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A review by callum_mclaughlin
Mother Country by Elana Bell
3.0
This collection of poems juxtaposes two extremes of a parent-child bond, as Bell attempts to balance the struggles of conceiving and caring for a child with the pain of gradually losing her own mother to Parkinson’s disease.
There were times when Bell’s poetic style really didn’t gel with me; lines running together jarringly and imagery that felt overblown. There were definitely moments that shone, however, with poems that capture both the physical and mental strain of miscarriage, and the difficulty of grieving for someone who is technically still alive. Most memorable are the poems that boldly examine one of motherhood’s greatest taboos; admitting to the shortfall between the expectation and reality of parenthood, as Bell navigates what appears to be postnatal depression.
Raw and honest, I’m sure many will take comfort in seeing their less-than-perfect but deeply human reality reflected here. Perhaps those who do will connect with Bell’s style more than I did.
Thank you to the publisher for a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
There were times when Bell’s poetic style really didn’t gel with me; lines running together jarringly and imagery that felt overblown. There were definitely moments that shone, however, with poems that capture both the physical and mental strain of miscarriage, and the difficulty of grieving for someone who is technically still alive. Most memorable are the poems that boldly examine one of motherhood’s greatest taboos; admitting to the shortfall between the expectation and reality of parenthood, as Bell navigates what appears to be postnatal depression.
Raw and honest, I’m sure many will take comfort in seeing their less-than-perfect but deeply human reality reflected here. Perhaps those who do will connect with Bell’s style more than I did.
Thank you to the publisher for a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.