Navigating Motherhood

You might've caught on social media that I tackled 6 of the 16 titles on the long list for this year's Women’s Prize for Fiction. Honestly, not all of them captured my heart, which slowed my pace a bit. Excitingly, two books from the long list I loved, Soldier Sailor by Claire Kilroy and Brotherless Night by V.V. Ganeshananthan, not only caught my eye but also made the shortlist—yay!

As of now, I’ve devoured four of the six finalists and I’m on the hunt to check out at least one more from the library before the winner is announced—fingers crossed I get that "your hold has arrived" notification soon! Currently, I’m all in for Soldier Sailor by Claire Kilroy to win. Today, May 1, 2024, I'm calling it as my top pick to win the Women’s Prize for Fiction (announced June 13!)

I’m also currently winding my way through Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell, the 2020 winner. Wow. Just wow! Late to the party? Absolutely, but better late than never. Watch this space for a full review soon!

Having read, loved and reviewed past winners like Demon Copperhead and The Book of Form and Longings, I’ve decided to embark on a literary expedition to read ALL the past winners of the Women’s Prize. Whether I manage to squeeze some into this year or dedicate 2025 as a deep dive into the Women’s Prize archives, I’m geared up! Who’s with me? I've sketched out a rough reading plan but between you and me, juggling this list alongside the allure of new releases is a challenge—50 books already lined up for 2025, can you believe it?

Anyway, let’s get into it …

Just kidding! Before we really dive in, here’s a heads-up: this book, Soldier Sailor, delves into the essence of motherhood—the early days, the emotional whirlwinds, the raw and unfiltered experiences that tug at your heartstrings. It’s all laid bare. As someone whose youngest kids are 5 and 7, it’s been a minute since I navigated the newborn storm, yet this read stirred up a wave of emotions for me. There were moments I had to fight back tears.

If you’ve battled with postnatal depression or find the early chapters of parenthood a difficult subject, this book might touch some tender nerves. I have heard from child-free friends who found value and enjoyment in its pages, suggesting it might resonate even more with those who’ve walked the path of parenthood. Obviously, your call if you choose to read it.

Like with any story, if you see a piece of yourself in the characters and their journeys, it hits differently, reaching deep into places you might not expect.

If you haven't pieced it together yet, Claire Kilroy's book is a deep dive into the swirling, sometimes stormy seas of early motherhood. She crafts a narrative that’s as touching as it is profoundly insightful, painting a full spectrum of maternal experiences that mix the highs with the lows in a way that’s utterly relatable.

We meet a protagonist whose plunge into motherhood is nothing short of demanding yet incredibly transformative. This book doesn’t just touch on emotions—it envelops you in them, from the peaks of overwhelming love to the valleys where one's former self seems lost in the fog. Kilroy navigates through the internal tug-of-wars and the external pressures with such finesse, bringing the protagonist’s story vividly to life. Reading this during my own early days of motherhood might have left me in tears.

The writing? Absolutely stunning! This is not just a book; it's an emotional journey that goes deep.

I recently ran into a friend of mine while I was at the library and someone had recently returned Soldier Sailor and I handed it to her and said, “please read this!”

She paused, "Your recommendations tend to be so... heavy," she said, or words to that effect. I must’ve convinced her, as she added it to her pile of books. I explained to her why I love books like this so much, and I will do the same with you all.

Reading for me goes beyond the words on the page—it's about the whole experience. A truly good book makes me feel many things, shifts my viewpoint, challenges my perspectives and carries me off to faraway places. It’s these things that stay with me long after the book has finished. Sometimes I can’t even tell you a single thing about the plot, but I can tell you how the book made me feel.

Yes, absolutely there are times I escape into lighter, easier to read stories (hello, Emily Henry). But more often than not, I'm drawn to the books that challenge me—the ones that offer spiritual, emotional, cultural and geographical experiences.

I want books that allow me to live a thousand lives, to see the world through someone else’s eyes, to understand humanity a little deeper. And that is why I recommend these books to you.

This recommendation is more than just another book to pick up—it's an invitation to share someone’s world. What's incredible about books is how uniquely they resonate with each of us. The journey a book takes you on is entirely your own. Will your experience mirror mine when you read the same pages? Likely not. But I'm keen to hear about your own journey through its chapters. Please share your thoughts if you decide to read it, because life is too short to read bad books.