You Were Always Mom's Favorite!

September 1, 2009
The author of Youre Wearing THAT? (2006) turns her piercing gaze on the complex relationships between sisters in her latest offering. As the youngest of three sisters, Tannen has firsthand knowledge of how sisters communicate with each other, and in this analysis she uses examples from her own life as well as commentary from numerous sets of sisters. Women who have sisters define themselves by how alike or, more often, how different they are, Tannen notes, while showing how labels like the smart one and the pretty one can be limiting and sometimes damaging. No matter how supportive sisters may be of each other, there is always an undercurrent of competition that runs between them, often for parental love and support. You were always the favorite! is a refrain often heard when sisters compare how theyve been treated by their parents, and what their parents have done for them. Tannens involving study will especially appeal to women who have sisters, many of whom will recognize themselves in the women Tannen interviewed for the book(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)