Thank you for this list! I look forward to reading the upcoming books ❤️ I want to add ESSENTIAL LABOR by Angels Garbes to the list. It’s re-shaped my mothering.
My favourite novel about motherhood is Celia Fremlin's The Hours Before Dawn (https://uk.bookshop.org/a/20/9780571338122) - it's a psychological domestic thriller from the 50's but has some of the best writing about newborns I've read.
Here's my favourite line:
'odd that she should be staring thus, with something near to worship, at her tormentor of so many nights'.
This book also includes the best description of a lovely squishy baby: 'that texture which in a few months would be gone forever, gone with the baby roundness of his cheeks and the plump, enchanting folds of his thighs'. I used #enchanting folds on so many of photographs of my baby after reading that.
I am reading about Soldier Sailor everywhere - and no doubt I'll be seeing it everywhere for the next wee while! Yes it's working; it's on my "to buy" list. Enjoyed reading about a lot of the additional books mentioned too - some familiar, some not. Thank you!
I also loved that New Yorker article - difficult to read but so worth it, and Rachel Aviv is so talented. I highly recommend her book (STRANGERS TO OURSELVES) if you haven’t read it!
When I became a new mother, I sought solace in books to try and understand what could not be understood. I still do! Really appreciate you sharing your list with us.
The two favourite books on motherhood that spring to mind for me are: 1) The Best, Most Awful Job: Twenty Writers Talk Honestly About Motherhood. Edited by Katherine May. 2) After The Storm by Emma Jane Unsworth.
Oh and I really liked What Have I Done by Laura Dockrill, oh and (M)otherhood: On the Choices of Being a Woman by Pragya Agarwal - fabulous!!
Yes Pragya’s is in there! Just a little note at the end as ran out of time, lol. LOVE EJA’s too, I sort of see that as more as something about PND but I found it so moving, especially when I was experiencing PND
Hey Pandora! Thanks for this list. I had mostly avoided other memoirs on motherhood while writing my own but may be ready, finally, to take tentative steps back into the breach... Starting with Cusk, I think.
I am feeling FULL of complicated mothervibes this morning, I'll tell you. Wrote a note about why I don't want my 11yo daughter to return home this afternoon after a week away. The push/pull. The impact of tech on young minds as well as relationships. Argh, it's hellish and amazing, this journey we're on.
I’d recommend ‘Still Born’ by Guadalupe Nettel - it’s a book on motherhood AND it’s translated (I saw in a more recent post you wanted more translated fic!!)
This year’s theme for my local bookclub was “motherhood and madness,” and I’m feeling v kismet-y about A Life’s Work being the kickoff now (it’s my go to for newish moms, but prepartums get Operating Manual). Would add The Argonauts—two crossings of different rubicons, simultaneously (and the passages are blunt, achey, abstracted, entwined in meta philosophy and also charged, animalistic. Just a jolt to read at any time, but especially when reflecting on motherhood). Also The Last Samurai (though try as I haphazardly have to adopt Sybilla’s reading programme, my 5 and 3y/o are still instigator on being read to, in one language).
Thank you so much for the Soldier, Sailor recommendation. Read it in one go - breathtaking and took me right back to the darkest moments of the early days of parenthood
Ooooh TOUGH CALL! Honestly I adore them both. Intimacies perhaps? As you can dip in and out of the stories so very user friendly if you don’t read tons every night
Have spotted an extremely irritating typo: that should read HILMA af Klint!
Thank you for this list! I look forward to reading the upcoming books ❤️ I want to add ESSENTIAL LABOR by Angels Garbes to the list. It’s re-shaped my mothering.
Ooh sounds fab thank you - great title
My favourite novel about motherhood is Celia Fremlin's The Hours Before Dawn (https://uk.bookshop.org/a/20/9780571338122) - it's a psychological domestic thriller from the 50's but has some of the best writing about newborns I've read.
Here's my favourite line:
'odd that she should be staring thus, with something near to worship, at her tormentor of so many nights'.
This book also includes the best description of a lovely squishy baby: 'that texture which in a few months would be gone forever, gone with the baby roundness of his cheeks and the plump, enchanting folds of his thighs'. I used #enchanting folds on so many of photographs of my baby after reading that.
Enchanting folds!
I was surprised Maggie Nelson’s The Argonauts wasn’t on your list!
Haven’t read it! It’s only books I’ve read. Will look into it
I am reading about Soldier Sailor everywhere - and no doubt I'll be seeing it everywhere for the next wee while! Yes it's working; it's on my "to buy" list. Enjoyed reading about a lot of the additional books mentioned too - some familiar, some not. Thank you!
Me at the start of reading this: “what did you just call me??!!”
Me after reading: “ahh yes! I get it”.
So many great reccs and bits, thanks! Glad you could enjoy art for how it made you feel.
I have to recommend Spilt Milk by Amy Beashel, it explains the dichotomy of motherhood so poignantly and with fantastic heart and humour 💗
Thanks so much for the shoutout!! And for the extremely topical list of motherhood reads. Just ordered Soldier Sailor per your recco
I also loved that New Yorker article - difficult to read but so worth it, and Rachel Aviv is so talented. I highly recommend her book (STRANGERS TO OURSELVES) if you haven’t read it!
My copy arrived yesterday! I had no idea she'd written a book, but read some last night and engrossed so far
When I became a new mother, I sought solace in books to try and understand what could not be understood. I still do! Really appreciate you sharing your list with us.
The two favourite books on motherhood that spring to mind for me are: 1) The Best, Most Awful Job: Twenty Writers Talk Honestly About Motherhood. Edited by Katherine May. 2) After The Storm by Emma Jane Unsworth.
Oh and I really liked What Have I Done by Laura Dockrill, oh and (M)otherhood: On the Choices of Being a Woman by Pragya Agarwal - fabulous!!
Yes Pragya’s is in there! Just a little note at the end as ran out of time, lol. LOVE EJA’s too, I sort of see that as more as something about PND but I found it so moving, especially when I was experiencing PND
Hey Pandora! Thanks for this list. I had mostly avoided other memoirs on motherhood while writing my own but may be ready, finally, to take tentative steps back into the breach... Starting with Cusk, I think.
I am feeling FULL of complicated mothervibes this morning, I'll tell you. Wrote a note about why I don't want my 11yo daughter to return home this afternoon after a week away. The push/pull. The impact of tech on young minds as well as relationships. Argh, it's hellish and amazing, this journey we're on.
I’d recommend ‘Still Born’ by Guadalupe Nettel - it’s a book on motherhood AND it’s translated (I saw in a more recent post you wanted more translated fic!!)
This year’s theme for my local bookclub was “motherhood and madness,” and I’m feeling v kismet-y about A Life’s Work being the kickoff now (it’s my go to for newish moms, but prepartums get Operating Manual). Would add The Argonauts—two crossings of different rubicons, simultaneously (and the passages are blunt, achey, abstracted, entwined in meta philosophy and also charged, animalistic. Just a jolt to read at any time, but especially when reflecting on motherhood). Also The Last Samurai (though try as I haphazardly have to adopt Sybilla’s reading programme, my 5 and 3y/o are still instigator on being read to, in one language).
Thank you so much for the Soldier, Sailor recommendation. Read it in one go - breathtaking and took me right back to the darkest moments of the early days of parenthood
Soldier sailor or intimacies to start: what do you think?
Ooooh TOUGH CALL! Honestly I adore them both. Intimacies perhaps? As you can dip in and out of the stories so very user friendly if you don’t read tons every night
Pre ordered and read and loved all five book recs from a few months back, thank you! Naoise Dolan’s 👏