Book description
An intimately honest memoir about motherhood that dares to ask, what happens when "what to expect when you're expecting" turns out to be months of rage, anguish, brain fog, and a total surrender of sex, career, and identity. "The kid was objectively a tiny worm, even worse, a worm with my nose." Welcome to Sarah Hoover's unflinching take on motherhood and its expectations in which the beatific narrative women have been fed--one of immediate connection to your child followed by a joyful path of maternal discovery--turns out to be not quite true. In The Motherload, Hoover provides a candid, funny, and sobering look at the journey women undertake as expectant mothers and wives from the early days of pregnancy through labor and beyond. Like most of us, Sarah Hoover grew up imagining a certain life for herself--career, love, marriage, children--and when Hoover moved from Indiana to New York City to study art history, the life she'd imagined began falling into place. She got her degree, landed a job in a gallery, made friends, and went on some exceptionally bad dates. She also met interesting artists, one of whom became her future husband (a whirlwind romance, theirs, exciting even with its imperfections). But when Hoover got pregnant, the life she imagined began to unravel. She felt like an imposter in her own body. She grew distant from her friends and husband. She suffered from anxiety, fear, guilt, and shame. She also experienced trauma at the hands of one of her doctors--a stark trigger. And eventually, when her son was born, there was no... joy. Instead, she felt "disoriented, lonely, and like none of my clothes fit." Why was she seeing and hearing things that weren't there? Why was she so angry and miserable when she had everything she thought she wanted? Why was the life she'd built falling apart? It took her months to discover that she was suffering from severe postpartum depression. And it took even longer to trace all the threads that came to inform her experience. At its core, The Motherload is about learning to forgive yourself for not being what you've been told you must be and for not loving the way you've been told you should. It's about the uniquely female experience of constantly grappling with expectation versus reality, no matter your circumstance, and a rejection of the cultural idea of the mother as a perfect being. It is a moving, exciting, roller coaster ride, and a propulsive addition to the canon of women's literature.
About the Author
Sarah Hoover holds a master's degree in cultural theory from Columbia and a BA in art history from NYU. Her writing has been featured in Mother Tongue, The Strategist, and Vogue. The Motherload is her first book.
SereneScribe
This app's compatibility with various formats ensures that I can enjoy my audiobooks hassle-free. 📚 Embracing a new reading habit with this app's seamless accessibility. Say goodbye to boredom! 📱🎉
Coma Stalk
This app has turned my cooking sessions into culinary adventures with a side of stories. Bookmarks are a lifesaver for audiobook lovers. They help me keep track of important moments. This app is a must-have for anyone who loves audiobooks. The interface is intuitive, and the app supports all formats. I love the auto-bookmark feature—it saves my place automatically, so I never lose track. Highly recommend!
MicroStar
ListenBook is a game-changer! Finally, an app that lets me enjoy my favorite audio files with ease. I can't get enough of this app's intuitive controls – it's the perfect way to indulge in audiobooks. ListenBook's attention to detail is commendable. Every aspect of the app is well-crafted.
Loot
ListenBook's user-friendly interface and quick controls make it my preferred choice for audiobook enjoyment. The interface is beautiful and functional. ListenBook is my go-to app for audiobooks.
Skirble
Kudos to ListenBook for the intuitive design and easy-to-use controls. It's evident that they've put a lot of thought into user experience. Downloading over WiFi is quick and efficient. Saves a lot of time. The narrator's voice was like butter - smooth, rich, and utterly pleasant to listen to for hours. They handled complex sentences with ease, making even dense material accessible. I never had to rewind because I missed something due to unclear delivery. Perfection!
Frosty
This app has turned audiobook listening into a daily ritual for me. This app's sleek design and intuitive features make it my trusted partner in exploring new narratives. Audiobook multitasking made easy – this app's functionality is top-notch. From novels to speeches, this app's versatility in playing various audio formats has turned my daily activities into enriching listening sessions. What a game-changer! 🌟📚
Pusher
With this app, I've found a way to make my daily errands more enjoyable and intellectually stimulating. ListenBook is like a personal audiobook curator, allowing me to enjoy my favorite speeches and lectures with unmatched comfort and convenience. The app's compatibility with CarPlay is a dream for road trips. It keeps me entertained. Binaural audio processing is amazing. Reduced my listening fatigue significantly.
RZRWRE
Navigating my audiobook library is a breeze – thank you, app developers! The app is lightweight and doesn’t drain my battery. I’m so impressed with ListenBook. The app is reliable, fast, and packed with features like customizable themes and playback speed. The sleep timer is a lifesaver for bedtime listening. Highly recommend this app!
Tangerine
Audiobooks have made my commutes so much more enjoyable, and I'm always excited to listen. ListenBook's chapters, controls, and filters have transformed my listening sessions into immersive journeys. I'm impressed by the extensive statistics feature, allowing me to track my audiobook consumption over time. Playlists and bookmarks are super helpful. Love using ListenBook!
BearDrift
With this app, reading is no longer a task – it's a delightful habit. I love how ListenBook makes it easy to organize my audiobook library. The app supports all formats, and the import process is a breeze. The playback controls are responsive, and the sound quality is excellent. Highly recommend!
Swerve
Noise reduction on ListenBook Pro is a revelation. It enhances the audio quality and makes listening comfortable. Sharing audiobooks with friends is a thoughtful gesture that ListenBook makes seamless. Binaural audio processing reduces fatigue during long listening sessions. A fantastic feature! The audio quality is superb. ListenBook enhances my audiobook experience.
Little Drunk Girl
I can't get enough of the binaural audio processing. It's like a breath of fresh air for my ears. The app never crashes. It’s reliable and stable.
Twitch
I've become a more empathetic listener and reader, thanks to the power of audiobooks. I'm thrilled that ListenBook offers both basic and advanced features to cater to all types of users.
Disco Thunder
ListenBook’s playback is silky-smooth. The app never glitches. Solid performance, but not outstanding. The narrator did a fine job, though their tone was a bit monotonous at times. The story itself was engaging enough, but I wouldn’t call it unforgettable.
Shimmy Shammy
The app's stability and reliability make it my go-to choice for audiobooks. ListenBook's support for chapters and bookmarks ensures that I never lose my place in a story. The ability to download audiobooks directly is fantastic. ListenBook is very convenient.
RedFeet
I can't remember the last time I was this excited about 'reading' books! Adjusting the tone of the narrator's voice is a unique feature. I'm loving it! Navigating chapters is a breeze with ListenBook. It's a user-friendly and seamless experience. The app is so well-designed. It’s clear the developers put a lot of thought into it.
Breezy Mustang
Effortless audiobook management – this app's usability is impressive. ListenBook's intuitive layout and quick access to chapters make audiobook navigation a breeze.
Most Wanted
This app has brought the magic of books back into my life. I’m blown away by how feature-rich ListenBook is. From the customizable themes to the car mode, everything is designed with the user in mind. The app works flawlessly, and I’ve had zero issues with crashes or bugs. Highly recommend!
SneakerKid
Library organization has never been this easy. My audiobook collection is finally tidy. Quick access to chapters and smooth playback. Excellent app! I love the ability to change the font size. It makes reading the titles so easy.
Darkside Isis
This app has reignited my passion for literature – I'm devouring books like never before. Audiobook excellence made simple – this app's functionality is a true asset. Bookmarking favorite parts of audiobooks is a breeze. It's like having a personalized study guide. Downloading audiobooks over WiFi is super easy. Saves time.
Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience