The Mother of All Things by Alexis Landau
336 Pages
Publisher: Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor, Pantheon
Release: May 7, 2024
Fiction (Adult), General Fiction (Adult), Women’s Fiction, Greek Mythology, Bulgaria, Mother Daughter Relationships, Feminist
Ava is a disillusioned wife and mother. She had grand dreams of writing a book and teaching. All of that changed after the birth of her daughter. Her husband, Kasper, finally gets a chance to make a film. The catch is he must go to Bulgaria for six months to film. After three months, Ava and the children join him. They are disappointed he does not have a lot of time for them. Ava runs into a former professor which kindles her feminist fire. This causes her to question her life and relationship with her husband and her daughter.
In the story set in 415 B.C., a woman is preparing her daughter for marriage. They participate in the Demeter ritual of Ephesus and the descent to the Underworld to find her daughter Persephone.
The book has a slow beginning. I stuck with it and I am glad I did. The characters were somewhat developed, and it was written in in two different point of view perspectives. If you like feminist stories, you may enjoy reading this one.
