Top Ten Tuesday – Memorable Mothers

Happy Tuesday, reader friends. I’ve gone rogue for Top Ten Tuesday today. This week’s topic with That Artsy Reader Girl is Books I disliked/hated but am really glad I read. I have a grant total of ONE book on that list: Vanity Fair. It probably could have been half of its 800+ pages and still told the same story (which was oddly unsatisfying in the end anyway), but I can say I stuck it out and made it to the end—for what it’s worth.

But I’m not sure one book qualifies as a list, so I put my thinking cap on. And adjusted it. And took it off and checked that I had actually grabbed my thinking cap (because it wasn’t working very well). And put it back on. And pulled it on a little tighter. And stared at my computer screen. And FINALLY hit on Mother’s Day as my inspiration for this week’s post. (Are you feeling the brain strain, folks?!)

So, here you have my rogue Top Ten Tuesday topic in honour of Mother’s Day: Memorable Mothers.

Nancy Porter (Porter Family series by Becky Wade)

Who can forget the woman who tells each of her prospective children-in-law, “Don’t tell the others, but (insert relevant child) is my favourite“?

Ma Mitchell (Mitchell’s Crossroads series by Pepper Basham)

Everyone needs a Ma Mitchell in their life—she’s full of motherly wisdom and grace, and she cooks like a dream. <3

Natalie Abbott (The Hidden Side by Heidi Chiavaroli)

I’m reading this story right now, and although I’m not going to spoil it by telling you why she’s a memorable mother, I can promise you, you’ll be unable to forget her story and it will choke you. Brace yourself!

Mrs Bennet (Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen)

How can you talk memorable mothers without mentioning a mother who’s memorable for all the wrong reasons!

Clare Inglesby (Many Sparrows by Lori Benton)

Lori Benton’s books are unforgettable regardless of who they feature, but Clare Inglesby’s story strikes at every mother’s heart when her young son is taken by Shawnees and adopted as one of their own. One of my favourite books this year!

Jen Covington (No One Ever Asked by Katie Ganshert)

There are really two memorable mothers in this novel, but I’ll mention Jen Covington here, whose adoption happily-ever-after is turning out to be much more difficult than she imagined.

Heidi Elliott (Better Together by Kimberly Stuart)

It takes a brave author to combine light-hearted writing with a subject like miscarriage, but Kimberly Stuart does it well.

Waverly and Charlie Talbot (Becoming the Talbot Sisters by Rachel Linden)

Waverly wants nothing more than to be a mother, and her twin sister makes the selfless offer to be a surrogate. It’s a story that takes them on a journey far beyond surrogacy, but motherhood is definitely at the heart of their journey.

Mrs. Hannah Thornton (North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell)

Who could forget the formidable Mrs. Thornton and her scorn of Miss Margaret Hale!

Marilla Cuthbert (Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery)

Last, but definitely not least, I can’t go past Marilla Cuthbert. She may not have ever intended to adopt a girl, let alone one with such fanciful notions, but Anne Shirley won her heart every bit as much as she’s won readers’ hearts for more than 100 years. “You do beat all, Anne.” <3

I’d love to hear about a memorable mother you’ve met in the pages of a book!