My Good Bright Wolf

My Good Bright Wolf by Sarah Moss is an evocative and thought-provoking memoir that delves into the intricate interplay of mind and body, memory and identity, privilege and scarcity. Moss, celebrated author of The Fell and Summerwater, masterfully narrates the provocative and deeply personal story of her life, challenging the conventional boundaries of memoir-writing.

At its core, My Good Bright Wolf portrays the tumultuous journey of a young Sarah navigating the complexities of girlhood while grappling with the fraught dynamics of her embattled and often distracted parents. Set against the backdrop of a society burdened with disastrous attitudes toward eating and female discipline, Sarah's story is one of resilience and rebellion. By the time she was a teenager, Moss had developed a dangerous and controlling relationship with food—a struggle that re-emerged in her adult life.

Now a mother and an educator, Moss reflects on her childhood, entwined in the stark ethos of her parents' post-war puritanism and the ideals of second-wave feminism. In My Good Bright Wolf, she interrogates her past and present thoughts, the books she read and continues to cherish, and the relentless drive that has shaped her creative body and mind.

This memoir is both beautiful and audacious—moving and imbued with a unique sense of humour. Moss’s profound insights and candid reflections offer readers a rare glimpse into the way a brilliant mind can wrestle with itself and eventually find a way out. My Good Bright Wolf is a blindingly brilliant celebration of what a creative and resilient mind can achieve, making it a remarkable contribution to contemporary autobiography.