What are you reading, Ms Negroni?

I’ve loved reading and writing since I was a little girl. It’s not unusual to spot me around campus with a book in hand during my breaks (I promise it’s not performative!).

Although my first year of the PhD has slowed down my Goodreads yearly challenge, I’ve learned that quality truly outweighs quantity. One of my favorite reads this year has been “Still Born” by Guadalupe Nettel, a Mexican writer.

Her recent book explores motherhood and non-motherhood through the closely intertwined stories of two friends, Alina and Laura. While Laura has decided not to become a mother and chooses to be sterilized, Alina is preparing to welcome her first child. Both soon discover that being a mum, or not, is rarely what one expects, and that it extends far beyond family ties.

At just over 200 pages, Still Born is short but remarkably powerful. I appreciated how Nettel refrains from judgment; even though the novel presents contrasting perspectives, it never feels superficial. It’s a deeply genuine and honest work — perhaps because it’s inspired by real experiences from the author and her friend. If you’ve read it or plan to, I highly recommend checking out BookService95’s analysis and interview with Guadalupe Nettel – I found it truly inspiring.

Guadalupe Nettel: Still Born. Fitzcarraldi Editions, 2022.