A question I always ask people, no matter how little or well I know them, is: what book are you reading at the moment? It’s an exciting question with an infinite possibility of answers. I like to think that I’ve read quite a lot of books, but in asking such a question I’m almost always presented with a title that I not only have never read but have never even heard of. A little embarrassing really, for someone who runs a column all about books. Soon, I’m in a back and forth of plots, theories, characters, themes and related books. Usually by the end, my reading list has doubled in size and my mind is trying to figure out how to defy the laws of time so that I am able to read 68 books by the end of the year only five weeks away, which equates to two books a day. I would subsequently have to quit my job, not sleep, eat only tinned food and take only two-minute showers (the water-saving shower time being four minutes, so I’d be doing the Earth, and my direct debit, a massive favour). Anyway, this is beside the point. If, like some people I’ve asked, you’re at a loss for what book to read, I’ve curated a list of six books – in relation to our latest issue MOTHER – so that you’ll always have six different answers for when someone inevitably asks you: what book are you reading at the moment?
A Woman’s Story by Annie Ernaux
A powerful and evocative exploration of what it means to be a woman, a mother and a daughter, A Woman’s Story is a deeply introspective and intimate account of the life, thoughts and feelings of Ernaux’ mother.
The Baby on the Fire Escape: Creativity, Motherhood, and the Mind-Baby Problem by Julie Phillips
Phillip’s non-fiction novel combines personal anecdotes, interviews, and scholarly research to address the demands of motherhood with the creative pursuits and passions of a woman’s life. It is a reflection on a mother’s longing to express her creativity while caring for a family.
A Life’s Work: On Becoming a Mother by Rachel Cusk
A Life’s Work: On Becoming a Mother is a candid and introspective work of non-fiction in which Cusk explores the transformation that occurs when a woman becomes a mother. Examining her own sense of identity, Cusk’s prose is both reflective and incisive, offering a nuanced examination of the intersection between selfhood and motherhood.
Mother Nature Burns edited by Rebecca Rijsdijk
Mother Nature Burns is a poetry anthology published by Sunday Mornings at the River and featuring a chorus of voices that come together to weave a tapestry of mourning for Mother Earth. Each poet explores the profound impact climate change has on our lives and the planet we call home from their own unique perspective.
Mom & Me & Mom by Maya Angelou
Delving into themes of forgiveness and personal growth, Maya Angelou’s highly celebrated seventh autobiography becomes a testament to the enduring power of a mother’s love.
Minor Detail by Adania Shibli
Shibli’s writing features poetic and vivid descriptions as well as deep meditations on the lasting effects of historical violence and the ways in which personal and collective memories are shaped by traumatic events. This novel challenges its reader to consider the legacy of past injustices and the ongoing struggle for justice and recognition from the perspective of a Palestinian experience.
As featured in SLEEK 79 – MOTHER. Available in digital and print here.