Welcome to Litsy!

Enjoyed this was from the perspective of a woman navigating life after birth. The isolation, the depression, reconciling what you thought it would be like vs the reality, the pressures of society on motherhood & the pressure to preform perfect motherhood but invisibly. I found the main character condescending much of the time & obsessed with the fact she had a C-section. Maybe that was the point: falling to pressure of ideals of motherhood

A dark and starkly humorous novel about motherhood and how it changes you in ways you don't expect -- physically, mentally and emotionally. While I could relate to much of it, I grew tired of the main character's obsession with her belief that giving birth via C-section did not count as "real birth." And I was frankly offended when she compared C-sections to rape. Final call: Meh.

Many reviews of this book are delighted with the intensely unlikable main character. I was not at all delighted with Ari. She tantrums through the text, complaining about how judgmental people are toward women and mothers, all the while eviscerating other women and other mothers in the worst way. Finally toward the end of the book, she admits, "I hate women." Boo.

Got my cup of coffee. Time to power through and finish this one. I'm not enjoying it.

I found this irreverent, foul-mouthed story irresistible. Protagonist is a neurotic angry feminist but I couldn't help nodding my head with every sentiment she expresses. Throw in a Jewish subtext and she's like a literary Sarah Silverman, a reference she herself drops in towards the end. Haven't had this much crazy fun since The First Bad Man by Miranda July.

after birth hit home for me several times, and there were so many things that she said that made me want to jump up from my seat and shout, "yes! so much yes!" however, as a novel, I was feeling less than enthused about the story line. lots of great points made and great conversations to be had from some of the narrator's inner thoughts.

?? "So it'll stay a part of you, edify you forever."

"The buildings are amazing in this shitbox town." #firstlines

"The buildings are amazing in this shitbox town." #firstlines

As soon as I read the description of this week's #fridayfunphoto, I thought of this book! Ari is a bit more neurotic than me, but this was hella good and honest!

A word for anyone who can't/doesn't want to relate to motherhood, this might be too much of one subject for you...

Wow! So refreshing to read an honest portrayal of those first raw and overwhelming months when your baby is born! Highly recommend to any new mum - you are not alone!!!

Raced through this one. For a long time, adoption has been how I want to have children of my own, and it still feels like I am not doing something "right." This book opened my eyes and heart to the differences between natural child birth and C-sections in terms of how mothers might feel about it - inadequate or angry or even guilty - and sheds light on postpartum depression and isolation so honestly and brutally. Learned so much.

The comparison to Roth seems apt because Albert is a fan--and she also writes a repeating archetype into many of her stories. In her case, it's the sardonic pothead. Here, she confronts young motherhood and female friendships. But the prose is engaging, and she does make some intriguing points.

This book is for anyone who had a traumatic birth experience, a different birth than planned, a hard time breast feeding or someone who had trouble transitioning to motherhood. At times I felt this book took the words right out of my head that I couldn't articulate. Writing is unique as well.