A review by lindsaycatherinezoe
Like a Mother: A Feminist Journey Through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy by Angela Garbes
4.0
Very interesting read and I enjoyed most of the book. Some of the last chapters thoroughly freaked me out even though none of the pieces that she shared felt particularly new to me - this is probably because I am due in less than a month.
I appreciate her honesty in addressing the realities of the impact of having a child on a birth parent's body, sexuality, romantic relationship (well, all relationships), and sense of self, however I would have appreciated these topics broached with some more explicit message of hope (like, it is really hard but you'll get through it) or ways to manage these shifts. I do think these shifts are real, but like, how DO people manage them? Why are people still having babies if it is that bad? Some insight into the sunnier aspects of parenthood/what helps people survive the shifts would have been helpful to me. Again, this criticism is likely a function of my own current circumstances, rather than a true reflection of the book.
Despite the book raising my anxiety level, I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone. She's a great writer and there are some really interesting factoids and powerful personal narratives that make it a very engaging read.
I appreciate her honesty in addressing the realities of the impact of having a child on a birth parent's body, sexuality, romantic relationship (well, all relationships), and sense of self, however I would have appreciated these topics broached with some more explicit message of hope (like, it is really hard but you'll get through it) or ways to manage these shifts. I do think these shifts are real, but like, how DO people manage them? Why are people still having babies if it is that bad? Some insight into the sunnier aspects of parenthood/what helps people survive the shifts would have been helpful to me. Again, this criticism is likely a function of my own current circumstances, rather than a true reflection of the book.
Despite the book raising my anxiety level, I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone. She's a great writer and there are some really interesting factoids and powerful personal narratives that make it a very engaging read.