Five books that explore motherhood, intention, & desire

Uttama Kirit Patel is a writer and magazine founder and editor, and has lived in twelve cities across three continents. She holds an MPhil in Psychology from the University of Cambridge, has been a semi-finalist in the Raymond Carver Short Story Contest, and was nominated for the PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers.

Patel's debut novel is Shape of an Apostrophe.

At Lit Hub the author tagged five "books which expose the complexity of choosing, upholding or opting out of motherhood." One title on the list:

Anna Hogeland, The Long Answer

Does fertility upend friendships? At the centre of this novel is the relationship between two sisters (one pregnant, and one who has recently miscarried), who tell each other stories of other women to illuminate their own. The narrative gracefully shows how maternal ache can make us envy loved ones, how a stranger’s horrific pregnancy can derail one’s own, and the intimate, yet biting ways women speak to each other about their bodies.

Hogeland manages to encompass many realities—stillbirth, egg donation, abortion, IVF—and reveal the impact of other women’s judgements on maternal decision-making.

Read about another entry on the list.

Q&A with Anna Hogeland.

--Marshal Zeringue