Ashley Cleveland

Learning Burney A Map Of My Mother And Me Ashley Cleveland

"Mother. Some get the warm curve of the 'mo, some get the pointy end of the er'. I got the whole word..."

Learning Burney is a series of stories in essay form that focus on the relationship of a daughter and her mother. The book examines the similarities and contrasts, the generational differences, the wounds and the gifts that emerge in a narrative that is hilarious, hair-raising and deeply moving. Some of the explored themes are:

Christian Faith

Identity

Alcoholism Recovery

Body Image

Culture

Family

In reference to climbing the family tree in its fullness the author writes:

"I began to close the emotional distance, feeling grateful for each branch that shaped me-and shapes me still."