For some not-so-brisk fall reading, I recommend Rachel Cusk’s A Life’s Work, the controversial memoir by the renowned novelist about the untold intricacies of pregnancy, childbirth, and early child-rearing that was widely controversial when first published in 2001. Cusk is, generally, a master at her craft by putting to words ineffable, achingly familiar experiences and emotional truths with surgical precision. As someone who devotes a decent amount of time to covering the more unsavory aspects of pregnancy, reproduction, and how society mistreats both pregnant people and new mothers, I was drawn to the concept of the book, especially as I’ve always known I want to have kids but am increasingly nervous about what that will look like in reality.
The book doesn’t disappoint (though it certainly devastates), illuminating all the hard truths about pregnancy and early parenting that are seemingly withheld from us until we actually live these experiences ourselves. Through the medium of Cusk’s real life and intimate musings, it guides us through the complex, seemingly conflicting feelings that go hand-in-hand with pregnancy and parenting, feelings that we’re told are innately shameful and wrong. Written over 20 years ago, A Life’s Work was indisputably ahead of its time, but in a post-Roe v. Wade world, we are collectively becoming a lot more honest with ourselves and each other about what it’s really like for pregnant people, and A Life’s Work has perhaps never been more relevant. —Kylie Cheung
