Ceridwen Dovey and Eliza Bell. Mothertongues.

 Ceridwen Dovey and Eliza Bell. Mothertongues. (Australia: Penguin, 2022). 

This book was initially crowdfunded to publish, and collects disjointed email discussions, or fragmented thoughts, between two mother artists, who are a writer and an actor. They reference many writers and artists about playing with form and about mothering, and art created by women. Their forms include short plays, lists and the contents of a handbag. They understand that mothering as a subject for art has been side-lined in western culture, and there is a current oversharing, perhaps as a correction. They reference women theorists who say women’s art needs new forms. I like the framing principle of absurdity for motherhood. They name themselves Odysseia and Elissa. Sometimes their interpretations of ancient classics are incorrect. Often the insights they consider profound are banal, but I guess that is true for all issues related to aging - each generation discovers the realities of life for themselves. 

The book includes a Spotify playlist of original songs, which is an idea I like.

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