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Read advance reader review of Motherhood by Sheila Heti, page 2 of 2

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Motherhood by Sheila Heti

Motherhood

by Sheila Heti

  • Critics' Consensus (0):
  • Published:
  • May 2018, 288 pages
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There are currently 12 member reviews
for Motherhood
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  • Beth B. (New Wilmington, PA)
    To be or not to be ---- Motherhood
    Not an enjoyable read by any means. More a wrestling match between fulfillment, status, respect, fear, values, expectations, independence, "normal", convention. Is not having a child akin to being a draft dodger? What is acting vs. being yourself? Am I a vessel? Does having a child mean holy completeness? By freezing eggs am I freezing my indecision about being a mother?

    The "I" never has a name but is obsessed with "the soul of time" and relies on flipping coins and seeking fortune tellers to make decisions. She is weak and indecisive and Miles, her partner is selfish and rather unknowable. The "I" is 37 and her biological clock is ticking and she would rather be a writer (her central relationship) than a mother.

    The most intriguing part of the book was the pattern of motherhood between three generations and I's father as being the mother figure in her life.

    I must add that I'm not the most objective judge as I truly value my motherhood. Also, this is a most unusual novel, rather an analysis.
  • Velma
    She never asked the right question.
    I had to force myself to read this book to conclusion. Obviously she had made her decision before the book was ever written as she had an abortion and took the morning after pill. Personally, I'm very pleased she decided not to have any children. Her glass is always half empty. I myself have struggled with family depression and several life changing issues, however I don't spend my time blaming everyone else for my weaknesses. I'm still trying to figure out what is the point of even writing the book?
  • Marcia S
    Don't waste your time!
    I had to force myself to finish this book. It was awful. It was so depressing. The narrator and her mother were both depressed, as was the whole book! The narrator was always whining and blaming others for her lack of decisiveness about having a baby. I also hated the coin answers to her self-centered questions. The whole book was a waste of my time!
  • Bobbie D
    Flipping coins!
    Asking a series of questions and getting yes and no answers! Thought that would stop but it doesn’t. Tried to continue. And just when I thought it was getting better, it wasn’t. Stopped reading the book!
  • Anna R. (Oak Ridge, TN)
    ridiculous
    This book was a waste of my reading time. Page after page of a woman whining about "to have a baby or do not have a baby." Who cares??
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