Welcome to Litsy!

This was a wonderful character-driven novel about three generations of women, all deeply felt and empathetically drawn. Motherhood, abortion, sexuality, career, belonging, friendship, and family relationships are all recurrent themes. I haven't read a novel in a long time like this that felt so truly like it was about real people, a real slice of life in the 1990s and 2010s. I loved how Whittall dealt with the character Missy's bisexuality.

Zoe Whittall is so good at distinctive character voices! #QueerBooks #LGBTQBooks

A book where I loved the themes more than the execution. While it explored three generations of women and their tension with motherhood and abortion, many times it felt like the story never quite got there and came across at points more like an overwrought chick-lit style book.

I absolutely loved this one. This genre is completely in my wheelhouse, but these characters are both interesting on their own, but something special together.

Zoe Whittall said her editors are always telling her she needs to put in more descriptions of what the house looks, what the room is like. She says she‘s afraid of boring readers with details like that. It reminded me of a passage in a novel by Nicole Brossard in which the author instructs the reader in an aside to “insert description of a typical apartment here” after someone opens her door.

“It‘s so different now,” he said. “The kids are all bisexual & non-binary & whatever. I have a 13-year-old & all her—sorry, all their—friends think I‘m boring for being a man. They say I‘m too binary. Like, this is my dad, he‘s ‘binary trans‘ & then they laugh.”

Propulsive storylines alternate between two bisexual women: mother Carola & daughter Missy. Central question is freedom, or perhaps autonomy versus community, especially as seen through the lens of motherhood. I love the characterization: these are fascinating women with few regrets about their unorthodox choices. Also love the portrayal of intentional communities: a commune, a retreat centre & a touring rock band. #LGBTQ #CanLit #shadowgiller2021

We all drink Throat Comfort tea & suck on slippery elm tablets so we won‘t lose our voices. Tom likes to get out & jog around the van every time we stop for food or gas. Which is ridiculous & admirable. Alan carries his own pillowcase in his knapsack to put over hotel pillows. And no matter where we are, Billy takes a nap at 1 o‘clock in the afternoon, even if we‘re sitting in a Denny‘s. (That‘s how you get kicked out of a Denny‘s.)

“Missy Alamo, you‘re trouble,” she whispers, both hands cupping my waist. Our mouths get close.
“I never kissed a girl,” I say, as she leans in, then pauses. She turns her head, laughing a little.
“Well, I‘m not much of a girl,” she says.

Woohoo! I‘ve had this on preorder at the bookstore and it wasn‘t due out until August 24 but I got a call to say it was ready to be picked up. I will start reading it immediately!