The Book of Mothers felt like participating in a cozy book club! I really loved it and enjoyed each time I picked it up, knowing I was going to be able to explore some honest motherhood! This book was wonderful in providing insight related to mothers in literature. It reminded me of book discussions in college where you were able to explore a character, their motivations, and where society was at that time. I have only read a few of the books mentioned, but was still able to follow along (and create a TBR list!) and enjoy the exploration of Mullins.

My one critique of this book is the politics that comes from later chapters that tackle recent issues. I know this is relevant, but also notice that it can feel heavy handed in exploring one narrative versus all sides. Obviously the "mommy wars" of working versus staying home comes into play, but it also feels a bit judgmental towards women who enjoy staying at home and identifying with motherhood. I know one book cannot go into all the nuances of motherhood, but did feel myself enjoying the last few chapters a bit less because of it. I particularly think of the footnotes related to JK Rowling and not fully exploring some of the recent issues surrounding her comments. I enjoyed when Mullins went into the history of other authors, but felt like Rowling did not get the same (maybe this is my own bias!).

I would highly recommend this book! I haven't seen anything like it before and feel like it has an important place in literature today.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

The Book of Mothers is a POWERHOUSE. This book could not be more timely for our current political climate, and for my own self-discovery as a new mother. I've never read such a meticulous and deep study of literary characters which then connected to modern motherhood struggles. I felt seen and heard and validated over and over.

Mullins asks the hard questions and isn't afraid to dive into the uncomfortable future women are facing today. As an anxiety-prone mother of an infant, this book gave me permission to feel all the feelings about motherhood, society, and the political landscape that targets moms and women in general.

Thank you again for the opportunity to read this book! It is one I will not soon forget.

(Note: I would be gentle with yourself as you read this one, and check your own emotional triggers, as this book covers sexual assault, abortion and abuse, among other tough topics.)

Through the lens of literature and well known classics along with pop culture references, Carrie Mullins opens our eyes to the way women are conditioned for motherhood. This is a timely book for the continued feminism movement and fight for equality. This book is a thought piece on how culture shapes the imagination for how women are viewed. By Mullins calling these examples out, we can no longer claim ignorance to not being shaped by our books and culture.

This book is, no question, an academic book in the sense that it's a careful examination of mothers in literature. That said, it feels more like a coffee chat with an absurdly smart friend. It's not dry, and author is through without dragging chapters out longer than they need to be. Many include a brief synopsis of the book in question before delving into the topic which is helpful if the reader has not read the book in question or it has been a long time. A thoroughly engaging, thought provoking read.

The many different and varying looks at motherhood grabbed my attention, but I was a bit lost on what I went into the book expecting, and what I left with after reading. I don't feel my time was wasted at all by reading this, and I did enjoy it! I enjoyed reading about the different mothers in literature, since I had a base knowledge of a lot of the ones that were written about. All in all, I enjoyed the book!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I picked this book on a whim because I love books about books and I too am a mother.

I enjoyed the author’s analysis of a handful of favorite/beloved mothers in literature. I have read most of the books she refers to but not all. I did not think this necessarily detracted from my appreciation of her critiques but I did notice that the analysis of the characters with which I was most familiar seemed to make the most sense to me.

The book was (rightly so) kind of a downer. The author obviously has a liberal bias which I’m fine with but some readers may not like. The book is a timely reflection on mothers in the workplace needing childcare; motherhood’s mental load; and abortion access among other issues - all things not going too well for women right now in history (if you agree).

I would have liked to know the author’s suggestions on where we go from here. What would her “ideal mother” look like in a book?

A book about mothers that begins by complaining that women can not legally kill a baby is not a book for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to preview this book.

I very much enjoyed reading this book. The prose was clean and clear and there were many insights about motherhood that had me evaluating and examining societal norms. The essays also had me taking a new look at the female characters in literature I've read many times before, like Harry Potter and Pride and Prejudice. There were small injections of humour here and there that helped make the sometimes heavy topics more enjoyable. My only qualm with the book is with the title - it don't think it conveys the content of the book very well to the reader. Otherwise, an excellent read.