Name: Julide

Reading: Is Mother Dead, Vigdis Hjorth

Why did you want to read this? I believe everything in life begins with and through a mother. I chose to read Is Mother Dead by Vigdis Hjorth because this book shows the importance of the mother. In order for patriarchal societies to function, misogyny must be maintained. Understanding ourselves and our mothers requires unlearning many inherited norms. This book gives voice to the raw monologue of a daughter and invites the reader to witness her journey. Through the tension of the narration, it evokes affective responses and highlights the struggle of an adult child being born and the symbolic cutting of the umbilical cord.

How did you record yourself? It took a couple of takes because the narrative is so tense. I finished the recording in three days. Every morning, I prepared my coffee, sat at my desk, watched the sky, and hummed to myself for a few minutes. Then I started to read. I tried to keep the process as raw as the narrative itself.