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The Wild Mother
The delicate relationship growing between Adam Underwood and Eva Brooke is nearly destroyed with the reappearance of his former wife, Lilith
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 8, 2020
This is an excellent modern fairy tale/ pagan retelling of Adam and Eve. The characters are complex including the physical environment, which has it's own pride of place in the story.
The lessons that are taught are many including finding your place and purpose in your life journey, staying true to yourself , being open to the new while embracing your beginnings. As I find myself in the later half of my life I was touched to see the importance that was given to the elder characters, and how one is never too old to embrace positive change.
The best of the tale does come in the latter half of the story, the first half largely being devoted to the introduction of characters and background. Fantasy is not usually my go-to, but this author piqued and held my interest, and left me thinking even after I finished the book. I look forward to reading her other works.
The lessons that are taught are many including finding your place and purpose in your life journey, staying true to yourself , being open to the new while embracing your beginnings. As I find myself in the later half of my life I was touched to see the importance that was given to the elder characters, and how one is never too old to embrace positive change.
The best of the tale does come in the latter half of the story, the first half largely being devoted to the introduction of characters and background. Fantasy is not usually my go-to, but this author piqued and held my interest, and left me thinking even after I finished the book. I look forward to reading her other works.
February 15, 2010
Adam Underwood, professor of Alchemy at the University, captures Lilith, a descendant of the first Lilith. He captures her and takes her as his unwilling wife. After bearing him a daughter and then a son, she disappears, only to return many years later to claim her daughter and take her to the Empty Land. Adam has plans to trap her. But, can he keep her? Read this excerpt:
"Fool, she laughed. "Mortal fool. The bond between us cannot be broken because there is no bond. Do you think your human laws can bind me? I am a direct descendant of the First Woman, the ninth to bear her name, a member by blood and water and fire of her immortal race, subject to her laws alone. I have amused myself with you. That is all. My life with you has been a game for me, a dangerous game, a foolish game, but a game. I am not playing anymore."
"Fool, she laughed. "Mortal fool. The bond between us cannot be broken because there is no bond. Do you think your human laws can bind me? I am a direct descendant of the First Woman, the ninth to bear her name, a member by blood and water and fire of her immortal race, subject to her laws alone. I have amused myself with you. That is all. My life with you has been a game for me, a dangerous game, a foolish game, but a game. I am not playing anymore."
January 12, 2016
Oh my goodness. I just finished this an hour ago and I'm still trying to untangle myself from it. Except I really don't want to. I feel lucky this book found its way to me and I plan on getting my hands on every other book this wonderful lady has written. Where to start?
This book reads like a dark fairytale. It doesn't lack in archetypes and symbolism. The imagery is bold and haunting with plenty of PRIMAL to go around. This is not a book about any particular religion, however, it does resurrect the biblical roles of Adam, Eve and Lilith while emphasizing the sacred feminine. Elizabeth Cunningham finds a beautiful balance between these two, often contradicting, themes.
So, now the characters. The dynamics developed between each character is subtle and real. The author doesn't impose action or drama on her plot, she lets her characters develop, change and react naturally and that moves the plot forward. And yet there is plenty happening in this story. What makes a book really special to me is when a relationship within it changes unexpectedly. Even more so when enemies become allies or when an author underplays a character's capacity to love and SHOW love. So that when they do open up it's a thousand times more special because it's so rare. This book overflows with these moments and by the end of it, yep, I was crying like a toddler. And that's not because this is a really sad book. It's not. It's a breath of fresh air in its reminder that we need to open our eyes to the world around us and the people in it. Especially the ones we take for granted.
The strongest element in this book is the bond between a mother and her daughter. Blood or otherwise. And the book is appropriately named. The main characters in this element are Ionia and her wild mother, Lilith, who comes from the Empty Lands and must return there or die. Ionia's human father, Adam, holds Lilith captive in their home while the children and grandmother eventually plot Lilith's escape. And while the bond between Ionia and her mother strengthen, there are other maternal bonds that play out as the story progresses. Each one of the author's characters meets a pivotal moment that projects them through a very critical change. Each undergoes their own transformation and, by the end of it, it creates a beautiful patchwork of what FAMILY truly is.
I will not be lending this book out, so if you know me, don't even ask! This will go on the shelf with "The Books of Great Alta" and "The Mists of Avalon." It's a keeper. Thank you, Elizabeth Cunningham!
This book reads like a dark fairytale. It doesn't lack in archetypes and symbolism. The imagery is bold and haunting with plenty of PRIMAL to go around. This is not a book about any particular religion, however, it does resurrect the biblical roles of Adam, Eve and Lilith while emphasizing the sacred feminine. Elizabeth Cunningham finds a beautiful balance between these two, often contradicting, themes.
So, now the characters. The dynamics developed between each character is subtle and real. The author doesn't impose action or drama on her plot, she lets her characters develop, change and react naturally and that moves the plot forward. And yet there is plenty happening in this story. What makes a book really special to me is when a relationship within it changes unexpectedly. Even more so when enemies become allies or when an author underplays a character's capacity to love and SHOW love. So that when they do open up it's a thousand times more special because it's so rare. This book overflows with these moments and by the end of it, yep, I was crying like a toddler. And that's not because this is a really sad book. It's not. It's a breath of fresh air in its reminder that we need to open our eyes to the world around us and the people in it. Especially the ones we take for granted.
The strongest element in this book is the bond between a mother and her daughter. Blood or otherwise. And the book is appropriately named. The main characters in this element are Ionia and her wild mother, Lilith, who comes from the Empty Lands and must return there or die. Ionia's human father, Adam, holds Lilith captive in their home while the children and grandmother eventually plot Lilith's escape. And while the bond between Ionia and her mother strengthen, there are other maternal bonds that play out as the story progresses. Each one of the author's characters meets a pivotal moment that projects them through a very critical change. Each undergoes their own transformation and, by the end of it, it creates a beautiful patchwork of what FAMILY truly is.
I will not be lending this book out, so if you know me, don't even ask! This will go on the shelf with "The Books of Great Alta" and "The Mists of Avalon." It's a keeper. Thank you, Elizabeth Cunningham!
November 24, 2018
Another 5/5 stars to one of Elizabeth Cunningham's works.
*Major spoilers ahead!*
The Wild Mother was a bit of a "slow burn," with the plot not really taking off until the second quarter of the book, but I still absolutely loved it and appreciated the craftsmanship behind it. It's so easy to see that Cunningham is often inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia; Ionia, Fred, Jason, and their dog-companion Lion explore their homes and the Empty Land like the Pevensie kids explored the Professor's house and, eventually, Narnia. The Wild Mother very clearly draws inspiration from Lewis, but with the added perspective of the adults.
The adults themselves are modern-day reincarnations of Adam, Eve, and Lilith of the Old Testament. I appreciated the references to the Book of Genesis, and the feminist and environmentalist critique of man's "need" to rule over the entire world. Lilith was a fantastic character; Cunningham does a great job of making her seem other-than-human, which is not an easy feat when writing from a human perspective. Grammar was also amazing, and I was SO happy when she finally stood up to Adam.
I was initially leaning towards giving the book 4/5 stars, because the women do 95% of the emotional labor in this book, and honestly I was unhappy with Ionia's choice to sacrifice immortality and freedom because she felt too tethered to the boys in her life. I also really, really hated that Eva and the kids went back to Adam. Call me cynical, but it just seemed... a dangerous moral of the story, that a man like that can change if a woman just loves him enough. Adam was clearly abusive, and he raped Lilith on multiple occasions; in my opinion, there is no coming back from that, and it's not fair for the women in his life to be guilted into forgiveness for something that HE did. I suppose, on the other hand, this is a great how-to guide for men trying to outgrow their toxic masculinity and break out of the bonds of the patriarchy.
Anyway, I kept in mind that this book was written 25 year ago, and the self-sacrificing woman was not such a controversial trope at the time. (I'm really curious to see what the 25th anniversary edition has to say, looking back on the story!) Interestingly, the poem at the end of the book, written by Cunningham to Ionia, reveals that the author herself is still unsure whether Ionia made the right decision, or whether she is still teetering between the two worlds. It was a very nice addition to the book's end, similar to the poem at the end of The Maeve Chronicles.
Overall, this was such an enjoyable, intriguing, and liberating story. 5/5 stars and a spot on the favorites shelf!
*Major spoilers ahead!*
The Wild Mother was a bit of a "slow burn," with the plot not really taking off until the second quarter of the book, but I still absolutely loved it and appreciated the craftsmanship behind it. It's so easy to see that Cunningham is often inspired by The Chronicles of Narnia; Ionia, Fred, Jason, and their dog-companion Lion explore their homes and the Empty Land like the Pevensie kids explored the Professor's house and, eventually, Narnia. The Wild Mother very clearly draws inspiration from Lewis, but with the added perspective of the adults.
The adults themselves are modern-day reincarnations of Adam, Eve, and Lilith of the Old Testament. I appreciated the references to the Book of Genesis, and the feminist and environmentalist critique of man's "need" to rule over the entire world. Lilith was a fantastic character; Cunningham does a great job of making her seem other-than-human, which is not an easy feat when writing from a human perspective. Grammar was also amazing, and I was SO happy when she finally stood up to Adam.
I was initially leaning towards giving the book 4/5 stars, because the women do 95% of the emotional labor in this book, and honestly I was unhappy with Ionia's choice to sacrifice immortality and freedom because she felt too tethered to the boys in her life. I also really, really hated that Eva and the kids went back to Adam. Call me cynical, but it just seemed... a dangerous moral of the story, that a man like that can change if a woman just loves him enough. Adam was clearly abusive, and he raped Lilith on multiple occasions; in my opinion, there is no coming back from that, and it's not fair for the women in his life to be guilted into forgiveness for something that HE did. I suppose, on the other hand, this is a great how-to guide for men trying to outgrow their toxic masculinity and break out of the bonds of the patriarchy.
Anyway, I kept in mind that this book was written 25 year ago, and the self-sacrificing woman was not such a controversial trope at the time. (I'm really curious to see what the 25th anniversary edition has to say, looking back on the story!) Interestingly, the poem at the end of the book, written by Cunningham to Ionia, reveals that the author herself is still unsure whether Ionia made the right decision, or whether she is still teetering between the two worlds. It was a very nice addition to the book's end, similar to the poem at the end of The Maeve Chronicles.
Overall, this was such an enjoyable, intriguing, and liberating story. 5/5 stars and a spot on the favorites shelf!
May 23, 2023
This novel is full of riches, starting with Lilith, the novel’s “wild mother,” who is a character for the ages. Cunningham has reworked the myth of Lilith, the first wife of Adam, in truly creative and intriguing ways. In this version, Lilith has left the Garden voluntarily (rather than being evicted), never having tasted the fruit of the tree of knowledge. When her latest descendant, also named Lilith, immortal and completely ignorant of good and evil, enters the modern world, every life she touches is upended and ultimately transformed. These lives include that of her brilliant and arrogant self-proclaimed husband, his feisty and super-organized mother, his adoring and long-suffering friend (named Eva), and his and Lilith’s daughter, who ultimately must choose between her home and her mother’s immortal world, the Empty Land. The Wild Bride is a remarkable modern fairy tale and so much more. I highly recommend this book!
April 14, 2023
I heard a lot about this book and I found it fascinating even if some parts didn't aged well.
The mix of myth, biblical references, and divine feminine is a bit too 90s, please remember that the divine femine was a huge hit in the 90s
The story is still fascinating and compelling, great storytelling.
The characters are a picture of their age but I liked them.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
The mix of myth, biblical references, and divine feminine is a bit too 90s, please remember that the divine femine was a huge hit in the 90s
The story is still fascinating and compelling, great storytelling.
The characters are a picture of their age but I liked them.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
February 24, 2023
This book was very hard for me to rate. I wanted to give it four stars as it encompassed so many elements I crave in a story. Myth, magic, divine feminine, adventure, mystery, and if the ending had been written differently, not necessarily a different ending, just written in a more profound, mature manner and taken its time I would have given four stars. The ending to a book is almost as important as the rest to me and when I got to the final pages it suddenly seemed I was reading a book written by a fanciful 12 year old. Also, in this day and age I don’t believe the handling of the Adam character was realistically or wisely represented tho I do acknowledge this book was written in the 70’s. Thus a three star rating to a book I assumed I’d give 4-5 stars to. I adored her writing for the Passion of Magdalene series.
That being said, I did enjoy so many elements of the story, reflected deeply upon the destructive nature of infatuation and had a profound moment of realization about the beauty of human life.
That being said, I did enjoy so many elements of the story, reflected deeply upon the destructive nature of infatuation and had a profound moment of realization about the beauty of human life.
October 2, 2019
Having read this almost 19 years ago, I was gleeful to reread it again from my current lens of understanding and I was just as entranced and perhaps more so having gained the perspective of study and Life! I find Elizabeth to be a mesmerizing Storyteller and her numerous treasured books are part of my permanent Fiction shelves. The Wild Mother is an intoxicating blend of modern fable and thriller, which beckons the reader into a realm where the Divine Feminine is uninhibited and free from the constructs of patriarchy. While in juxtaposition to a world where the tyranny of the Mother and Maiden are allowed to operate without restraint. As a first novel, written 14 years before Return of the Goddess I feel like you really get to bear witness to the foundations of her questing and questioning, which becomes more fully evolved & dissected as her narratives become richer and more astute. This is a book to curl up with and joyfully devour!
September 28, 2022
I adored this modern day retelling, exploring of the ancient story of Adam and Eve, especially when you think of how Lilith must have felt. Beautifully crafted, a tale that will really catch your imagination.
Re-read 17-04-2016
Coming back to this book all these years later - has it really been over seven years, it made me realise as I grow older how powerful this tale is. The choice to stay or go, the choice to be Wild or Human was such a struggle and it is something that we must all make at some point if we are to join the tribe of adulthood. I seem to have missed that somehow in my first reading. My first reading was so focused on the two mothers, this time I also noticed the two Grand Mothers, who both loved the children in their own way. And I yearn to know how they managed after the marriage of Eva and Adam. Did Lilith and Ishtar ever see Fred and Ionia again?
Re-read 17-04-2016
Coming back to this book all these years later - has it really been over seven years, it made me realise as I grow older how powerful this tale is. The choice to stay or go, the choice to be Wild or Human was such a struggle and it is something that we must all make at some point if we are to join the tribe of adulthood. I seem to have missed that somehow in my first reading. My first reading was so focused on the two mothers, this time I also noticed the two Grand Mothers, who both loved the children in their own way. And I yearn to know how they managed after the marriage of Eva and Adam. Did Lilith and Ishtar ever see Fred and Ionia again?
July 22, 2008
one of my favorite books of all time
October 15, 2009
A lovely read, works nicely with complex archetypes...somewhat dissatisfying ending. I also wish the author had dealt more generously with Adam, in terms of his roundness as a character.
May 25, 2011
Almost a keeper - probably a 4 1/2 in my book. Great story about finding and staying true to oneself.
March 2, 2013
I don't generally read Fantasy, but this book was fantastic. Highly recommend it!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews