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The Unmothers
"An impressive debut, an intricate and unsettling narrative about desperation that is full of stellar writing."--Gabino Iglesias, New York Times
In this raw and lyrical folk horror novel, a journalist sent to a small town begins to unravel a dark secret that the women of the town have been keeping for generations.
Marshall is still trying to put the pieces together after the death of her husband. After she is involved in a terrible accident, her editor sends her to the small, backwards town of Raeford to investigate a clearly ridiculous rumor: that a horse has given birth to a healthy, human baby boy.
When Marshall arrives in Raeford, she finds an insular town that is kinder to the horses they are famous for breeding than to their own people. But when two horribly mangled bodies are discovered in a field--one a horse, one a human--she realizes that there might be a real story here.
As she's pulled deeper into the town and its guarded people, her sense of reality is tipped on its head. Is she losing her grip? Or is this impossible story the key to a dark secret that has haunted the women of Raeford for generations?
Unbearably tense and utterly gripping, this atmospheric tale of female rage, bodily autonomy, and generational trauma hails the arrival of a masterful storyteller.
Book club questions for The Unmothers by Leslie J. Anderson
Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.
How did Carolyn Marshall’s grief and personal struggles shape her perspective on the events in Raeford and influence her actions throughout the story?
The novel explores themes like generational trauma, bodily autonomy, and societal expectations of women. Which theme resonated most with you, and why?
What was your reaction to the revelation about the ritual and its connection to the town’s history? How did it reshape your interpretation of the townspeople’s actions and beliefs?
The book employs multiple points of view to tell the story. How did this narrative style affect your understanding and engagement with the plot?
Horses play a significant symbolic role in the story, intertwined with power and vulnerability. How did this symbolism deepen your understanding of the themes or characters?
The Unmothers is categorized as folk horror but includes elements of mystery and gothic fiction. Did you feel these genres were effectively balanced, and how did they impact your reading experience?
The Unmothers Book Club Questions PDF
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