This novel is about motherhood the way Moby Dick is about a boat. Yes, a woman gives birth and cares for a baby, but the baby acts as a magnificent lens through which the narrator (and through her, Skomsvold) interrogates herself about the deepest philosophical questions about what it means to be alive, to live intentionally, to live well. I don't think the title or the publisher's framing of this novel does it justice as it's so much deeper than the story of a mother-child bond...although that in itself is a worthy subject, the narrator has almost a masculine detachment from the act of 'mothering' in itself--she has a certain objectivity to her baby that allows her to see human helplessness in all its forms.

I knew I was in for an amazing reading experience when I came to the narrator's musings about the artist Agnes Martin..."She made me feel cheerful, full of vitality, even; her simple brush strokes gave me space to think between the lines..." and what follows after are three biographical paragraphs about Agnes Martin that end with a description of Martin's last known work of art before she died: "It's as if her hand has taken over from her will, life has taken over just before death..." and so it is that I felt the book drum-beats between the optimism of new life and the despair and pain of life itself, with its inevitable endings.

This book is about motherhood the way Medea is about motherhood. This book is about motherhood the way Little Women would be about motherhood if written by Virginia Woolf, from Marmee's point of view.

Beautifully written a story of motherhood of love for your child.At the same time as an artist the yearning to be involved in this part of you life.This is a lyrically written true portrait of the emotions of a woman handling motherhood and her yearning cfor her desires.#netgalley #granata

Full disclosure I don’t have children. I loved this story of a mother talking to her child. The tone of this book was so good. It felt like a gentle hug. I think this book struck the balance of motherhood or even parenthood just right. It showed the awe that a mother could have for her children but also how hard it can be at times.