The latest Ian McEwan novel, Lessons, deals very surprisingly with a woman's decision to abandon her husband and baby to pursue her art. Well worth reading on this subject. Thank you Kate for such an interesting piece...my next project will be about the emergence of the wife who pursues a career, during the 1950s and 60s, and you've given me some great lines of enquiry!
This is great Kate - I was just thinking about A Lost Daughter yesterday, which I loved (I'm not usually a Ferrante fan) and your piece really makes me want to read the Penelope Mortimer now. I do love a sideways look at the theme of motherhood in mid-century novels.
Oh, yes! I love Anne Tyler's writing. I read that one a couple of years ago. She writes so well about marriage and motherhood. I recently read French Braid, don't know if you've read that one, but it's on a similar theme.
Thank you for reading, Tasha, and for subscribing! Yes, Mortimer's writing is really readable. I enjoyed her style. This was the first Ferrante book I have read so far and I know she's very popular. Like you say, it is a bit of an uncomfortable read; I'd be interested to see how this translates to the film.
So interesting! Thanks for your in-depth look at this. Writing was always "a room of my own" while my children were little; actually, I don't know how parents survive with their personalities more or less intact without something like that. (This isn't meant to sugarcoat those years. It's hard to maintain.)
Thank you for reading and commenting, Martha. I agree; I also found "escape" in my writing (and studying) when my children were younger. I expect Penelope Mortimer also did with her novel writing, too. I think (though it can be difficult to carve time and space) that it's essential, as you say, to continue with passions of your own.
I think The Pumpkin Eater is one of the best novels of the 1960s. Do you remember the story of John Mortimer being ‘amazed’ and ‘delighted’ by the discovery of the 40something year-old son he had with Wendy Craig? I always wondered how the amazement worked, given that the affair and the child are described in great, painful detail in her 1962 novel. Maybe he didn’t read it.
Amazing, right? Tells you a lot about journalism, too - nobody had the slightest interest in challenging Sir John's version of events, even though there was a WHOLE NOVEL available.
Great piece! I think the complex relationship between mothers and daughters is such an interesting subject - and a theme I'd love to read more about. As you've mentioned in your essay, there are many different layers to these relationships and I love these examples you've used. I've not read either of these authors, but I love discovering new books on random library trips :)
Thanks so much! Random library trip finds are the best 😉 I still can't make my mind up about Ferrante's books, but I found the ideas around mothering in this one really interesting.
Thanks, Kate. So interesting. Motherhood in literature is fascinating and I love your essays on the subject. I’ve not read Ferrante, but like your other commentator, I have read Anne Tyler.
Thanks, Victoria. This is the first Ferrante I have read (although I did start one of her Neapolitan novels and couldn’t get into it.) Anne Tyler’s writing always strikes me as so real and empathetic.
Kate, interesting insights here. I haven't read either author however Ferrante's Neapolitan series is on my list. I look forward to exploring her work.
The latest Ian McEwan novel, Lessons, deals very surprisingly with a woman's decision to abandon her husband and baby to pursue her art. Well worth reading on this subject. Thank you Kate for such an interesting piece...my next project will be about the emergence of the wife who pursues a career, during the 1950s and 60s, and you've given me some great lines of enquiry!
Thanks, Sarah. The McEwan sounds interesting! As does your project; glad to have provided some ideas for further investigation 😀
This is great Kate - I was just thinking about A Lost Daughter yesterday, which I loved (I'm not usually a Ferrante fan) and your piece really makes me want to read the Penelope Mortimer now. I do love a sideways look at the theme of motherhood in mid-century novels.
Thanks, Ann! Yes, it is an endlessly fascinating topic to me, which still feels so relevant to today.
Thanks Kate. It’s a few years since I read it but Anne Tyler’s “Ladder of years” sprang to mind re motherhood.
Oh, yes! I love Anne Tyler's writing. I read that one a couple of years ago. She writes so well about marriage and motherhood. I recently read French Braid, don't know if you've read that one, but it's on a similar theme.
Thanks. I’ve not read that one.
Thank you for this. Glad it popped up in my feed. And it took me away from cooking dinnee for a bit (I feel that is somehow relevant).
I will have to look out some of Penelope Mortimer's writing, is sounds very inciteful.
I am a big Elena Ferante fan and found that particular one a bit uncomfortable but also brilliant.
I have subscribed and will be interested to read your future posts.
Thank you for reading, Tasha, and for subscribing! Yes, Mortimer's writing is really readable. I enjoyed her style. This was the first Ferrante book I have read so far and I know she's very popular. Like you say, it is a bit of an uncomfortable read; I'd be interested to see how this translates to the film.
So interesting! Thanks for your in-depth look at this. Writing was always "a room of my own" while my children were little; actually, I don't know how parents survive with their personalities more or less intact without something like that. (This isn't meant to sugarcoat those years. It's hard to maintain.)
Thank you for reading and commenting, Martha. I agree; I also found "escape" in my writing (and studying) when my children were younger. I expect Penelope Mortimer also did with her novel writing, too. I think (though it can be difficult to carve time and space) that it's essential, as you say, to continue with passions of your own.
I think The Pumpkin Eater is one of the best novels of the 1960s. Do you remember the story of John Mortimer being ‘amazed’ and ‘delighted’ by the discovery of the 40something year-old son he had with Wendy Craig? I always wondered how the amazement worked, given that the affair and the child are described in great, painful detail in her 1962 novel. Maybe he didn’t read it.
I didn’t actually know that story! Thank you for sharing. He clearly didn’t read his wife’s work very closely…
You can Google it. It was a news story in 2004!
I just did! Crikey!
Amazing, right? Tells you a lot about journalism, too - nobody had the slightest interest in challenging Sir John's version of events, even though there was a WHOLE NOVEL available.
I don’t know why I’m even surprised…
Great piece! I think the complex relationship between mothers and daughters is such an interesting subject - and a theme I'd love to read more about. As you've mentioned in your essay, there are many different layers to these relationships and I love these examples you've used. I've not read either of these authors, but I love discovering new books on random library trips :)
Thanks so much! Random library trip finds are the best 😉 I still can't make my mind up about Ferrante's books, but I found the ideas around mothering in this one really interesting.
I’ll have to give one a go at some point - it sounds like there’s some interesting themes.
Thanks, Kate. So interesting. Motherhood in literature is fascinating and I love your essays on the subject. I’ve not read Ferrante, but like your other commentator, I have read Anne Tyler.
Thanks, Victoria. This is the first Ferrante I have read (although I did start one of her Neapolitan novels and couldn’t get into it.) Anne Tyler’s writing always strikes me as so real and empathetic.
Kate, interesting insights here. I haven't read either author however Ferrante's Neapolitan series is on my list. I look forward to exploring her work.
Thank you, Matthew. I look forward to hearing what you think of Ferrante.
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