Ainslie Hogarth’s second novel Normal Women starts by luring the reader into expecting it to be one more story about experiences of early motherhood. It doesn’t take long before one realises this will be so, but from a completely new perspective. The scope of its themes turns out to be much wider: motherhood, yes, but the focus goes deeper – into the questions of healing, marriage, womanhood, patriarchy, toxic masculinity and the value of human work.
Main character Dani returns to the city of her upbringing with a family of her own: a husband and their baby daughter Lotte. She begins easing into this old-meets-new life, arranging lunch dates with other new mums (the normal women of the title), busying herself and Lotte with days out, visiting her widowed mother and coping with the realities and doubts of stay-at-home parenthood. The ghosts of her youth seem to follow her until – by chance, of course – she meets Renata, a charismatic character who will change the course of her life.Â
Normal Women is written in such energetic prose: sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking and always fully engaging. Unforgettable work by Hogarth – don’t miss it.
Normal Women, Ainslie Hogarth (Atlantic)
Price: £16.99. Info: here
words GOSIA BUZZANCA