I've heard such good things about Tom Lake -- I've read and loved a lot of Ann Patchett's books, so it's clearly time to give this one a try! And I had not heard of Beartown at all -- thank you so much for the rec! I find myself surprisingly drawn to a Swedish hockey story....
I’d recommend the audiobook for Tom Lake; it’s narrated by Meryl Streep!
When my friend recommended Beartown to me, she was like, “I know it sounds weird to be so into a high school hockey story, but trust me”, and I was glad I did :)
Very excited to check out Wild Life and A Half-Built Garden — those sound right up my alley! Also, when I saw the Becky Chambers cover I first thought it was The Galaxy And The Ground Within because that has such a lovely motherhood and strangers-as-alloparents storyline, and then for a second I thought it was Record of a Spaceborn Few because that has some interesting motherhood stuff in it too. I didn’t realize until reading this post how often Becky Chambers writes about motherhood! But I do very much love the story of Jane and Owl so I’m glad you included it ❤️.
Highly highly recommend Margot’s Got Money Troubles — so funny and sweet and sad and just a really interesting, good depiction of young motherhood. Also Nothing To See Here, which technically doesn’t have any biological mothers in it but when has that ever stopped us Aunties.
*Kristin Lavransdatter* by Sigrid Undset. If you're into big doorstop books set in medieval Scandinavia, it's an incredible novel following a woman from her teens through (spoiler) the end of her life. Due to the setting and subject matter, there is a certain amount of mortal peril, including one traumatic birth, but it's definitely my favorite fictional look at the physical reality of motherhood.
How sad that I immediately thought "all the ones I know are traumatic/about splintered relationships" so I appreciate this list! I'm going to suggest Red at the Bone because while intergenerational much of it focuses on the mother and it's very short so perfect for a quick summer read
oh and One Blood + House of Eve because both focus on adoption. One Blood is three generations but primarly the mother of an adopted child and the nsaid child raising her daughter, really moving. House of Eve is historical fiction is about two women from their late teens to motherhood and marriage and those forcibly given up for adoption
The house in the cerulean sea is a fantasy about parenthood rather than motherhood and it is such a lovely book (the sequel is good too) and as an Auntie it taught me a lot about truly treating kids as individuals and what it means to support and empower them!
It's not for the squeamish. One of the scenes in it caused me to DNF. I am happy to identify the particular violent act privately, so as not to provide a spoiler to those who don't want them!
I just read Yours for the Taking by Gabrielle Korn and feel like it fits this. A near-future dystopia where climate change has led to creation of domed cities where only handpicked people were allowed in. The main story focuses on a woman in the city and her children as they grow up here.
Ooh, sounds like it might have a similar setting to The Space Between Worlds by Macaiah Johnson, which is not directly about motherhood but does reflect a lot on raising children
Evangeline, this is so funny because I read The Space Between Worlds a few years ago but I have no memory of the childrearing aspect! I really mostly only remember the premise -- can you remind me?
There isn't a lot of specific childrearing, but because the story is about so many alternate realities, the fact of what family a child was born into or how they were raised has a major ripple effect into their future. As I recall the main character thinks a lot about her own childhood versus the childhoods of the various other alternate reality versions of her. I thiiiiiiink there might also be some more direct childrearing at the end of the book but I don't quite recall.
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett, which was about mothering daughters who were on the edge of being independent.
Beartown by Fredrik Backman, which was very much a story about family and watching parenting decisions impacting the lives of the kids.
I've heard such good things about Tom Lake -- I've read and loved a lot of Ann Patchett's books, so it's clearly time to give this one a try! And I had not heard of Beartown at all -- thank you so much for the rec! I find myself surprisingly drawn to a Swedish hockey story....
I’d recommend the audiobook for Tom Lake; it’s narrated by Meryl Streep!
When my friend recommended Beartown to me, she was like, “I know it sounds weird to be so into a high school hockey story, but trust me”, and I was glad I did :)
Very excited to check out Wild Life and A Half-Built Garden — those sound right up my alley! Also, when I saw the Becky Chambers cover I first thought it was The Galaxy And The Ground Within because that has such a lovely motherhood and strangers-as-alloparents storyline, and then for a second I thought it was Record of a Spaceborn Few because that has some interesting motherhood stuff in it too. I didn’t realize until reading this post how often Becky Chambers writes about motherhood! But I do very much love the story of Jane and Owl so I’m glad you included it ❤️.
Highly highly recommend Margot’s Got Money Troubles — so funny and sweet and sad and just a really interesting, good depiction of young motherhood. Also Nothing To See Here, which technically doesn’t have any biological mothers in it but when has that ever stopped us Aunties.
Technical lack of biological mothers is no barrier at all!
Adding these books to my list! (I've read the Chambers ones, but the other ones!)
*Kristin Lavransdatter* by Sigrid Undset. If you're into big doorstop books set in medieval Scandinavia, it's an incredible novel following a woman from her teens through (spoiler) the end of her life. Due to the setting and subject matter, there is a certain amount of mortal peril, including one traumatic birth, but it's definitely my favorite fictional look at the physical reality of motherhood.
I have long meant to read this one. Thanks for the nudge!!
How sad that I immediately thought "all the ones I know are traumatic/about splintered relationships" so I appreciate this list! I'm going to suggest Red at the Bone because while intergenerational much of it focuses on the mother and it's very short so perfect for a quick summer read
Right?? There are so many traumatic stories about motherhood!
I'm putting all three of your recs on my reading list. I'm really excited to read the adoption-focused ones, but all three look awesome. Thank you!
oh and One Blood + House of Eve because both focus on adoption. One Blood is three generations but primarly the mother of an adopted child and the nsaid child raising her daughter, really moving. House of Eve is historical fiction is about two women from their late teens to motherhood and marriage and those forcibly given up for adoption
Immediately adding all of these to my list to read, thank you! And a BIG co-sign for A Closed and Common Orbit.
The house in the cerulean sea is a fantasy about parenthood rather than motherhood and it is such a lovely book (the sequel is good too) and as an Auntie it taught me a lot about truly treating kids as individuals and what it means to support and empower them!
Here to recommend Nightbitch. So weird and funny and true-if-not-accurate.
I have been weirdly avoidant of that book but I'm not actually sure why. I will give it a whirl!
It's not for the squeamish. One of the scenes in it caused me to DNF. I am happy to identify the particular violent act privately, so as not to provide a spoiler to those who don't want them!
I just read Yours for the Taking by Gabrielle Korn and feel like it fits this. A near-future dystopia where climate change has led to creation of domed cities where only handpicked people were allowed in. The main story focuses on a woman in the city and her children as they grow up here.
Ooh, sounds like it might have a similar setting to The Space Between Worlds by Macaiah Johnson, which is not directly about motherhood but does reflect a lot on raising children
Evangeline, this is so funny because I read The Space Between Worlds a few years ago but I have no memory of the childrearing aspect! I really mostly only remember the premise -- can you remind me?
There isn't a lot of specific childrearing, but because the story is about so many alternate realities, the fact of what family a child was born into or how they were raised has a major ripple effect into their future. As I recall the main character thinks a lot about her own childhood versus the childhoods of the various other alternate reality versions of her. I thiiiiiiink there might also be some more direct childrearing at the end of the book but I don't quite recall.
This sounds right up my alley!