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Big Books & Bold Ideas with Kerri Miller
Kerri Miller and Kelly Gordon

‘Grown Women’ tackles the complicated wounds in mother-daughter relationships

Sarai Johnson, author of 'Grown Women.'
Sarai Johnson's debut novel, "Grown Women," follows four generations of Black women as they grapple with the complexity inherent in mother-daughter relationships.
Photo by Laura Metzler Photography | Cover courtesy of Harper Collins

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Debut novelist Sarai Johnson created four generations of Black mothers and daughters to tackle the questions that came up in her own life: What does forgiveness look like? Can cycles of trauma be broken? Can a daughter truly leave her mother’s mistakes in the past?

“Grown Women” expertly probes for answers via the lives of Evelyn, Charlotte, Corinna and Camille. Resentment lingers like a cancer, even as each generation of women struggles to not repeat mistakes that wound. Is it possible for them to find a modicum of forgiveness? Or will the cycles of neglect, half-lies and emotional distance repeat?

This week on Big Books and Bold Ideas, Johnson joined host Kerri Miller for a vulnerable conversation about mothers and daughters and trying your best, even when your best isn’t enough.

Guest:

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