Book suggestions for soon-to-be-mothers

by Bronte Coates

A perennial and tricky question that booksellers often hear is what to gift someone who is pregnant. Tricky because expectant mothers are not a separate breed to the rest of humanity and – like all of us – have changing and contradictory desires and needs. Some might want the more traditional fare (like advice books or memoirs about real-life experiences), while others might want to indulge in something completely unrelated to their current situation (like space operas or some truly gruesome crime).

Below are some suggestions for different kinds of reading experiences for different kinds of people who are all expecting different kinds of babies.

For positive depictions of mothers in books

We seen plenty of so-called ‘bad’ parents in books, whether they be negligent, difficult, abusive or flat-out evil. (Not to mention the dead mother trope which is basically an epidemic in children’s literature.) Here are some stories which feature realistic and positive portrayals of mothers – from the unforgettable Marilla Cuthbert who took in a certain red-haired orphan, to The Daily Show Trevor Noah’s real-life mum, the fearless Patricia Nombuyiselo Noah. None of the parents in these books are perfect. Rather, they are all believable and empowering examples of what being a parent could look like.

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For engaging novels that also explore parenting

The following novels all have a strong narrative pull, whether plot- or character-driven, and touch on themes of parenting. These are books where parenthood may not be the central crux of the story, but is seen as integral to the overall world of the characters. Melina Marchetta’s addictive crime novel features a crusty detective whose teenage daughter is caught up in a terrorist attack, while George Saunders’s debut novel wildly reimagines the death of Abraham Lincoln’s son at the dawn of the Civil War through a chorus of ghosts.

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For true stories written by mothers

Memoirs written by mothers is basically its own genre, and there are some truly wonderful books to discover within its borders. Here are some of our favourite recommendations, covering a wide range of experiences – from Australian writer Monica Dux’s blackly comic reflection on pregnancy, to Maggie Nelson’s dazzling, genre-binding work about creating a family that doesn’t fit inside a neat box. These books are funny and sad, and firmly entrenched in reality.

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For exploring darker and more challenging territory

Some people like to feel prepared by reading about worse-case scenarios. The following books tackle some difficult topics with empathy and insight. In her stunning essay collection, Jessica Friedmann writes about postparum depression and the relationship between creativity and motherhood, while Nadja Spiegelman’s reflects on her maternal line back through four generations – and the love and anger that shaped their relationships with one another. Most of these books make for tough reading, so make sure you have a cup of hot chocolate on standby.

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For gently instructive reads

Some expectant mothers might want to read about the experience of being a parent without digging too deep into the nitty-gritty, everyday side of things. Here are some books with a more encompassing approach than straight memoir. Try Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’sletter to her friend about how to teach the friend’s daughter to be a feminist, or Chitra Ramaswamy’s philosophical investigation into pregnancy. And one of our own booksellers (and parent of two small children) has described Andrew Solomon’s moving examination of parental love and acceptance of children that are very different from their parents as the only book she would recommend any expectant parent read.

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For straight-up parenting advice

Not everyone wants ‘gentle’ advice of course. Some people want hard-hitting straightforward guidance and definitive rules. Below are some of our most popular books about pregnancy and parenting, including classics from Australians Robin Barker and Kaz Cooke. Rebecca Ryan has compiled a book of mindfulness exercises specifically for parents and Pamela Druckerman has some advice for Francophile parents.

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And for something completely different

Finally… Here are books that are completely and blissfully unrelated to breastfeeding, sleep training, pram shopping, and all things ‘baby’. In this list you’ll find insight into the mind of a serial killer, bloodthirsty politics in space and Australian extremists.

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Cover image for Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions

Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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