READERS GUIDE

Questions and Topics for Discussion

1. In Her Mother’s Daughter, Linda Carroll discusses her childhood as an adopted child. How does Linda’s identity as the “adopted daughter” influence her relationship with Louella? Does this identity change during Linda’s adulthood?

2. Linda’s parents hire Nellie to help take care of her. What was Linda’s initial reaction to Nellie? What kind of relationship developed between them? What effect did Nellie’s care have on Linda’s development as a person?

3. Linda fantasizes about her biological mother throughout her life and yet she does not actively search for her. What do you think stops Linda from looking for her, especially after Louella dies? What event served as the catalyst for Linda to finally find Paula? How was this reunion portrayed in the book, and how did their relationship change as they got to know one another? Why might it have changed?

4. Linda’s childhood was characterized by a tension between her Catholic upbringing and her curiosity about her sexuality. How does Linda reconcile her traditional values with the desire to express her sexuality? How might Linda’s experiences with Jack have affected her later sexual encounters?

5. Linda attends a number of Catholic Schools. Describe her experience at the Dominican convent. How does her time there help form her views on religion and spirituality?

6. Linda’s forgiving character is evident throughout the book, notably in her compassion for her abusive adoptive father, Jack, and her unconditional embrace of her biological mother, Paula. What experiences in Linda’s life instilled in her this capacity for forgiveness?

7. Linda valued her relationships with women. She maintained a strong connection with her childhood friends. What role does Judy Carroll play in Linda’s childhood and adulthood?

8. Her Mother’s Daughter is both a memoir and a reflection of the experience of many women who came of age during the 1960s. How did the culture of Haight-Ashbury influence Linda’s choices in her early adulthood?

9. Does the book’s exploration of the relationships between mothers and daughters touch any universal themes concerning mothers and daughters?

10. Why does Linda refer to Courtney as her first love and a “wise soul”? Also, why is Linda’s relationship with Courtney so different from those with her other daughters?

11. Why did Linda and her family move to New Zealand, and how did this move affect Courtney, Joshua, and Linda’s marriage to Mark?

12. Linda writes to a great extent about her various marriages. Why do you think her marriage to Tim has lasted seventeen years when her others were stormy and short?

13. Linda writes about Courtney’s rise to stardom. How has Courtney’s fame shaped her adult relationship with Linda?

14. What experiences in Linda’s life encouraged her to pursue a career as a therapist?