional terseness and thus moves quickly to relate the passage of years. it's worth a look.

Review # 2 was written on 2010-10-29 00:00:00 Demarco Tiger As you could infer also from its subtitle, "Betrayal and Confession", this memoir is not cheery. It's not long. Though competently written, it has a lot of flatly delivered factual reporting and little lyricism. The betrayal is by both mother and daughter, early and late. The daughter's betrayal seems almost minor: busy, emotionally estranged daughter does not visit Mom in nursing home great distance away til almost the last moment of Mom's final two years of life. The narcissistic mother's seems major: did not adequately nurture and support child. Maybe one of the book's purposes, which is achieved without the author ever mentioning it, is to convince readers both betrayals are entirely forgivable. Much clearer is the author's hope her "confession" will allay and resolve her feelings of guilt and unhappiness.