Nightbitch

by Rachel Yoder

Overall: This is a book about a woman who may, or may not, be transforming into a dog.  Not a cute lapdog: something wild, large, and terrifying.  It’s not a joke, though parts of this book are very funny.  If I’ve lost you already, this book isn’t for you.  But if you’re still reading, and you’re up for a no-holds-barred take on stay-at-home parenting, motherhood, contemporary art, feminism, marriage, and so many other weighty topics, please give Nightbitch a try!

Likes: I found myself nodding at so many passages.  Yoder perfectly captures what I felt at times as a stay-at-home mom.  The unnamed mother wants to stay home, indeed chooses to stay home after several frustrating months of working after her baby was born, but the reality of staying home weighs on her in a way I could totally relate to.  There are bits that are so funny (looking at you, party where everyone is named Jen!), bits that scared me in a Stephen King way, and bits that scared me in a “yikes, that’s a little too true” way.  I like the occasional horror book/movie/tv show, and this was about my speed: creepy rather than full-on gory.  And there’s a great plot thread involving a mysterious library book.

Dislikes: I am really, really squeamish about violence against animals.  It makes complete sense in the context of the book, and you can see some of the incidents coming, but I still covered my eyes and clenched my teeth during these sections (I listened to the audiobook).  At times the conceit of no names for any of the characters made the text awkward, and then, when a character got a name, it felt jarring (although this name later serves a purpose in the plot).

FYI: violence against animals.  Some questionable parenting choices.