Mother Mary Comes to Me
By Arundhati Roy
Scribner Books
ISBN: 978-1668094716
352pp.
Our relationship with our mother is complicated; I dare say more than it is with our father. That is because, all over the world, the mother’s role is venerated as the provider of nurture and unconditional love. Anything that veers from that is vilified — think Mommie Dearest, the memoir, then movie, about Joan Crawford’s alleged abuse of her adopted daughter. That phrase conjures up the worst images about motherhood.
This notion of mothers and motherhood being perfect also explains why there is still a lot of taboo around postpartum depression. To admit you’re feeling anything other than perfect following childbirth brings about feelings of shame because society places a lot of unrealistic pressures on women.
Sure, things are changing and there are so many resources to hel
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