Hanna's Daughters by Marianne Fredriksson

I can't believe that after I finished reading a piece of feminist literature, I found myself with a desperate desire to bake, sew, and have babies. This is not the way it's supposed to work. I read feminist literature so that I can feel empowered, or at the very least, smart. But Fredriksson tricks you - she introduces you to a modern character with whom you can identify, then reveals how all that empowerment has led to no more happiness.

Anna may not feel trapped in an unpleasant marriage, and she knows that babies aren't all she does, but at least her mother and grandmother knew what was expected of them. They knew what they were supposed to do, and they overcame life's injustices with a strength I can only envy. These fictional women reminded me that sometimes life is really quite simple, after all.

I have read other novels which followed generations, mother to daughter, and I have read other novels which explore relationships between mother and daughter, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Hanna's Daughters manages to distinguish itself in several ways. First, the setting is one with which I'm not familiar. The author incorporates both rural and urban Sweden throughout the 20th century. Second, she manages to interweave stories using multiple voices and without prejudice. Third, she somehow manages to end it all satisfactorily, a feat uncommon among even the best authors.

If this style of literature interests you, Hanna's Daughters is a lovely read. Another novel you may want to consider is Homestead by Rosina Lippi. I read this book several years ago and have been haunted by it ever since. Both are worth your time.