A review by arina_kirse
Mātes piens by Nora Ikstena

3.0

As a non-native Latvian speaker, I found it quite hard to understand the language used by the author in the book at first. However, the further I read, the more I grew to appreciate its sophistication at times combined with simplicity allowing to feel close to the characters. I think it is a wonderful book to dive deeper into the beautiful Latvian language for non-native speakers.

When it comes to the story itself, I found it hard to relate to the relationships between daughters and mothers stretching over several generations. I honestly think that my personal positive experience prevented me from empathizing with the characters, and this storyline of mother-daughter bond, in the way it was presented, has, unfortunately, overshadowed other pieces of story puzzle for me.

I treat this book as yet another reminder to be grateful for my family, for the times we live in, and for experiencing life in free Latvia.