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Mothers Who Think: Tales Of Real-Life Parenthood
From the editors of Salon.com's cutting edge Web site, "Mothers Who Think," comes "an anthology of smart and lovely essays" (Chicago Sun Times) -- provacative collection that challenges and changes our views of motherhood today.
Anne Lamott, Jayne Anne Phillips, Sallie Tisdale, Susan Straight, Jane Lazarre, Nora Okja Keller, Beth Kephart, Ariel Gore, Alex Witchel, and many other contemporary writers elevate the discussion of motherhood above the level of tantrum control and potty training. Irreverent, wistful, hilarious, fierce, and tender, these essays offer an unsparing look at the myths and realities, the serious and silly sides, the thankless and supremely satisfying aspects of being a mom -- and are a testament to the notion that motherhood gives women more to think about, not less.
Anne Lamott, Jayne Anne Phillips, Sallie Tisdale, Susan Straight, Jane Lazarre, Nora Okja Keller, Beth Kephart, Ariel Gore, Alex Witchel, and many other contemporary writers elevate the discussion of motherhood above the level of tantrum control and potty training. Irreverent, wistful, hilarious, fierce, and tender, these essays offer an unsparing look at the myths and realities, the serious and silly sides, the thankless and supremely satisfying aspects of being a mom -- and are a testament to the notion that motherhood gives women more to think about, not less.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
June 17, 2008
This collection made me feel I was not alone in my sometimes ambiguous feelings about motherhood.
All of my role models (mom, aunts, cousins) seemed to love being a mother all of the time. There was (and remains) a chunk of resentment in me that I was unable to express, let alone learn to live with. This book was a life saver.
All of my role models (mom, aunts, cousins) seemed to love being a mother all of the time. There was (and remains) a chunk of resentment in me that I was unable to express, let alone learn to live with. This book was a life saver.
January 31, 2008
I finally finished a book! This is a good one for busy moms since it's a collection of short stories and you can just pick at it here and there, but also good for anyone who is interested in a broad range of reflections on being a parent, being a child and being a woman. Not every story was a winner in my book, but I especially liked how all of them had a raw honesty to them and many had a great sense of humor. Some favorites: I Love You Both Unequally and A Mother's Body by Kate Moses, and Boy Crazy By Sallie Tisdale.
October 17, 2014
(Review to come.)
June 11, 2008
you're shocked, i bet, that i'm reading another parenting anthology. i am almost done with this genre, i swear. everything i always say about anthologies applies here - not edited selectively enough, widely varying quality of work, and a number of pieces that make you question your faith in humanity.
there are some redeeming moments, but a greater number of frustrating personalities. a lot of the essays are contrived and the sentiment falls short of sincerity. this book is the "best of" of one part of salon.com, "mothers who think." i don't believe that books built out of internet communities necessarily have to be terrible, although they generally are, but i think the quality of content is lower due to more accessible publishing, raised expectations of quantity, and quicker turn-around times. the internet can make anyone a published writer -- which is entirely the problem! it is okay to leave something in your private journal and never show it to anyone.
i digress.
the first half of the book was noticeably better than the second. i read a lot of this outloud with my MILF girlfriend. predictably, her favorite piece was "sex and the seven-year old boy," about a boy who loves his mother like Oedipus. predictably, my faves included some stuff about being a stepmom, things about teenagers, especially teen boys, and several of the (many) pieces comparing/contrasting/considering the differences in parenting boys and girls. ariel gore is at her best here. kate moses shines. annie sprinkle is, quite frankly, slumming with this crowd. the Modern Father is nearly avoided entirely, and that's fine by me. i'm tired of reading about him & his sensitive, gracious, selfless, progressive diaper-changin' ways.
there are some redeeming moments, but a greater number of frustrating personalities. a lot of the essays are contrived and the sentiment falls short of sincerity. this book is the "best of" of one part of salon.com, "mothers who think." i don't believe that books built out of internet communities necessarily have to be terrible, although they generally are, but i think the quality of content is lower due to more accessible publishing, raised expectations of quantity, and quicker turn-around times. the internet can make anyone a published writer -- which is entirely the problem! it is okay to leave something in your private journal and never show it to anyone.
i digress.
the first half of the book was noticeably better than the second. i read a lot of this outloud with my MILF girlfriend. predictably, her favorite piece was "sex and the seven-year old boy," about a boy who loves his mother like Oedipus. predictably, my faves included some stuff about being a stepmom, things about teenagers, especially teen boys, and several of the (many) pieces comparing/contrasting/considering the differences in parenting boys and girls. ariel gore is at her best here. kate moses shines. annie sprinkle is, quite frankly, slumming with this crowd. the Modern Father is nearly avoided entirely, and that's fine by me. i'm tired of reading about him & his sensitive, gracious, selfless, progressive diaper-changin' ways.
October 24, 2016
I'm not quite sure why I started to peruse this book as I knew it wasn't my type of thing. Even a friend warned me off.
Problem is once I have started a book I have this guilt compulsion to finish. This was even worse as with a collection of essays and short stories there is always the hope that the next one maybe worth your time.
The first few stories were, as expected, naval gazing introspective pieces on the wonder and pain of motherhood and frequently the writing style was a self-indulgent stream of consciousness that I find both repetitive and tedious.
About halfway through the collection turned from introspection to more narrative anecdotes, most of which were OK and some I found enjoyable or even amusing.
My favourites were:
‘A Mother of a Year’ by Stephanie Coontz an interesting essay about the demands and expectations of modern motherhood. Most of what she covered was not new to me but it was interesting and well written.
‘My Other Mother’ by Lori Leibovitch an affectionate account of her teenage years and being parented by her grandmother.
‘Coyote Dreams’ by Cynthia Romanov a lighthearted tale of how fantastical dreams helped the writer survive a trying time in her life.
Problem is once I have started a book I have this guilt compulsion to finish. This was even worse as with a collection of essays and short stories there is always the hope that the next one maybe worth your time.
The first few stories were, as expected, naval gazing introspective pieces on the wonder and pain of motherhood and frequently the writing style was a self-indulgent stream of consciousness that I find both repetitive and tedious.
About halfway through the collection turned from introspection to more narrative anecdotes, most of which were OK and some I found enjoyable or even amusing.
My favourites were:
‘A Mother of a Year’ by Stephanie Coontz an interesting essay about the demands and expectations of modern motherhood. Most of what she covered was not new to me but it was interesting and well written.
‘My Other Mother’ by Lori Leibovitch an affectionate account of her teenage years and being parented by her grandmother.
‘Coyote Dreams’ by Cynthia Romanov a lighthearted tale of how fantastical dreams helped the writer survive a trying time in her life.
August 5, 2016
1999 collections of essays by a whole bunch of professional writers who are also mothers.
Picked this up at a rummage sale assuming it would be boring. It's NOT.
Because they are good writers, the writing is good and the storytelling is good. And, since writers do tend to observe well and reflect more, they probably are able to be more open and searching than your average mom.
They each write about a different angle of parenting, a lot have refreshing views and honestly report parenting experiences that most of us don't talk much about.
Like Anne Lamott describing the occasions and ways she has been very angry at her son.
I had never heard of the Salon.com website, so had no idea what to expect from this book that I almost left behind. But it looks like 'Mothers Who Think', as a popular part of the Salon magazine, has long since disappeared from there.
Picked this up at a rummage sale assuming it would be boring. It's NOT.
Because they are good writers, the writing is good and the storytelling is good. And, since writers do tend to observe well and reflect more, they probably are able to be more open and searching than your average mom.
They each write about a different angle of parenting, a lot have refreshing views and honestly report parenting experiences that most of us don't talk much about.
Like Anne Lamott describing the occasions and ways she has been very angry at her son.
I had never heard of the Salon.com website, so had no idea what to expect from this book that I almost left behind. But it looks like 'Mothers Who Think', as a popular part of the Salon magazine, has long since disappeared from there.
July 31, 2008
I was initially drawn to this collection of essays because they include work by a favorite author of mine, Anne Lamott. I was thrilled to find myself deeply enjoying each and every essay on it’s own merits. Some were so sharp and funny they made me bark with laughter. Others were graceful invitations into tough subjects that pulled my heart and mind in different directions. Overall, this is one of the most enjoyable reading experiences I’ve had recently, and my copy is available if any of my “Meeps” (Mom-Peeps… you know who you are!) want to borrow a really great read.
December 12, 2012
I enjoyed this. Even though it was compiled 12 years ago, nearly all the stories still felt relevant to today. Boys, girls, adoption, marriage, divorce, death, money, etc. - nearly every story rang true, if only just a little bit. I laughed, and I cried. There were some beautiful passages, too, that I marked to read again.
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An old one on my shelf. I need to try to meet my goal of 25 books (three more to go!) and maybe some essays on motherhood will help for some fast reading. (Already cried at one on the bus about going from one child to two... nice timing.)
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An old one on my shelf. I need to try to meet my goal of 25 books (three more to go!) and maybe some essays on motherhood will help for some fast reading. (Already cried at one on the bus about going from one child to two... nice timing.)
May 23, 2013
Not sure what thinking has to do with it, but this turned out to be more or less a collection of complaints about motherhood. Some of them from mothers in genuinely horrible circumstances, which were mostly just depressing. Others from mothers complaining about things that sounded fairly banal to my way of thinking. Many of the essays seem to be of the category of flowery writing where the writing gets in the way of the story. On the whole, not worth finishing once I found something else to read.
January 13, 2017
A friend described this as "a wonderful collection of essays with a dreadful title." She was right. I typically don't read every essay in a collection, but these just rolled one after another in the most engaging way. Only one or two seemed forced into the mold (somewhat surprisingly, one by the always-entertaining Susie Bright seemed only tenuously about motherhood and not extremely interesting). A wide range of well-written pieces on many facets about parenting--funny, heart-rending, surprising, and worth the read.
December 30, 2014
Interesting stories of motherhood that will draw out core values and beliefs, clearly define the struggles and tribulations mothers, and fathers, endure and demonstrates the convictions mothers are wired with.
I'm not so sure about the 'real-life parenthood' part as these stories are eye opening nontheless but not your typical everyday stories.
A worthy read.
I'm not so sure about the 'real-life parenthood' part as these stories are eye opening nontheless but not your typical everyday stories.
A worthy read.
January 23, 2008
This collection of essays is written by thinkers for thinkers. A great diversity of topics and voices provides the opportunity to reflect on our own choices, dreams, questions, and fears.
You won't get answers or advice. You will get ideas and questions to ponder.
You won't get answers or advice. You will get ideas and questions to ponder.
January 31, 2008
Of the 37 brief essays in this book, there were maybe half a dozen that didn't particularly speak to me. All the rest were one or more of the following: fascinating, funny, horrifying, insightful, moving... &c.
March 15, 2008
This is a great collection of essays written by mothers from many different backgrounds and perspectives. Very entertaining--lots of laughs and some tears. It's just so helpful to know sometimes that someone, somewhere has gone through similar experiences--and has come out from the other side!
July 4, 2008
A collection of essays all dealing with motherhood. These woman are honest, brave and great story tellers. Most of their stories are amazing and will make you want to cry or laugh! Highly recommend it for any mom!
October 23, 2009
Some interesting essays, but mostly these were prattles of women who think they're intellectual. Some of the hedonism and perspectives were a bit shocking to me, such as when one mom talked about taking a bath with her seven-year-old son! Not much that was really worth reading.
August 8, 2012
Very witty, lots of great writing by moms. And the topics they tackle within parenting are all over the place, so it's likely you'll find something to relate to as you're reading. Good book for the subway since you can quickly read a chapter or two at a time.
December 17, 2007
Great collection of short stories. I read this during the crazy adjustment to my first baby. It truly validated the place I was in at that time.
March 3, 2008
For anyone who is a mother or even thinking of being a mother.
April 12, 2008
good collection of essays from all angles. not the conventional why I love my kids stuff but much grittier. about the harder, truer, and sadder parts.
March 25, 2015
I'm not a big fan of short story collections on the first place, so finishing this one at all was an accomplishment. These stories ranged from excellent to a complete waste of time.
July 1, 2008
I remember this as a good book, but thoroughly depressing. However, I was pregnant when I read it so it could have just been me.
August 10, 2008
Interesting array of thought-provoking essays that go beyond the typical manic or emotion-filled motherhood experiences. More indicative of real life.
November 14, 2008
A great book!
April 11, 2017
The title is a little obnoxious (what is the implication? that most mothers don't think?), but these essays were great late-night reading for nursing Jenna.
Read
December 8, 2008Great book for a new mom.
Read
January 16, 2009I read this SECOND right after the birth of my first child!!
October 11, 2009
I was left unimpressed by these lukewarm, unmemorable essays -- I thought the stories in "A Bitch in the House" were so much more thought-provoking.
Currently reading
June 18, 2009Actually more interesting than I anticpated and great for reading when you have only ten or fifteen minutes at a time. The pieces show a lot of variety...covers the spectrum...so far anyway.
October 26, 2009
One of my favorite books...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews