Mamma Mia!
By Jules, Amali, and Bex
♬ Mamma Mia, Here We Go Again! ♬ Mamma Who Bore Me! ♬ Mamma, Oooooh! ♬
I love books about motherhood. I love books about mothers who are having a rough go, who are happy they made the decision to have a child, and the ones questioning if they want a part of any of it at all. As a mother myself (to my cat), I can attest that it is in fact not all sunshine and roses, but also not always gloop and glop! I wanted to cover all the bases of motherhood: the highs, lows, gross-ness, loves, and horrors. I also got some friends to help me out. Couldn’t have done it without them!
This is my second blog post about moms, the first one was a list of books that make you want to call her. This one is a list of books that will make you want to call her to either thank her for her service or apologize for everything. Enjoy!
– Jules
Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova
Starting with something horrific and touching, Monstrilio is the story of Magos, a mother who has lost her 11 year old son, Santiago. In her grief, she decides to nurture a piece of his lung that she removed after his death until it comes alive, becoming a little Monstrilio, hungry for flesh. With time, this Monstrilio begins to look more and more like Santiago, but isn’t quite exactly like his old self. What is this being? And is this enough to fill the hole in Magos’ heart? This is an incredible depiction of grief, healing, and coping mechanisms that sometimes hurt us more than help us. Plus, look at that lil’ guy on the cover! He’s so cute! <3
– Jules
Hot Milk by Deborah Levy
This is the book that inspired me to make the banner for this post! It’s giving Mamma Mia, but make it magical realism, oh so surreal, and also in Spain so… actually, not like Mamma Mia at all.
Sofia is a 25 year old anthropologist whose mother has some mysterious illness that is both perplexing and… maybe more than just physical? The two travel to Spain (not Greece, but still beachy and beautiful!) to see a famous specialist who may provide the cure, but his methods are untraditional. It’s up to Sofia to connect the dots and find the true origin of her mother’s illness. A gorgeous tale about mother-daughter relationships, chronic illness, and how the body keeps the score, as it were.
– Jules
Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth
Okay, so this is a tricky one. Abby and her husband Ralph are married and move in with Ralph’s mother, Laura. Abby doesn’t have a great relationship with Laura, but is striving to have one while trying to become a mother herself. Laura’s not having it. She’s a monster! A hellish woman. Monster-in-law Laura takes her own life (out of spite?) and begins to haunt the couple, but specifically Abby. I’m not taking Laura’s side, I’m saying at least hear her out!!!
– Jules
Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder
Following the plight of a stay-at-home mom who believes she's turning into a dog, this novel is for all the mothers out there who just want a night to cut loose on the town and howl at the moon. Rachel Yoder creates a vivid portrait of the feral joys and magic of motherhood, right alongside the exhaustion and the mundanity. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will make you snarl and sneer!
– Amali
Skye Falling by Mia McKenzie
When Skye was 26 she was broke and tired (she’s just like me fr) so she decided to donate her eggs as a means of making money. She didn’t think anything of it ‘cause the money was good! So when 12 years later a young little someone tracks her down and tells her that she’s her biological mother, Skye is all like “…?!” What a fun and unexpected surprise! This is a really touching story of someone who is still coming to terms with herself, rough around the edges and all, who is not only trying to get to know herself, but someone who shares half her DNA. A super special story.
– Jules
My Work by Olga Ravn
I’m not sure if Ravn initially took both the title from Kate Bush, but both are about motherhood, and I love them equally. This is a book about the many forms of creation- from art to thought to human life. Is it possible to be a mother and an art monster? Is it possible to mother yourself into monstrosity? Is it possible to know your own hand? This book is a masterpiece, much like life.
– Bex
The Nursery by Szilvia Molnar
The Nursery is a thrilling, visceral, and utterly unique story of a new mother, whose psyche slowly unravels as she tries to transition into motherhood and care for her baby within the confines of her apartment. Reading this book is almost a physical experience—it haunts, it lingers, it pulls at every part of your body—it dives headfirst into complexities of motherly love and the suffering that is ingrained within.
– Amali
