What do readers think of Have Mother, Will Travel by Claire & Mia Fontaine? Write your own review.

Continuing their joint memoir, Come Back, Claire and Mia travel to Asia with a scavenger hunt and then spend time in Avignon and Budapest, visiting old memories for both of them. Told in two voices this is a study of the connections between mothers and daughters. As they visit and talk about places together and their feelings, the reader learns why they react to events as they do. Humor and pathos share space in the book as Mia swims with elephants and Claire rides camels. It is when they travel to France that they begin to understand each other better and give each other the space and the support that they each need. This is a very moving account of their relationship as well as a guide for other mothers and daughters facing questions of their own.

This book takes work. Both mother and daughter spend time in self reflection and and in analysis of their relationship with each other. The world is their setting--apparently you need to take a break from life in order to be able to figure it out...what a luxury! I enjoyed this book much more when Claire and Mia got to Avignon. It was then that I thought the real work of the book began--they were better able to understand themselves and each other. It gave me insight into my relationship with my mother--I am nothing like either of them as a person, but I believe that we all need to do the emotional work that they began during their odyssey. I am really glad that I read this book.

This is a beautifully written book. Interesting in that it is the same experience written by completely different views. Mother and daughter go on a 6 month trip in many foreign countries together and each write their impressions of events that occur. And in doing so realize that they really like each other and become very good friends. An achievement in itself because sometimes it is difficult to do especially between Mothers and Daughters. It is written by two accomplished writers and is very well done. I really enjoyed it very much.

Have Mother Will Travel is a great book for discussion. It would be perfect for Mother-Daughter Book Clubs. Claire and Mia Fontaine share their enviable adventures as they travel the world. Their relationship matures as they discover each other more fully. They peel back many years of challenges and arrive at a new awareness and appreciation of what is truly important. This book is a travelogue with much to reflect about our own mother and daughters. The visits to so many places was such fun. Bejing brought back memories I had with my son.

There were several things that drew me to this book; first my own mother is slipping away from me with a dreadful disease - Alzheimers. I am trying to make "peace" with the fact that there are so many things we were never able to do and now she doesn't even know who I am. I enjoyed this book on so many levels; the exploration of the mother/daughter relationship, making peace with one another despite many differences which existed between them, the clear descriptions of destination and experiences (hilarious at times- elephant eats passport) & as I thoroughly enjoy travel and never had the opportunity with my own mother to travel very much in US let alone to international destinations.
I think this book would be interesting to anyone who is a daughter or a mother as well as anyone who has an interest in relationships and travel. Thank you for the opportunity to review this book. It was a good one. In fact, I ordered Mia's memoir "Come Back" as I enjoyed this read so much! Thank you!

I started out feeling this book was THE best book I’d read all year, but had to drop down from a 5 to a 4 rating. It is really two books in one. The first part about the scavenger hunt was fantastic! Loved the descriptions of their travels; they saw places I’ll never get to see anyone would love this part.

Then it ended without ever telling us how they finished up that part of the story (I still wonder how many points they earned). The second part was extremely introspective. At times I almost felt like I was intruding on someone’s diary, it was a bit uncomfortable, like eavesdropping.

After awhile I wanted to edit out the word 'authentic.' There was too much personal information, especially on Claire’s part. I did love reading about mother/daughter relationships and this book does make you think a lot about your own life and decisions. The dual narrative flowed well and it was easy to follow.

I think it would make for TERRIFIC book club discussions, and am definitely recommending it to friends. Even if you do not have children it is an interesting, thought provoking book, just needed a little more editing.

Have Mother will Travel is a thoroughly enjoyable read, especially as a mother of an adult daughter myself. I found myself smiling as this mother daughter team negotiated through their travels and their relationship. The writing felt true and honest.

I choose this book because I have two grown daughters and I do love to travel. However, I never expected it to have such wisdom. Claire and Mia learn so much about themselves and each other that it was very inspiring.