Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

If your mother likes going back to good old books, give her this simple and beautifully poignant story for a re-read that resonates with the present times more than ever. It tells the story of a mother and her four young daughters, and their indomitable strength through a terrible family crisis as a result of war. A sudden telegram casts a cloud of uncertainty over the family and the daughters’ future, yet they remain patient and become each other’s strength throughout the difficult times of their growing-up years.

The Quality of Silence by Rosamund Lupton

Set in the freezing land of Alaska, this story of a woman’s search for her husband along with her daughter is perfect for your mystery or thriller loving mom. Ruby has a hearing impairment, yet braves through the mission of finding her father and in the process reinstates her bond with her mother. Their bond grows stronger as the mother begins to understand her daughter better through their attempt to communicate with each other.

Where’D You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

For the mom who enjoys fun reads, this amusing and hilariously entertaining book of a daughter’s love for her mother is going to cheer her up in these gloomy times. The unpredictable and quirky character of Bernadette Fox goes missing after a mishap, right before a family trip. Her daughter attempts to find her by putting together scattered clues, and in the process unravels a lot of hidden truths that they must come to terms with as a family.

Mom & Me & Mom by Maya Angelou

Angelou’s last autobiographical book is a moving account of her relationship with her mother, and could be an interesting read for moms who are into memoirs. Touching upon the distance that grew between them both since her childhood, the issues of abandonment, struggles of her childhood and pain, Angelou recounts her growing-up years in the absence of her mother. It is a story of pain and healing, and finally after a long way in life the two reunite and a mutual understanding of love and respect is born between them.

Letters of Note: Mothers by Shaun Usher

The book consists of a compilation of letters that reveals various aspects of the enigmatic mother-child relationship through the correspondences that are written by or to moms. It could be an engaging and unusual read for your mom. From being inspirational and emotional to confessional and fun, it consists of letters of Sylvia Plath, George Bernard Shaw, Louisa May Alcott among notable others.

Listen to Your Mother by Ann Imig

This book, a collection of personal stories by various bestselling authors of people belonging to diverse backgrounds, celebrates motherhood and would be a perfect gift for any mother to perhaps take a walk down memory lane or find comfort in shared experiences. The book that covers all kinds of parenting experiences to having no experience of parenting too, is a compelling,entertaining and insightful read that expresses candidly the bliss and complexities of motherhood in its stories.

Why Don’t You Write My Eulogy Now So I Can Correct It?: A Mother’s Suggestions by Patricia Marx

If your mother is recently inculcating the habit of reading or loves easy reads, this humorous illustrated book could be an enjoyable read for her. Marx writes about her relationship with her mother right from her childhood and includes sassy and witty one-liner wisdom nuggets from her mother. Accompanied by colourful illustrations by the acclaimed cartoonist Roz Chast, this is an engaging read.

Slay like a Mother by Katherine Wintsch

Motherhood can be quite a bumpy ride at times filled with self-doubt, guilt and other underwhelming thoughts and experiences. The stories in the book share the experiences of today’s moms and their dilemmas. It approaches motherhood through a human perspective and shares stories of courage and support, advising and encouraging moms to live a happy and confident life of their choice. Add this self-help book of inspiration to your mom’s collection for a pleasant surprise.

She is Fierce by Ana Sampson

If your mom loves reading poetry, this anthology of poems by women poets of various forms — spoken word, written, classic, modern or the emerging poets from the yesteryears to the contemporary voices — can be a valued addition to her bookshelf. Segregated into various interesting sections according to themes, the book features powerful female voices like Maya Angelou, Margaret Atwood, Nikita Gill, Emily Dickinson among others.

The Matriarch by Susan Page

For moms who love historical and political non-fiction, this powerful biography of the former US First Lady Barbara Bush could completely keep them engrossed in this quarantine. A well-balanced account of her private and public life, the book touches upon issues of body shaming she faced as a child, the turmoil of her personal life and dealing with loss and depression. It gives us an insight into her role as the first lady to her President husband and later as a mother to her President son. The book brings to light much of her unrecognised contribution to the US political and social scenario.

Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters

If your mom is a voracious reader looking forward to new releases, this debut fiction that unscathingly and fearlessly explores the depths and corners of womanhood could be her new read. Developing around the concepts of gender preference, sexual desire, motherhood, love and loss, the unique plot remarkably tells the story of a relationship triangle between three people of varied genders and raises a thought on queer parenting.

At Home in the World by Tsh Oxenreider

If your mom is a traveller soul and is missing travelling now, give her a chance to escape through the pages of this travel memoir. Travelling with kids for months, exploring new places is not a cakewalk for any mom. However, harbouring a strong desire to fulfill their travel aspirations, this wanderlust family sets out to explore the world, living it through good times and bad times.