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Mother in the Dark
A novel about family secrets and a volatile relationship between a mother and her daughters.
When Anna's sister calls with an urgent message, Anna doesn't return the call. She knows it's about their mother.
Growing up in working class Boston in an Italian American family, Anna's childhood was sparse but comfortable--filled with homemade meals and front-porch gatherings in their close-knit neighborhood. Anna and her sisters are devoted to their mother, orbiting her like the sun, trying to keep up with her loving but mercurial nature as she bounces between tenderness and bitterness.
When their father gets a new job outside the city, the family is tossed unceremoniously into a middle-class suburban existence. Anna's mother is suddenly adrift, and the darkness lurking inside her expands until it threatens to explode. Her daughters, trapped with her in the new house, isolated, must do everything they can to keep her from unraveling.
Alternating between childhood and Anna's twenties, in which she receives a shattering call about her mother and threatens to blow up her own precariously constructed new life in New York, Mother in the Dark asks whether we can ever really go back home when the idea of home is so unstable. Whether we can escape that instability or accept that our personalities are built around the defenses we put up. Maiuri is a master at revealing the fragile horrors of domestic family life and how the traumas of the past shape the present and generations of women.
A story about sisterhood, the complications of class, and the chains of inheritance between mothers and daughters, Mother in the Dark delivers an unvarnished portrayal of a young woman consumed by her past and a family teetering on the edge.
When Anna's sister calls with an urgent message, Anna doesn't return the call. She knows it's about their mother.
Growing up in working class Boston in an Italian American family, Anna's childhood was sparse but comfortable--filled with homemade meals and front-porch gatherings in their close-knit neighborhood. Anna and her sisters are devoted to their mother, orbiting her like the sun, trying to keep up with her loving but mercurial nature as she bounces between tenderness and bitterness.
When their father gets a new job outside the city, the family is tossed unceremoniously into a middle-class suburban existence. Anna's mother is suddenly adrift, and the darkness lurking inside her expands until it threatens to explode. Her daughters, trapped with her in the new house, isolated, must do everything they can to keep her from unraveling.
Alternating between childhood and Anna's twenties, in which she receives a shattering call about her mother and threatens to blow up her own precariously constructed new life in New York, Mother in the Dark asks whether we can ever really go back home when the idea of home is so unstable. Whether we can escape that instability or accept that our personalities are built around the defenses we put up. Maiuri is a master at revealing the fragile horrors of domestic family life and how the traumas of the past shape the present and generations of women.
A story about sisterhood, the complications of class, and the chains of inheritance between mothers and daughters, Mother in the Dark delivers an unvarnished portrayal of a young woman consumed by her past and a family teetering on the edge.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published August 9, 2022
83 people are currently reading
17344 people want to read
About the author
Kayla Maiuri
1 book138 followersKayla Maiuri is a novelist based in Brooklyn. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in The New York Times Book Review, Literary Hub, BOMB Magazine, Joyland, and elsewhere. She is a graduate of the writing program at Columbia University School of the Arts. Mother in the Dark, her first novel, was published in 2022 with Riverhead Books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 386 reviews
June 2, 2023
keeping up my streak of reading exclusively Contemporary Literary Fiction On The Connection Between Mothers And Daughters In Childhood Compared To Adult Life.
why mess with what works.
i truly cannot stand, 99% of the time, when books split themselves in half. i rarely find dual timelines, or multiple perspectives, or any variation on Back And Forth necessary, and almost always i prefer one to the other and that makes me hate both.
this was no exception.
usually in books that flash between the current day and childhood, i detest the childhood section — there's just something about lit fic attempting to Poetically render a kid to the page that drives me nuts.
in this case, it was the opposite — i found the past to be captured in detail, full of emotion and disturbing images and reality, and the present day to be a frustrating and overdramatic afterthought.
anyway, promising debut all the same!
bottom line: 50% enjoyment ain't bad.
thanks to the author for the copy)
why mess with what works.
i truly cannot stand, 99% of the time, when books split themselves in half. i rarely find dual timelines, or multiple perspectives, or any variation on Back And Forth necessary, and almost always i prefer one to the other and that makes me hate both.
this was no exception.
usually in books that flash between the current day and childhood, i detest the childhood section — there's just something about lit fic attempting to Poetically render a kid to the page that drives me nuts.
in this case, it was the opposite — i found the past to be captured in detail, full of emotion and disturbing images and reality, and the present day to be a frustrating and overdramatic afterthought.
anyway, promising debut all the same!
bottom line: 50% enjoyment ain't bad.
thanks to the author for the copy)
August 4, 2022
Mother in the Dark by Kayla Maiuri is a 2022 Riverhead Books publication.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading this book, but I certainly didn’t expect this type of story. It is one I’ve had to let swirl around in my head for a bit before my mind could land on a firm decision on how I felt about it.
This novel is moody, bleak, and melancholy, but it somehow takes hold of the reader, and demands your undivided attention, even when you desperately want an escape. It holds one in a vise grip, while you gasp for air in a nearly claustrophobic panic, but then it slowly releases the tension, so that you can feel the bitter cold, see and hear the birds, and then quite suddenly, the connections click into place, and then one is left to ponder the wonder of this journey.
This novel is a strong examination of family, mental illness, coping mechanisms, and mother/daughter/sister dynamics. It is compulsively readable, despite the weighty dramas, and the emotional conclusion leaves a very strong impression that will stick with you long after you turn that final page…
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading this book, but I certainly didn’t expect this type of story. It is one I’ve had to let swirl around in my head for a bit before my mind could land on a firm decision on how I felt about it.
This novel is moody, bleak, and melancholy, but it somehow takes hold of the reader, and demands your undivided attention, even when you desperately want an escape. It holds one in a vise grip, while you gasp for air in a nearly claustrophobic panic, but then it slowly releases the tension, so that you can feel the bitter cold, see and hear the birds, and then quite suddenly, the connections click into place, and then one is left to ponder the wonder of this journey.
This novel is a strong examination of family, mental illness, coping mechanisms, and mother/daughter/sister dynamics. It is compulsively readable, despite the weighty dramas, and the emotional conclusion leaves a very strong impression that will stick with you long after you turn that final page…
June 18, 2022
I inhaled this book - shades of Justin Torres and Lorrie Moore, with a strange alchemy all its own, and sharp writing all the way through.
June 12, 2023
for all the girlies who have mommy AND daddy issues
August 4, 2022
an astonishing debut novel exposing the most tender and painful aspects of sisterhood, motherhood, family & female friendship. Mother in the Dark not only examines the way our past can haunt us, but how generational trauma seeps into adulthood no matter how far you run from home. While I related deeply to the protagonist, Anna, the story painted such an intimate and honest portrait of family life that I found myself empathizing with every character by the end. This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and I’m thrilled to say it exceeded my expectations. I cannot wait to see what Kayla Maiuri does next.
August 25, 2022
4.5
I’m rounding up to a 4.5 because it’s a debut and it’s brilliant.
I’m rounding up to a 4.5 because it’s a debut and it’s brilliant.
December 17, 2023
https://www.instagram.com/p/C06vc9-Lq...
A riveting family saga that follows generational trauma and the cycles of destruction that ensue. Unflinching and candid, Mother in the Dark is a discussion around the complicated bonds between mother and children, the steadfast love and jealousy between sisters, and the ways in which we cling to shreds of the past, for better or worse, as we face an uncertain future. Gorgeously written, this novel is not just a story, it is a window to the hearts of so many, who hurt and hurt in turn, who love fiercely, uniquely, who are turn between the familiarity of how things are, no matter how stagnant, and the fear of risking everything for the way things could be. It is a whispered memory, a cry of recognition, an olive branch among ashes. Honest and raw in its depiction of mental illness and the slow ways in which a life can unravel, this is one heartrending read on a family who runs against the current to each other time and again. Searing and relatable, this is a truly effective read.
A riveting family saga that follows generational trauma and the cycles of destruction that ensue. Unflinching and candid, Mother in the Dark is a discussion around the complicated bonds between mother and children, the steadfast love and jealousy between sisters, and the ways in which we cling to shreds of the past, for better or worse, as we face an uncertain future. Gorgeously written, this novel is not just a story, it is a window to the hearts of so many, who hurt and hurt in turn, who love fiercely, uniquely, who are turn between the familiarity of how things are, no matter how stagnant, and the fear of risking everything for the way things could be. It is a whispered memory, a cry of recognition, an olive branch among ashes. Honest and raw in its depiction of mental illness and the slow ways in which a life can unravel, this is one heartrending read on a family who runs against the current to each other time and again. Searing and relatable, this is a truly effective read.
September 23, 2023
Mother in the Dark is an absolutely devastating and tender book that will no doubt be one of my favourites of the year. I absolutely devoured this over the span of two days and could not recommend it enough for fans of literary fiction. It focuses on our protagonist Anna reflecting on her upbringing and complex relationship with her family, and is written like a fictional memoir.
There is something raw and profound about our memories of childhood, particularly our childhood homes. Maiuri constructs Anna’s childhood home with such vivid imagery; the home bears scars and quirks that make it brim with life and creates such an established backdrop for the events of the novel. We see the interconnectedness of the family unit and how the consequences of their decisions ripple across generations. More than just a setting, there’s a sense of neighbourhood and community embedded in these pages that is so realistic and constantly evolving.
The prose is lyrical and touching, and so much is packed into this novel despite the short page count. We see relationships blossom and wither. We see people persevere through and ultimately yield to their trauma. We see the complexities of parenthood and sisterhood in plain sight, and the adversity these present during coming-of-age.
It’s rare to read a fictional novel that parallels my own experiences so well - ranging from the Italian heritage of the family through to some of the unique challenges they face. It definitely made me cry, which shows how attached I was to these characters. While nobody emerges as a hero in this tale, everyone is nuanced and complex. Vera in particular was a stand out character for me, and her friendship with Anna is a real highlight.
In terms of similar recommendations, parts of the book reminded me of A Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh and The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, but this really feels wholly unique. I wouldn’t recommend this if you’re looking for something upbeat or heavily plot-driven, but it really is a beautiful book.
There is something raw and profound about our memories of childhood, particularly our childhood homes. Maiuri constructs Anna’s childhood home with such vivid imagery; the home bears scars and quirks that make it brim with life and creates such an established backdrop for the events of the novel. We see the interconnectedness of the family unit and how the consequences of their decisions ripple across generations. More than just a setting, there’s a sense of neighbourhood and community embedded in these pages that is so realistic and constantly evolving.
The prose is lyrical and touching, and so much is packed into this novel despite the short page count. We see relationships blossom and wither. We see people persevere through and ultimately yield to their trauma. We see the complexities of parenthood and sisterhood in plain sight, and the adversity these present during coming-of-age.
It’s rare to read a fictional novel that parallels my own experiences so well - ranging from the Italian heritage of the family through to some of the unique challenges they face. It definitely made me cry, which shows how attached I was to these characters. While nobody emerges as a hero in this tale, everyone is nuanced and complex. Vera in particular was a stand out character for me, and her friendship with Anna is a real highlight.
In terms of similar recommendations, parts of the book reminded me of A Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh and The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, but this really feels wholly unique. I wouldn’t recommend this if you’re looking for something upbeat or heavily plot-driven, but it really is a beautiful book.
August 18, 2022
Debut author Kayla Maiuri really packs a punch with her novel 𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊. Hers is a true dysfunctional family story, with tension running high between all five members of this family. Told from the perspective of Anna, the eldest of three daughters, we learn about the discontent, trauma, neglect, mental illness and alcoholism that splinter her family. Make no mistake about it, theirs is a dark, dark story. Unhappiness is the norm, with hope a true unknown. For Anna, escape seems the only option.
I felt sorry for everyone in the family, while at the same time not truly liking any of them. I was uncomfortable being in their midst, and that goes to the incredible writing by Maiuri. She told a painful, gritty story that had me captivated from the very beginning. I turned the pages quickly, even though each made me melancholy. That’s powerful writing and the single most striking thing about 𝘔𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
∙
I felt sorry for everyone in the family, while at the same time not truly liking any of them. I was uncomfortable being in their midst, and that goes to the incredible writing by Maiuri. She told a painful, gritty story that had me captivated from the very beginning. I turned the pages quickly, even though each made me melancholy. That’s powerful writing and the single most striking thing about 𝘔𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘬. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
∙
September 10, 2022
this is perfect & devastating. reminds me of My Brilliant Friend & The Virgin Suicides.
July 29, 2024
Love being a girl in her morningside heights apartment reading a book about a girl in her morningside heights apartment :))
April 6, 2022
Emotionally nuanced and thoughtfully paced, this is a beautiful coming of age story and an exploration of a mother-daughter relationship in all its complexities.
August 11, 2022
If you read Animal by Lisa Taddeo or Breasts and Eggs by Kawakami, you’d probably really like Mother in the Dark!
For a character driven, family drama this book moved so effortlessly and quickly. At no point did I feel like it dragged, the pacing was fantastic and the writing extremely raw and honest.
Good for anyone interested in stories about mother-daughter relationships, friendships or sibling relationships.
For a character driven, family drama this book moved so effortlessly and quickly. At no point did I feel like it dragged, the pacing was fantastic and the writing extremely raw and honest.
Good for anyone interested in stories about mother-daughter relationships, friendships or sibling relationships.
July 27, 2022
Mother in the Dark by Kayla Maiuri just might be my favorite debut of the year. We all know that I love family dramas, especially the messy and complicated ones. Maiuri delivers in the very best way with her upcoming novel that explores complex mother/daughter relationships, sisterhood, childhood trauma, alcoholism, and mental illness. This isn’t a light and fluffy novel at all. It’s dark, heavy, and pretty gritty. The reader becomes a fly on the wall in a home full of troubles, instability, and secrets. It shows how your upbringing shapes you, and how the people you are surrounded by as a child mold you into the adult you grow up to be. This book captured my full attention from start to finish. I found it impossible to put down. My family spent last week in Colorado, and I inhaled the entire book on one of our rest days in between hikes. With short chapters, and at around 300 pages, it was very easy to do. What sealed the deal for me, and made the reading experience so enjoyable was the author’s writing style. It was so raw and beautifully written. Maiuri speaks about difficult subject matter in the most soft and tender way. It’s almost like she’s holding the reader’s hand. I can’t properly describe it, but it’s quite remarkable. You can tell that she poured her heart and soul into this novel. If this book wasn’t on your radar, I sure hope it is now. 5/5 phenomenal stars for Mother in the Dark! Highly recommend! It releases on August 9th!
January 22, 2023
4.5 stars ✨
Anna is in her 20s and living in New York when she gets a call from her sister that she lets go to voicemail. She knows it’s about her mother, and so she avoids calling back, but this sends her on a journey to her past and brings down the barricades she’s built over time to run away from her memories. The more she goes without calling back, the more her life begins to spiral.
Told from her point of view, the story alternates between her childhood in Boston and the present in New York. This is a novel that feels quiet, dark and slow. It’s an incredible exploration of mental illness and how it can be passed down through generations, particularly if left unaddressed and untreated.
It also paints a detailed picture of family life, the failures and mistakes of parents whose parents also failed them, and how that can lead to developing toxic coping mechanisms. Anna feels trapped and thinks that running away to another city will fix it, but this book is about the pull of the past on a person’s life.
The novel also addresses the complexities of mother-daughter relationships and Anna’s relationship with her two younger sisters. Its pace is consistent and there wasn’t any point at which I felt it was overly slow; I ended up devouring it in a couple of sittings.
I’d recommend it to fans of Elena Ferrante or Milk Fed by Melissa Broder.
Thanks to the author for kindly sending me a copy all the way from the US!
Anna is in her 20s and living in New York when she gets a call from her sister that she lets go to voicemail. She knows it’s about her mother, and so she avoids calling back, but this sends her on a journey to her past and brings down the barricades she’s built over time to run away from her memories. The more she goes without calling back, the more her life begins to spiral.
Told from her point of view, the story alternates between her childhood in Boston and the present in New York. This is a novel that feels quiet, dark and slow. It’s an incredible exploration of mental illness and how it can be passed down through generations, particularly if left unaddressed and untreated.
It also paints a detailed picture of family life, the failures and mistakes of parents whose parents also failed them, and how that can lead to developing toxic coping mechanisms. Anna feels trapped and thinks that running away to another city will fix it, but this book is about the pull of the past on a person’s life.
The novel also addresses the complexities of mother-daughter relationships and Anna’s relationship with her two younger sisters. Its pace is consistent and there wasn’t any point at which I felt it was overly slow; I ended up devouring it in a couple of sittings.
I’d recommend it to fans of Elena Ferrante or Milk Fed by Melissa Broder.
Thanks to the author for kindly sending me a copy all the way from the US!
September 6, 2022
Clearly one of the best debuts of the year. Kayla’s writing is so gorgeous and tender, with some of the most vivid scene descriptions. I felt myself getting hot and sticky along with her scenes of girlhood and smiling at all the playful moments with the sisters in the novel. This is a touching and beautifully rendered book about family secrets and drama, and all the messy and complicated ways we can love and be loved. I loved the sibling dynamic and I have a personal obsession with mother/daughter relationships and this delivered on all of that, and more. 5 stars , just a remarkable book I will return to for comfort.
On a personal note, I am beyond excited to get a chance to host a Q and A with the author later this month as part of my bookclub. I can’t wait to tell her how much I just adored this book and inhaled so much of it in extended sittings. I was totally shook at how some of the events in the book mirrored my own complicated family relationships. I am also the eldest of a family of all sisters and my own mother acted in many similar ways. I found this both scary and comforting. It’s cheesy to say reading this made me feel less alone , although fictional , it really cemented for me why I love books so much. Thank you Kayla , I can’t wait to read your next work!
On a personal note, I am beyond excited to get a chance to host a Q and A with the author later this month as part of my bookclub. I can’t wait to tell her how much I just adored this book and inhaled so much of it in extended sittings. I was totally shook at how some of the events in the book mirrored my own complicated family relationships. I am also the eldest of a family of all sisters and my own mother acted in many similar ways. I found this both scary and comforting. It’s cheesy to say reading this made me feel less alone , although fictional , it really cemented for me why I love books so much. Thank you Kayla , I can’t wait to read your next work!
October 24, 2023
just finished this in one sitting and loved
December 9, 2022
What I love most about this novel is that you can feel the author's love and generosity for all of the characters, even those that have done horrible things. It allowed me to have sympathy for both Vin and Dee, and to recognize their humanity. Will be recommending this to everyone!
October 26, 2022
sooooo depressing and miserable and bleak… virtually no happiness or positivity to be found here… but the writing itself is nice. Just no real plot and every page felt the same. Sorry to the book club for this one
September 26, 2023
Wow.
I swallowed this down in one sitting. Told from the viewpoint of one daughter, MOTHER IN THE DARK fills every crevice of unrequited intimacy from a mother lacking the capacity for anything much more than herself. And the viewpoint is unnerving considering how grounded in reality it will sit with readers who have lived it.
I swallowed this down in one sitting. Told from the viewpoint of one daughter, MOTHER IN THE DARK fills every crevice of unrequited intimacy from a mother lacking the capacity for anything much more than herself. And the viewpoint is unnerving considering how grounded in reality it will sit with readers who have lived it.
October 4, 2022
A beautifully written story that watches Anna our protagonist look back on her childhood, she is grappling with the trauma and difficult relationship with her parents that she’s left behind. In the present day her sisters are calling her and she just knows if she answers she will have to go back to that place and the demons she’s left behind.
This book falls in the realm of your typical dysfunctional mother daughter relationship, and although there is nothing uniquely new in this story, Maiuri has a talent for writing with such care and tenderness. The prose are quotable, I could highlight paragraph after paragraph of these disturbing and poetic lines. The talent is palpable.
Melancholy is the word best used to describe this story, I was gripped by the dynamics of each family members relationships and I wanted so much more for Anna and as I read on I was hoping for just that glimmer of hope and I never really got there.
This was sitting at a five star read for me right up until the final chapters but the ending left a lot to be desired for me, and without giving anything away I think the ending was almost too harsh even for a book this sad.
This book falls in the realm of your typical dysfunctional mother daughter relationship, and although there is nothing uniquely new in this story, Maiuri has a talent for writing with such care and tenderness. The prose are quotable, I could highlight paragraph after paragraph of these disturbing and poetic lines. The talent is palpable.
Melancholy is the word best used to describe this story, I was gripped by the dynamics of each family members relationships and I wanted so much more for Anna and as I read on I was hoping for just that glimmer of hope and I never really got there.
This was sitting at a five star read for me right up until the final chapters but the ending left a lot to be desired for me, and without giving anything away I think the ending was almost too harsh even for a book this sad.
August 2, 2022
Much love to my friends over at Riverhead Books for gifting me with this finished copy and leaving me feeling wrecked. 😭
This novel is written in alternating povs between the present Anna in her 20s and young Anna at age 10/15. The writing is absolutely beautiful and there is a mystery in understanding Anna’s past and finding out what happened why is she avoiding a call from her sister about her mom.
Kayla Maiuri captures messy family drama, sisterhood, friendship, and the complexities of a mother-daughter relationship. This book is not light whatsoever. It’s heavy y’all. When I first picked it up, I read through quite a bit of it, I was obsessed but as it got sadder, I wasn’t ready to come back to it. Even writing this review I’m just sad for the characters. I guess that shows how beautiful the writing is because I feel like I was in this household the whole time.
⚠️:
- alcoholism
- Mental illness
I honestly don’t know how to rate this…I’m feeling all sorts of things but I can’t lie, this book was very well done, I just didn’t know what I was getting. 😭
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5/5)
This novel is written in alternating povs between the present Anna in her 20s and young Anna at age 10/15. The writing is absolutely beautiful and there is a mystery in understanding Anna’s past and finding out what happened why is she avoiding a call from her sister about her mom.
Kayla Maiuri captures messy family drama, sisterhood, friendship, and the complexities of a mother-daughter relationship. This book is not light whatsoever. It’s heavy y’all. When I first picked it up, I read through quite a bit of it, I was obsessed but as it got sadder, I wasn’t ready to come back to it. Even writing this review I’m just sad for the characters. I guess that shows how beautiful the writing is because I feel like I was in this household the whole time.
⚠️:
- alcoholism
- Mental illness
I honestly don’t know how to rate this…I’m feeling all sorts of things but I can’t lie, this book was very well done, I just didn’t know what I was getting. 😭
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5/5)
October 24, 2022
sad because I love her prose but god damn this is depressing (and I love sad books!!!) feels like you’re trudging through snow. truly not one moment of relief
October 26, 2022
a frustrating read. when a book leans into the narrative of “no plot just vibes” i love a character growth pay off and this just wasn’t there. pretty writing can do some things but not all! ((1.5/5))
September 1, 2022
Audiobook Review – Mother in the Dark ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you @prhaudio for the gifted listening copy.
There are a few reasons I decided to listen to #MotherInTheDark. The first being the title. The word Mother is a book buzz word for me and I gravitate towards stories that navigate motherhood. Secondly, I came across Shannon @thebookclubmom 5-star glowing review of it (I’ll share that in my stories). Lastly, debut authors are bookish catnip and I cannot resist the temptation. Don’t even get me started on the Barnes and Noble plan to limit hardcover stock.
Mother In the Dark is quite dark indeed. Told from the perspective of the oldest of three daughters, Anna recalls growing up with a mother filled with sorrow and darkness and later an alcoholic father. We also see her a few years later still navigating these traumas after finally breaking free of the troubled family. This debut felt so raw and personal, that at times it felt like I was reading a memoir. I do caution the reader as there are many triggers and you are not left with a tidy bow at the end.
At my go-to audiobook speed of 1.75 I was able to listen to this in around 4 hours. It’s heavy and consuming so make sure you’re in the right headspace. I look forward to reading more from Maiuri.
#basicbsguide #audiobookstagram #readmore #motherhood #depression #mentalhealth #newbook #bookreview #bookrecommendations #whattoread #bookcover #familydrama #readersofinstagram #bookish #bookgraphic #bibliophile
Thank you @prhaudio for the gifted listening copy.
There are a few reasons I decided to listen to #MotherInTheDark. The first being the title. The word Mother is a book buzz word for me and I gravitate towards stories that navigate motherhood. Secondly, I came across Shannon @thebookclubmom 5-star glowing review of it (I’ll share that in my stories). Lastly, debut authors are bookish catnip and I cannot resist the temptation. Don’t even get me started on the Barnes and Noble plan to limit hardcover stock.
Mother In the Dark is quite dark indeed. Told from the perspective of the oldest of three daughters, Anna recalls growing up with a mother filled with sorrow and darkness and later an alcoholic father. We also see her a few years later still navigating these traumas after finally breaking free of the troubled family. This debut felt so raw and personal, that at times it felt like I was reading a memoir. I do caution the reader as there are many triggers and you are not left with a tidy bow at the end.
At my go-to audiobook speed of 1.75 I was able to listen to this in around 4 hours. It’s heavy and consuming so make sure you’re in the right headspace. I look forward to reading more from Maiuri.
#basicbsguide #audiobookstagram #readmore #motherhood #depression #mentalhealth #newbook #bookreview #bookrecommendations #whattoread #bookcover #familydrama #readersofinstagram #bookish #bookgraphic #bibliophile
January 8, 2023
2.5. I know I’m in the minority here …but I just wasn’t feeling it with this novel. Yes it is very introspective and deals with families and all the blackness that families may experience;mothers and daughters and the fears and hopes and expectations. But for me this book just dragged on and on and on. Or maybe I was just not in the mood for a depressing read?
December 24, 2023
i’m noticing a trend in my reading lately and it is mother/daughter relationships. especially dark mother and daughter relationships.
in this impressive debut novel we follow anna as she’s thrown back into her smothering childhood home after a phone call from one of her sisters. she knows the phone call holds news about her mother and its news she doesn’t want to deal with, but she finds that the longer she ignores her past the more her present life unravels.
anna and her younger sisters deal with a neglectful mother and a alcoholic father while growing up in a house that is perpetually shut off to the rest of the world, with the girls isolated they try everything to keep their crumbling family together. this is a story about family trauma and how often parents can make mistakes, reminding us that mothers were once daughters too.
i found kayla maiuri’s writing to be incredibly skillful as she created the feeling of a slow darkness settling into every sentence, making you feel jumpy and expecting the worst at any moment. mother in the dark was a suffocating read and you can only gasp for a long deep breath of air once you turn the final page.
in this impressive debut novel we follow anna as she’s thrown back into her smothering childhood home after a phone call from one of her sisters. she knows the phone call holds news about her mother and its news she doesn’t want to deal with, but she finds that the longer she ignores her past the more her present life unravels.
anna and her younger sisters deal with a neglectful mother and a alcoholic father while growing up in a house that is perpetually shut off to the rest of the world, with the girls isolated they try everything to keep their crumbling family together. this is a story about family trauma and how often parents can make mistakes, reminding us that mothers were once daughters too.
i found kayla maiuri’s writing to be incredibly skillful as she created the feeling of a slow darkness settling into every sentence, making you feel jumpy and expecting the worst at any moment. mother in the dark was a suffocating read and you can only gasp for a long deep breath of air once you turn the final page.
December 9, 2022
I underlined so many lines in this book. So many beautiful passages about loneliness, guilt, shame, and longing. What it means to be a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend. This story will stick with me for a long time.
December 9, 2022
This is book is so tender and heart-wrenching and comforting all at once.
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