Motherland a memoir of love, loathing, and longing by Elissa Altman (audiobook on Overdrive)

    If the word memoir were not on the front and you just began reading this book, you might not realize it is not a true story but instead a very readable novel.  It was great!
      Elissa has been married to her wife for twenty years and they are happily settled in Connecticut.  There she finds peace.  One big reason for that is she is away from Manhattan where  Rita, her mother, lives.
     Rita was once a singer on a television show.  That is the part of her life with which she still identify.  Clothing, make-up and her singing 'career' are Rita's obsessions.  Having a daughter who is not so interested in make-up or clothing was very hard on Rita.
      Elissa's childhood was rocky.  She is keeping her life stable now with wine and the distance from Rita.  But they are still mother and daughter and Elissa does what is needed for her mom.
      From the description of the book on Amazon -
"...it is an exploration of what it means to escape from the shackles of the past only to have to face then all over again. "