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Motherthing

By Ainslie Hogarth
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth is a gripping tale that delves into the complexities of family dynamics and psychological turmoil. The story revolves around Abby, who is determined to keep the peace in her marriage despite her challenging relationship with her mother-in-law. When tragedy strikes, Abby must confront haunting memories and familial tensions, pushing her to the brink of sanity. The narrative skillfully intertwines humour and horror, offering a unique exploration of grief, love, and identity.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by a dark, witty exploration of family relationships, particularly focusing on the tension between a daughter-in-law and a mother-in-law. The narrative dives into themes of grief, love, and the complexities of marriage, all wrapped in a unique blend of humour and psychological insight.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

A darkly funny domestic horror novel about a woman who must take drastic measures to save her husband and herself from the vengeful ghost of her mother-in-law

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

'A gruesome, blackly funny, utterly original feminist horror story' - New York Times, Notable Book of the Year

'A buzz-worthy and ferocious horror comedy from one of the genre's most promising voices' - Buzzfeed

Abby Lamb has done it. She's found the Great Good in her husband, Ralph, and together they will start a family and put all the darkness in her childhood to rest. But then the Lambs move in with Ralph's mother, Laura, whose depression has made it impossible for her to live on her own. She's venomous and cruel, especially to Abby, who has a complicated understanding of motherhood given the way her own, now-estranged, mother raised her.

When Laura takes her own life, her ghost starts to haunt Abby and Ralph in very different ways. Ralph is plunged into depression, and Abby is being terrorised by a force intent on taking everything she loves away from her. With everything on the line, Abby must make the ultimate sacrifice in order to prove her adoration to Ralph and break Laura's hold on the family for good.

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Weird Girl Lit - A Starter Pack

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth has been praised for its unique blend of domestic horror and dark humour, described as both gruesome and blackly funny. Reviewers have highlighted its originality as a feminist horror story, with a narrative that's both entertaining and deeply unsettling. The book stands out for its sharp, crackling prose, aligning it with works by authors like Mona Awad and Ottessa Moshfegh, and it offers smart, provocative commentary on grief and motherhood. It's recognised for being both hilarious and unexpectedly moving, leaving a lasting impression on its readers.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781838957803

Publisher: Atlantic Books

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 June 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Atlantic Books

Edition: Main

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 262g

Pages: 288

Collections

Ainslie Hogarth Education & Reference Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction

About the Author

Ainslie Hogarth has an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Auckland and has published two YA horror novels, in the U.S. with Flux Books and France in with Editions Milan. The Lonely is about a girl who is crushed by a rock and bleeds to death all day long, and The Boy Meets Girl Massacre (Annotated) is about a girl who may or may not have murdered all of her friends with a pick-axe. Her short fiction has been published in Hazlitt, Black Static, and elsewhere.

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