A Mother One
Dvora Silverstein’s semi-autobiographical novel tells the story of a girl whose parents separated when she was a baby. The mother, an unhappy Polish-Jewish immigrant, becomes increasingly neurotic and finally sends the child to an orphanage. Zippora’s descriptions of life in the orphanage are full of subtle humor and childish logic, especially as regards her father, who visits her occasionally. Eventually Zippora returns to live with her mother in a small apartment surrounded by eccentric neighbors. Silverstein brings her heroine to the stage when she can confront her pain and anger. This evocative memoir arouses the reader’s identification and sympathy.
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“ Few people can write their childhood memoirs in an interesting way, much less make us identify... There is a real literary talent here, expressed in the ability to combine delicate and rare lyricism with penetrating insights.”
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“ Silverstein's story is altogether different from the usual crop of stories about childhood and growing up.”