Where to find my latest book reviews Just dropping in with a little reminder that I have moved all my writing, including book reviews, to my Substack, Bad Mothers. Recent book reviews there include: If you like these reviews, I hope you’ll subscribe! Book reviews are always free to read, while some of my otherContinue reading “New Book Reviews”
Author Archives: MC
Bad Mothers: Now on Substack
I’m excited to announce that I am now on Substack, writing about Bad Mothers. Those of you who keep up with my book blogging know that this is the topic I cover most: mothers who don’t want to be mothers, childless women who buck the norm, mothers who smother, mothers who don’t, mothers who workContinue reading “Bad Mothers: Now on Substack”
Mothercare
By Lynne TIllman, 2023 This autobiographical essay — at 150 pages — tells the story of Lynne’s experience caring her for ageing and ill mother for several years. The subhead, “On Ambivalence and Obligation” indicates that the essay will explore those feelings in relation to caring for her mother, but I didn’t find that toContinue reading “Mothercare”
Nightbitch
By Rachel Yoder, 2021 Nightbitch is a married woman and mother to a toddler. Her husband works out of town and is gone most of the week, and she gave up her work in the arts to be home with her son. The novel is told in the third person, almost like folklore: a motherContinue reading “Nightbitch”
Tom Lake
By Ann Patchett, 2023 This novel is set in the midst of the pandemic, on a cherry orchard in Michigan. The narrator Lara is one of many people (myself included) who sort of enjoyed some of the repercussions of the pandemic: simpler days and uninterrupted time with family. Things are a bit difficult for themContinue reading “Tom Lake”
These Precious Days
Ann Patchett, 2021 I’m a bit obsessed with Ann Patchett. I’ve read nearly all of her novels and her two essay collections, and studied The Patron Saint of Liars for my doctoral thesis. Patchett does not have any children and has not hidden the fact that she’s never wanted children, however I haven’t seen anyContinue reading “These Precious Days”
Let Me Tell You What I Mean
Joan Didion, 2021 (Foreword by Hilton Als) I didn’t know Joan Didion’s work until I got to college, which is probably quite late for a writer and student of literature. Didion is widely-praised for her reporting, essays and fiction. I was taught Slouching Towards Bethlehem, and went on to read most of her nonfiction andContinue reading “Let Me Tell You What I Mean”
Barbie
2023, Directed by Greta Gerwig It wasn’t until Ruby Warrington (author of Women Without Kids) posted on Instagram about Barbie being a child-free icon that this film even caught my eye. And then it seemed it was absolutely everywhere I looked. [SPOILERS AHEAD] I loved Barbie as a kid. I had a friend a fewContinue reading “Barbie”
The Whispers
Ashley Audrian, 2023 I am a big fan of Audrain’s first novel, The Push, so I was eager to read this one and pleased that it has what I now consider to be Audrain’s signature twist on writing motherhood: the flawed mother. In The Push, the narrator had trouble connecting with her first child, andContinue reading “The Whispers”
Demon Copperhead
Barbara Kingsolver, 2022 I’ve been telling everyone to read this book. It is easily in the top five books I’ve ever read, and that rating is based almost entirely on the remarkable voice. The narrator is Damon, aka Demon Copperhead, who lives in Lee County, southern Appalachia. He is poor and desperate a lot ofContinue reading “Demon Copperhead”
Monica Cardenas 