Saturday's Child

“Devilishly sharp… a masterful balance of psychological excavation and sumptuous description.” —Kirkus Reviews An only child, Deborah Burns grew up in prim 1950s America in the shadow of her beautiful, unconventional, rule-breaking mother, Dorothy—a red-haired beauty who looked like Rita Hayworth and skirted norms with a style and flair that made her the darling of men and women alike. Married to the son of a renowned Italian family with ties to the underworld, Dorothy fervently eschewed motherhood and domesticity, turning Deborah over to her spinster aunts to raise while she was the star of a vibrant social life. As a child, Deborah revered her charismatic mother, but Dorothy was a woman full of secrets with a troubled past—a mistress of illusion whose love seemed just out of her daughter’s grasp. In vivid, lyrical prose, Saturday’s Child tells the story of Deborah’s eccentric upbringing and her quest in midlife, long after her parents’ death, to uncover the truth about her mother and their complex relationship. No longer under the spell of her maternal goddess, but still caught in a wrenching cycle of love and longing, Deborah must finally confront the reality of her mother’s legacy—and finally claim her own. ” —Lisa Anselmo, author of My (Part-Time) Paris Life: How Running Away Brought Me Home “A universal tale of family and the quest for belonging; of reconciling the secrets we keep with the desire for truth; and of discovering that the unconditional love we all crave from others can ultimately be found inside ourselves.” —Holly C. Corbett, author of The Lost Girls “Mesmerizing. A must-read for any daughter who's ever tried to figure out where her mother ends and she begins.” —Lynnda Pollio, author of Trusting the Currents “A beautifully written love letter to a fascinating mother. I was immediately drawn in by both the prose and the mysteries at the heart of this unique mother-daughter relationship.” —Andrea Jarrell, author of National Book Critics Circle Award-nominee I'm the One Who Got Away “Riveting and affecting; timeless and timely—a stunning debut.” —Bethany Ball, author of What to Do About the Solomons “A poignant, candid exploration of the bond between mother and daughter. In allowing herself to see her mother as a real person, flaws and all, Burns not only sets herself free—she shows the rest of us how to do the same.” —Gayle Brandeis, author of The Art of Misdiagnosis: Surviving My Mother’s Suicide “Deborah Burns fearlessly reveals the hidden truths of a compelling and challenging mother-daughter relationship. Vividly written and thoroughly rewarding!” —Barbara Novack, Writer-in-Residence, Molloy College, and author of Pulitzer Prize–nominated J.W. Valentine “In this captivating memoir, the relationship between an unconventional and fiercely independent mother and the daughter who idolized her is revealed in all its complexity. A story of identity, self-discovery, and forgiveness.” —Jennifer Kitses, author of Small Hours “A heartfelt tale of love, honor, and becoming ... wise and wonderful.” —Agapi Stassinopolous, author of Wake Up to the Joy of You