From Publishers WeeklyTaking an unsentimental approach to one of the most dramatic changes in a woman's life, British novelist Cusk (The Country Life) dissects the process of new motherhood from a psychological and emotional perspective. Now the mother of two, Cusk found the early weeks and months with a dependent newborn far from idyllic and rewarding, and her description of that time fills in the gaps left by most pregnancy and child-rearing books. Her dry, honest style is a refreshing change for anyone seeking to understand the daily realities of undertaking such an enormous responsibility. Despite a tone that is at times bleak and foreboding, Cusk perfectly captures the inherent conflict between the pleasures known before baby and those that the baby brings, noting, for example, "it is when the baby sleeps that I liaise, as if it were a lover, with my former life," but "sometimes I miss the baby and lie beside her cot while she sleeps." Cusk details her struggles with the major tasks all new mothers face, like feeding and sleep, and she addresses the challenge not only to do what is best for the baby, but also to maintain a sense of self and autonomy in the face of such constant, overwhelming need. Although not a cheerful baby shower gift book, Cusk's brutal honesty will certainly be appreciated by many new moms, assuring them they are not alone.From Library Journal"If at any point in my life I had been able to find out what the future held, I would always have wanted to know whether or not I would have children," writes Cusk, an award-winning British novelist, in her nonfiction debut. The clarity of her writing matches its depth of content, as Cusk endeavors to discover what it means to be a parent. Ultimately, what Cusk offers is an expos of motherhood that extracts its myths and reworks them into personal truths. She reexamines the teachings of traditional child rearing books to find that their once relevant answers are now outdated and only served to increase her feelings of inadequacy as a mother. Perhaps the most valuable aspect of this book is its accessibility, allowing mothers from all situations and backgrounds to unite in understanding. Recommended for all public libraries.Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.From The New YorkerIn "A Room of One's Own," Virginia Woolf wrote that the best writing is distinguished by its lack of complaint. Cusk, a British novelist, found after the birth of her first child that she was continuously sharing with someone else the room she was accustomed to occupying alone; six months into her daughter's first year, she handed her partner the baby and began writing down her particular experience of new motherhood before it escaped. Her account is extraordinary for its absence of polemic: she writes with the intelligence, wit, and keen eye for detail demanded by any kind of reporting, and the result is a book on the subject curiously unlike any other. Copyright 2005 The New Yorker what books should i read in year A Life's Work: On Becoming a Mother
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. One of the best reflections on montherhood I have readBy Ali TaylorA smart, sharp, wise and unsentimental look at motherhood that really resonated with me. Highly recommended.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Three StarsBy Sarah W.Some very funny and familiar descriptions of first time motherhood0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Mireille MoretGreat honest exhausting but wonderful narrative