Linea Nigra

By Jazmina Barrera, Christina Macsweeney (translator),

Book cover of Linea Nigra: An Essay on Pregnancy and Earthquakes

Book description

“Eminently worthy of acclaim.” ―Vogue (The Best Books of 2022 So Far)

An intimate exploration of motherhood, Linea Nigra approaches the worries and joys of childbearing from a diverse range of inspirations and traditions, from Louise Bourgeois to Ursula K. Le Guin to the indigenous Nahua model Luz Jiménez. Part…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Linea Nigra as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I often wonder "How is a mother to focus on a project in the face of constant interruption?" For the Mexican writer Jazmina Barrera, it happened in fragments. Using artworks as points of departure, Barrera wonders her way through pregnancy and early motherhood, asking poignant questions about how to persevere in creativity while mothering. She gathers bits of writing penned while mothering into a coherent narrative of one mother’s beginnings.

It’s written in Spanish and gorgeously translated into English by Christina MacSweeney. I loved its meditative tone, poetic language, and all that it taught me about women writers and artists.

From Catherine's list on smart and artful books about motherhood.

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