The Abandoners
Of Mothers and Monsters
Begoña Gómez Urzaiz author Lizzie Davis translator
Format:Hardback
Publisher:HarperCollins Publishers
Published:29th Aug '24
Should be back in stock very soon
This compelling exploration of motherhood and independence in The Abandoners challenges societal norms and invites readers to reflect on their own biases.
In The Abandoners, journalist Begoña Gómez Urzaiz delves into the complex narratives surrounding women who have chosen to leave their children in pursuit of personal and artistic freedom. Through the lens of well-known figures like Ingrid Bergman and Joni Mitchell, the author explores the sacrifices these women made to become the icons they are today. This exploration is particularly poignant in the context of the pandemic, where Gómez Urzaiz found herself grappling with her own creative struggles while raising young children.
The book challenges societal norms and cultural biases regarding motherhood, revealing the intricate relationship between a woman's identity and her role as a mother. By examining both historical and fictional examples, including Doris Lessing and Anna Karenina, Gómez Urzaiz invites readers to reflect on their own prejudices and the broader implications of these judgments. The narrative is both personal and universal, encouraging a deeper understanding of the choices women make and the societal pressures they face.
The Abandoners is a thought-provoking work that tackles the themes of independence, motherhood, and the often-taboo subject of abandoning children. With intelligence, wit, and generosity, Gómez Urzaiz offers a richly layered exploration that resonates with many, particularly in a world that is still coming to terms with the complexities of motherhood and female autonomy.
‘Fascinating … I suspect there are many, many other mothers who are going to inhale The Abandoners. I know I did … So beautifully translated from Spanish by Lizzie Davis that you forget it’s translation, this is rich, vivid writing about the eternal push and pull of motherhood … Few things I have read lately convey so exactly the sense of loving your children so much you can barely breathe, yet sometimes craving escape’ Gaby Hinscliff, Observer
'Compelling' Guardian
'The stories are fascinating … intriguing … Truly moving' The Times
'One of the liveliest, sharpest and funniest books in an increasingly crowded field … daring essays that blend cultural criticism, memoir and a smattering of reporting … a delight for many reasons' Becca Rothfeld, Washington Post
'Insightful … The book’s job isn’t to convince readers to forgive these women but to offer, with immersive storytelling, a look into the complicated nature of motherhood, the desire to break free from precarious relationships, and the paradoxes of modern feminism’ OPRAH DAILY
‘The best kind of book: the one you didn’t know you were craving until it appeared … self-interrogative, intricately perceptive. I absolutely inhaled it’ JIA TOLENTINO, author of TRICK MIRROR
‘A very richly interesting exploration of a complex subject. Begoña Gómez Urzaiz tells the stories of all these different women with such intelligence and wit and generosity’ TESSA HADLEY, author of THE PAST
'Perceptive…daring' LITERARY REVIEW
‘The best book I've read on the implications of motherhood and its opposites after Sheila Heti's Motherhood’ CLAUDIA DURASTANTI, author of STRANGERS I KNOW
'Anyone who has ever judged a mother or been judged for being one will benefit from reading this book … This generous and rigorous work seamlessly connects real and fictional women, while offering an expansive view of a sensitive topic' MICHELE FILGATE, author of WHAT MY MOTHER AND I DON'T TALK ABOUT
ISBN: 9780008656072
Dimensions: 222mm x 141mm x 28mm
Weight: 380g
256 pages