Literary Mama: Reading for the Maternally Inclined

by Andrea J. Buchanan (Editor), Jennifer D. Munro

Becoming a mother takes more than the physical act of giving birth or completing an it takes birthing oneself as a mother through psychological, intellectual, and spiritual work that continues throughout life. Yet most women’s stories of personal growth after motherhood tend to remain untold. As writers and mothers, Andrea Buchanan and Amy Hudock were frustrated by what they perceived as a lack of writing by mothers that captured the ambiguity, complexity, and humor of their experiences. So they decided to create the place they wanted to find, with the kind of writing they wanted to read.

This unique collection features the best of the online magazine literarymama.com, a site devoted to mama-centric writing with fresh voices, superior craft, and vivid imagery. While the majority of literature on parenting is not literary or is not written by mothers, this book is both. Including creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry, Literary Mama celebrates the voices of the maternally inclined, paves the way for other writer mamas, and honors the difficult and rewarding work women do as they move into motherhood.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Essays, Memoir

304 pages, Paperback

First published December 6, 2005

About the author

Andrea J. Buchanan is a New York Times bestselling author whose latest book is THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING, which was a finalist for the 2019 PEN/E.O. Wilson Award for Literary Science Writing. Her other work includes the multimedia young adult novel GIFT, the internationally bestselling THE DARING BOOK FOR GIRLS, her essay collection on early motherhood MOTHER SHOCK: LOVING EVERY (OTHER) MINUTE OF IT, and seven other books. Before becoming a writer, Andi trained as a pianist, earning a bachelor of music degree in piano performance from the Boston Conservatory of Music and a master's in piano performance from the San Francisco Conservatory. Her last recital was at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall. She lives with her family in Philadelphia.

Reviews

[Sarah Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting collection of stories, essays, and poems about various experiences of motherhood.

[Abby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Literary Mama is full of beautifully-written essays and poems examining what it means to be a mother. I loved Out of the Woods by Lizbeth Finn-Arnold, Gray by Sybil Lockhart, Gan by Suzanne Kamata, and so many others... I definitely recommend this book, especially to new mothers, and even more especially to those who love to read and write.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

(Non-Fiction - Collection of poems, essays, and stories on Motherhood) I love the idea of this book and was very excited about it, but very few of the poems, essays, and stories grabbed my attention and moved me in any way. Perhaps my brief stint in motherhood (ahem, on month to be exact) has not prepared me to appreciate this collection.

[Jennifer Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it! I nabbed this book when it first came out for all of the exact reasons listed in the synopsis. I am still reading this book years later because I read the stories that resonated with me back then and I can pick it up now and find new stories that hold my interest in a completely different way now. I encourage anybody who is or is not maternally inclined to read this book.

[Myrtis-eirene · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, especially if you like poetry.

[Jenae · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book could have used a good editor.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another nice validating book - stories by mothers who like to write and the blending of the two. Wonderful poems intermingled as well- and I don't normally dig poetry much.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Sara Pauley! I really enjoyed it book -- so much so that I bought it for another new mama!

[Jennifer D. Munro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Featuring Jennifer D. Munro's short story, "The Dogs of Sayulita," about the effects of infertility on a marriage.

[Salina Gonzales Frazier]

a little esoteric but not bad

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really excited about this collection initially. However, most stories didn't grab my attention and I craved more nonfiction as I read the fiction- and poetry-heavy book.

[Literary Mama]

What better book club suggestion than our own Literary Mama anthology! I've been rereading bits and pieces all summer and continue to be inspired by these introductory comments from our founding editors: "The basic story arc of motherhood is the same as it always has been. . . . What's different about the mother writing of today versus centuries ago . . . has more to do with the cultural zeitgeist than with anything fundamentally new about the story of motherhood itself." Literary Mama: Reading for the Maternally Inclined, was printed in 2005 and celebrates only the first two years of our online presence, but I believe the editors' comments hold true today and continue to be the driving force behind every editorial discussion we have. The 54 pieces highlighted in this anthology are compiled thematically into seven sections, each of which includes pieces of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Online readers who are dedicated to one section of our magazine are sure to appreciate this printed invitation to explore other genres.