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Natural Disaster by Lisa Owens review
Parenting is represented in all its hilarious, moving and truthfully plodding detail, in the story of a mother and her two little boys
TL;DR
- The novel depicts a "yes day" for a mother of two, which quickly deviates from its intended joy due to unforeseen challenges.
- The protagonist grapples with the loss of personal identity as "Mum," feeling like a "rudimentary approximation of a person."
- The story contrasts the idealized notion of motherhood with its demanding and often isolating reality, exploring themes of guilt, resentment, and self-discovery.
- Owens uses specific, realistic details to portray the children's personalities and the mundane logistics of parenthood, contributing to the novel's grounded, almost plodding, realism.
- The novel raises questions about modern women's experiences with "having it all," the impact of career choices on parenting, and the potential for permanent changes in identity due to motherhood.