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Know the Mother
Know the Mother | Desiree Cooper
7 posts | 5 read | 10 to read
While a mother can be defined as a creator, a nurturer, a protector-at the center of each mother is an individual who is attempting to manage her own fears, desires, and responsibilities in different and sometimes unexpected ways. In "Know the Mother," author Desiree Cooper explores the complex archetype of the mother in all of her incarnations. In a collage of meditative stories, women-both black and white-find themselves wedged between their own yearnings and their roles as daughters, sisters, grandmothers, and wives.In this heart-wrenching collection, Cooper reveals that gender and race are often unanticipated interlopers in family life. An anxious mother reflects on her prenatal fantasies of suicide while waiting for her daughter to come home late one night. A lawyer miscarries during a conference call and must proceed as though nothing has happened. On a rare night out with her husband, a new mother tries convincing herself that everything is still the same. A politician's wife's thoughts turn to slavery as she contemplates her own escape: "Even Harriet Tubman had realized that freedom wasn't worth the price of abandoning her family, so she'd come back home. She'd risked it all for love." With her lyrical and carefully crafted prose, Cooper's stories provide truths without sermon and invite empathy without sentimentality."Know the Mother" explores the intersection of race and gender in vignettes that pull you in and then are gone in an instant. Readers of short fiction will appreciate this deeply felt collection.
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ReadosaurusText
Know the Mother | Desiree Cooper
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Got this signed copy of KNOW THE MOTHER at the annual meeting of the Association of University Presses. Desiree Cooper was the *phenomenal* opening plenary speaker. Thank you for the copy, Wayne State University Press! Also, this view down is from the 52nd floor of the hotel. #ReadUP

Reviewsbylola This one looks and sounds good! 5y
ReadosaurusText @Reviewsbylola And isn‘t the cover cool! 5y
65 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Mrs_Organized_Chaos
Know the Mother | Desiree Cooper
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Making my way through the PopSugar Ultimate Reading Challenge. I have some books picked for prompts but I enjoy finding them as I go....

Maria514626 Oh. My. Goodness. That spreadsheet. Be still my beating heart. I am so not kidding. 😍😍😍 6y
4 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Lesliereads
Know the Mother | Desiree Cooper
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Donna_sBookMinute Adorable! 7y
Sydsavvy That is so wonderful ❣️ 7y
13 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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ohyeahthatgirl
Know the Mother | Desiree Cooper
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Pickpick

Small, razorsharp stories that you are compelled to reread as soon as you finish to find out how Cooper pulled it off. One of the most powerful books I've read about female relationships and race.

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Matilda
Know the Mother | Desiree Cooper
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No matter how many books I'm currently reading I can't get a new book and not at least read the first page. So of course I had to take a glimpse once I got this from WSUPress-- cut to 4 stories read. So far great flash fiction giving glimpses into different characters lives.

36 likes7 stack adds