Description
My Body Is A Big Fat Temple, a memoir of pregnancy and early motherhood, follows a writer as she debates having children, miscarries, faces morning sickness, uncertainty, physical impairments, labor, breastfeeding, the "baby blues," the heartache of not loving her son as she thinks she should, parenting through a plague, until finally (basically, mostly) blossoming into her new identity.
The undertaking of creating life is airbrushed to preserve the ideal of motherhood, and exacerbated by a culture that dictates what women can do and how they should feel. We don't get the full story, so mothers with unromantic experiences feel like aberrations, and worse, alone. This is why the voices of women matter. The voices of mothers matter. Here's one to remind you of the important things.
Product Details
| Publisher | Woodhall Press |
| Publish Date | October 12, 2021 |
| Pages | 200 |
| Language | English |
| Type |  Paperback / softback |
| EAN/UPC | 9781949116878 |
| Dimensions | 9.0 X 6.0 X 0.5 inches | 0.5 pounds |
About the Author
Reviews
"Alena Dillon is the real gritty deal, and she leaves no agony or indignity unexamined. Plus, she's funny, reassuring, tender, and also furious--in other words, the perfect combo pizza for hungry new mothers." --Catherine Newman, author of Waiting for Birdy and Catastrophic Happiness
"Real and funny. I loved this book!" --Emily Oster, author of Expecting Better, Cribsheet, and The Family Firm
"...Dillon's debut novel is heartwarming to its core. With a widely diverse cast of supporting characters, author Dillon brings Bed-Stuy to life. Realistic in scope and pious without being preachy, Mercy House will appeal to fans of Naomi Ragen's The Devil in Jerusalem (2015) and Autumn J. Bright's Lovely (2017)." --Booklist
"[A] stirring, fiery debut...Dillon balances her protagonist's righteous anger with an earnest exploration of Evie's faith and devotion to justice and community service. This uncompromising story will light up book clubs." --Publishers Weekly
"A life-altering debut featuring fierce, funny, and irreverent women who battle the most powerful institution in the world. This is the book we've all been waiting for." --Amy Schumer
"Dillon's debut novel is heartwarming and easy to read, it never glosses over the history of abuse and sexism in the Catholic church...Those interested in religious fiction will also appreciate a simple narrative tackling complex church events. Perfect for reading groups." --Library Journal
"For fans of Ann Patchett's The Patron Saint of Liars or Maile Meloy's Liars and Saints, Mercy House is a must-read." --San Francisco Book Review
"In Mercy House, Alena Dillon gives us one of fiction's more unlikely lovable heroines: elderly, dynamic Sister Evelyn, whose tale--and that of her housemates--is as unexpected as it is moving. This is a thoughtful, accomplished debut." --Therese Ann Fowler, New York Times bestselling author of Z, A Well-Behaved Woman, and A Good Neighborhood
"Never underestimate the power of a group of women. Fierce, thoughtful, and dramatic--this is a story of true courage." --Susan Wiggs, New York Times bestselling author
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