Mother Doll is a dual timeline novel split between Russian revolutionary Irina and her great-granddaughter, Zhenia, a twentysomething in LA whose marriage is falling apart as a result of her pregnancy. Through a New York medium, Irina speaks to Zhenia and shares the story of her childhood, her political involvement, and the moments leading up to her abandonment of her daughter, Zhenia’s beloved grandmother. Meanwhile, as Zhenia receives the story and translates it from Russian into English, she grapples with the notions of heritage and legacy while coming to terms with her own impending motherhood.

The very best thing about this book is the sharp tone and biting humor. None of the characters are particularly likable, but the blunt portrayal of their humanity is admirable in its own way. Irina and Zhenia are deeply flawed characters, though the narrative’s awareness of this allows them to be sympathetic nonetheless. In developing the women’s characters, the two timelines work well together. Irina and Zhenia spill into each other in a way that complements the story, and the relationship between them is fascinating to witness. My main complaint is that I found myself becoming less engaged by the details of Irina’s political activities, which dominate the middle chapters especially, as the story progressed. The history is interesting, yes, but I was much more compelled by Irina and Zhenia’s dynamic, which seemed to get lost for a while. Still, the novel eventually reins in Irina’s narrative and the story ends on a strong note because of it. The book gifts you with an unflinching view of family and flaws that makes for a wholly satisfying read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Overlook for this ARC.

A psychic reaches out to Zhenia, telling her that her long-deceased great-grandmother, who she never met, has a story for her. Zhenia, currently pre-grieving her dying grandmother who is her favorite person in the world, dives head first, desperate to learn about the woman who abandoned her grandmother as a child. Maybe the spirit of Irina can get her closer to her grandmother, who is no longer communicative.

Some of the frame story didn't work for me--why does Paul continue the project long after his publisher rejects the proposal? Why does Zhenia continue to write down/translate Irina's story? The logic of Paul's ability is a little dubious. He can physical.ly enter whatever in between space Irina is occupying, as he leaves with a bite mark at one point. Later, when Paul leaves the narrative, Irina's ghost visits Zhenia and enters her. Paul is a narrative necessity to get Irina's spirit to Zhenia, but Apekina doesn't always seem to know what to do with him.

The chorus of spirits surrounding Irina in the afterlife is reminiscent of Saunders' "Lincoln in the Bardo," but not as affective. I don't know that it was needed in this particular narrative.

The most powerful parts of the book detail Irina's childhood in Russia and why she made the ultimate sacrifice in abandoning her daughter. Without such a powerful backstory, the book would have been three stars for me, but the vivid historical details elevates it. The story in the present doesn't hold a candle to Irina's telling of the past.

What a beautifully written novel. Katya Apekina's prose is stunning. I can't believe I've never heard of this author before. I will definitely be reading her previous work now. This novel focuses on generational trauma. I loved reading the great grandmother's backstory. It was so intriguing and intense. I loved the present time as well. I loved every character, and I loved how the main character was complexed and aggravating. Relatable characters and a wacky plot equals a brilliant novel from start to finish.

Thank you, Netgalley and Abrams for the digital ARC.

Mother Doll was written in a zippy, peppy, trying-to-please style that bodes well for its success but man I just could not buy into it, or into this story. I call this style ‘laddish’, and it works fine for almost every reader I know, and other authors who adopt this style (I’d include Patrick Dewitt and Kevin Wilson and Nathan Hill and Melissa Broder in the ‘laddish writing’ category) are beloved, but for me the danger in this style of writing is that it’s continually calling attention to itself, not in a showy literary way, but in an attempt-to-be-disarmingly vernacular way. The style is so few-shucks disarming that the story itself needs to be full of unexpected happenings but that mustn’t try too hard, or it gets twee. For me the balance here was off. Even so I’m amazed at how differently Apekina has told this story vs her debut and I remain a fan looking forward to reading what she writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of "Mother Doll”

This novel skillfully navigates the nuances of the human experience. "Mother Doll" is not just a story; it's a powerful examination of the lasting impact of our roots and the intricate threads that connect generations. A must-read for anyone seeking a profound and beautifully crafted narrative.

Just a really good book. The story was complex and even demanding at times, but I found it easy to lose myself in the writing style (that's not to say that it was simple; it just flowed perfectly). Also, look at that cover!

Apekina's debut novel The Deeper the Water the Uglier the Fish, was one of my top reads for 2019 (...and was just as good a second time around in a reread last year), and I was eagerly awaiting a follow-up - now that it's finally here (or almost - it won't be published till March 2024, but through the generosity of Netgalley and Overlook/Abrams, I was granted access to an ARC - with my heartfelt thanks!) ... it was definitely worth the wait.

Apekina's story this time is even more complex, but her prose is still compulsively readable - I read 60% of it just today, as I literally couldn't put it down. The synopsis above tells you all you really need to know about what it's about - but you really do get incredibly involved in these characters lives, tragedies and triumphs. I really hope it justifiably catapults the author into the top ranks of bestselling and prize-winning authors - it's just that good.

I absolutely loved this book. Family stories usually aren't the best fit for me, especially not when we're moving between timelines, but this one kept me captivated. The prose is beautiful, and the pacing is smart and sharp, I really appreciated how delicately and surprisingly the writer handled intergenerational trauma and abuse. Smart, compelling, and unique, this one feels like a book to be studied.

From the first paragraph until the end of the book I was intrigued with this story. It was way different than most books but I still enjoyed the experience of reading it. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Four stars.