Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

A book about postpartum.


Yes this category bugs me because "postpartum" is an adjective, and every time I read that I think "postpartum WHAT?" I assume they mean the whole postpartum time period, the "fourth trimester."

I quickly searched for books and I was surprised at how difficult it was to find a book that focuses on the postpartum period specifically. This is going to take some research! I'm sure all you smart reading folks will come up with better ideas. All I found was The Slow Burn.


Listopia list is Here: A book about postpartum

According to Wikipedia:
There are three distinct phases of the postnatal period; the acute phase, lasting for six to twelve hours after birth; the subacute phase, lasting six weeks; and the delayed phase, lasting up to six months

So, I guess a book where a MC had a baby six months ago or less?

What about The Upstairs House? I haven't read it but it seems like it would fit.

I own The Other Mother and haven't gotten to it yet, so that's my first option. I would recommend The Yellow Wall-Paper if you haven't read it.

Thinking of My Work by Olga Ravn

I can recommend Dear Scarlet by Teresa Wong. Sorry, I'm typing on my phone, so I can't make hyperlinks. It's a graphic novel, autobiographical, and delves into postpartum depression. She's very honest about her challenges.

I didn't read it for a prompt or bookmark, but I liked the cover. I'll definitely read anything else she writes.

Although it's not the focus of the book, this topic is touched on in Graceless by Ruby Landers. This is a queer romance and is the second book in a series, and I really feel you need to read the first book (Falls From Grace) first (which would work for the pop star category). I believe both books are free in Kindle Unlimited. The audiobooks are good, too.

Just putting this out there if people find themselves really stuck and not wanting something that's depressing. Or if you like queer romances, then enjoy!

Angie wrote: "Although it's not the focus of the book, this topic is touched on in Graceless by Ruby Landers. This is a queer romance and is the second book in a series, and I really feel you ne..."

That looks good. Also, it looks like Falls From Grace has a m/f platonic friendship, and Graceless has a nonbinary character.

Laura Ruth wrote: That looks good. Also, it looks like Falls From Grace has a m/f platonic friendship, and Graceless has a nonbinary character."

Yes. Correct on both counts. And, actually, the third book in the series (Saving Graces) has a trans character and a nonbinary character, so this series knocks out a few categories.

Since I'm interpreting this book to mean "any book where the main character has just had a baby," I think I'll read Tantrum.

I listened to this on audiobook last year and loved it, more of a supernatural thriller.

I second Little Darlings!!! So good!!!

I'm going to read by Teresa Wong. Another good book about postpartum depression is by Brooke Shields.

I'll probably skip this one, it's not a topic that I find very interesting. Though I might happen to find a book where the main character recently gave birth.

Ellen wrote: "I'm going to read by Teresa Wong. Another good book about postpartum ."



Dear Scarlet: The Story of My Postpartum Depression was really well done. I was a little burnt out on challenges, prompts, and bookmarks. I chose this for the cover, and that was a great decision. I really appreciated her story!

I just read the graphic novel The Best We Could Do, and the author/artist did include a chapter on her difficulties after giving birth. It's not the main storyline though; it is about her family immigrating to the US from Vietnam just after the war.

I'm also reading Little Darlings!

I think I might read Chouette for this. I've been reluctant to read it because I cross paths with the author a lot on GR, we have mutual friends, etc, and what if she sees my review and feels some sort of way about it?? But that's silly.

For anyone who might be interested, and reads plays, you could probably use Macbeth. Lady M is written as having postpartum depression towards the end of her life.

Dubhease wrote: "According to Wikipedia:
There are three distinct phases of the postnatal period; the acute phase, lasting for six to twelve hours after birth; the subacute phase, lasting six weeks; and the delayed..."

exactly, anything with a new baby should work.

Not sure if the Silmarillion is on anyone’s list, but chapter six is about Miriel and what sounds like PPD after she gives birth to Feanor. Obviously a difficult book to tackle even for those who love Tolkien (my third attempt to read it), but if you’re reading it anyway could cover this prompt.

I am going to read The Names

As You Wish wrote: "Not sure if the Silmarillion is on anyone’s list, but chapter six is about Miriel and what sounds like PPD after she gives birth to Feanor. Obviously a difficult book to tackle even for those who l..."




this is not relevant at all, BUT: I just watched the movie Tolkien and it was fabulous!!! I gave it five stars, it was much better than I anticipated.

Nadine in NY wrote: "this is not relevant at all, BUT: I just watched the movie Tolkien and it was fabulous!!! I gave it five stars, it was much better than I anticipated."

I'll have to check that one out! This book really ignited my desire to read the rest of his background lore, most of each was summarized by 10-15 pages in the Silmarillion, but 300 pages of Beren & Luthien? Yes please.

Denise wrote: "I am going to read The Names"

I'm reading this now and absolutely would work, I might end up using it for this prompt too!

Britany wrote: "Denise wrote: "I am going to read The Names"

I'm reading this now and absolutely would work, I might end up using it for this prompt too!"

Glad to know it's going to work! I bought a copy a few months ago and saw it on the Listopia (not always accurate) so I chose it and hoped for the best

Britany wrote: "Denise wrote: "I am going to read The Names"

I'm reading this now and absolutely would work, I might end up using it for this prompt too!"




Good to know! I added it to my short list of ideas for this category. I'm still planning to try Chouette first for it, but just in case that doesn't work out ...

Nadine in NY wrote: "Britany wrote: "Denise wrote: "I am going to read The Names"

I'm reading this now and absolutely would work, I might end up using it for this prompt too!"

Good to know! I adde..."

Chouette was my other choice but then I found The Names for $1.99 on Kindle so it moved ahead. I will still read Chouette sometime, a long review of it I read made it sound good but at the same time kind of creepy

Denise wrote: "I will still read Chouette sometime, a long review of it I read made it sound good but at the same time kind of creepy"

It is definitely creepy, yes!

For The Names - the postpartum stuff isn't throughout the entire book but definitely the first bit. I'm not sure if that changes anything for anyone, I'm still most likely going to use it for this prompt.

The book moves forward 7 years at a time.

Finished The Names by Florence Knapp

My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read Keep It in the Family by John Marrs for this prompt. There was a lot going on in this book, but one of the main characters suffers from PPD and has a lot of trouble bonding with her baby.

I enjoyed the book — a solid 4 star read.

Although the postpartum period isn't the focus of the whole book, it's relevant in The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder, so I used that.

http://www.lauraruthloomis.com/whats-...

Would Jezebel by Megan Barnard work for this? Anyone read it?

I'm reading The Secret Book Society for the book club prompt, but in the middle of the book it mentions post partum depression. It's brief, but it's potentially triggering. Though the whole book deals with the mistreatment of women, so it's not for everyone the whole way through.

I am listening to by Ashley Audrain on Libby and I think it fits here.

It seems a bit insensitive to have a prompt on infertility and then a prompt on postpartum in the same challenge....

I read The Careful Use of Compliments. The MC has a three month old baby, and the first half of the book has a focus on the baby, relationship with another carer, and with the father. I read it because I didn't want an angsty book on this subject, and in this one, the MC is generally enjoying her baby.

I've read previous books with this MC, and she can be irritating, but less so in this book.

Postpartum means within a few months of giving birth. Somebody is postpartum after a miscarriage or stillbirth, or after giving birth and then giving the baby for adoption. It's not NECESSARILY somebody who's parenting a new baby. I'm waiting to see if I naturally come across a story with a birth in it. I'm currently reading The Eight Heartbreaks of Hanukkah, which has a CW for infertility and pregnancy loss, and I may use it for this category, if I feel that there are enough pages dealing with post-birth experiences.

I read The Names. 5 stars.

I read Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke for this prompt.

I decided to go with The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman because it is so short.