The Darker Side of Motherhood
As we near the end of the year, and as I mark one year of weekly book reviews, it seems natural to reflect on this year of reviewing. I was recently reading a book called The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green (great read if you are into non-fiction/biographies - check this out), and there was a couple of lines in the early stages of the book which read “when you write a book review you are writing a type of memoir. This is my experience of reading this book.”
I couldn’t help but copy this quote into the notes of my phone. I love this! I love that everyone experiences the same book differently. Everyone can take something, and feel something so different from the next person. The way we perceive a book is often a reflection of our state of mind. Sometimes there is something so poignant that sticks out for us because of “the thing” that is happening in our lives at that given time. I hadn’t really reflected on the memoir-esque nature of writing book reviews.
As I do this, I can see some clear patterns in the standout books for me this year. Books about motherhood and grief stand out for me. My youngest child started school this year. My eldest child is making her way in the world, delivering babies. Motherhood is such a huge part of my life and identity. I have been in the throes of motherhood for more years than not (over half of my life). Here we are again this week reviewing a book about exactly that.
This week we are taking a look at The Push by Ashley Audrain. This has been on my list to read for some time and I finally got to it earlier this month. This is a different genre for me but I was engrossed! The Push is as a riveting psychological drama that delves into the complexities of motherhood, generational trauma, and the expectations that come with it. Audrain's storytelling gripped me with a raw and often unsettling portrayal of her protagonist, Blythe Connor, whose determination to be the warm, nurturing mother she never had is at odds with her growing fears about her own daughter's behaviour. Blythe’s anxieties and doubts about her ability to love her children takes on an increasingly dark tone as the story unfolds. There is a fine line between truth and reality. Is your truth, THE truth?
Audrain's writing is intimate and suspenseful, allowing us to peer deeply into the psyche of a woman wrestling with the duality of her role as a caregiver and a protector, highlighting the societal pressures that come with being a 'good mother.' The structure of the novel, shifting through timelines and perspectives, was so gripping that it was one of those “just one more chapter” books, until all of a sudden, it’s the wee hours of the morning!
The prose is polished and incisive, ensuring that readers are not just observers but feel a deep empathy with Blythe’s struggles. Blythe wasn’t portrayed as a particularly warm person but I felt myself really rooting for her, and empathising with her as the book progressed. At its heart, the book questions the inevitability of destiny and intergenerational trauma, leaving one to ponder the very nature of nurture.
Add this one to your TBR, even if this doesn’t sound like your thing, it is well worth a read. This is a stunning debut from Audrain, and I will definitely be reading more from her in the future because life is too short to read bad books.