Meghan Daum's "Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed" is a collection of essays exploring the decision of women to not have children. The book delves into the personal experiences and perspectives of sixteen writers, offering diverse viewpoints on motherhood, societal expectations, and the complexities of reproductive choices. The essays challenge traditional notions of femininity and family structures, providing a nuanced examination of the societal pressures surrounding childbearing. The book sparks conversations about personal autonomy, career aspirations, and the evolving landscape of family life in contemporary society. Daum's insightful collection offers a thought-provoking exploration of a deeply personal and often controversial topic.
The novel is written from the perspective of Eva Khatchadourian, the mother of Kevin, who committed a mass murder at his high school. The story is told through a series of letters from Eva to her estranged husband, Franklin. It delves into themes such as the nature vs. nurture debate, the challenges of modern parenting, and the aftermath of a tragic event. Eva's ambivalence towards motherhood and her complex relationship with Kevin are central to the narrative, which also explores the societal and personal factors that may have contributed to Kevin's actions. The book is a poignant and thought-provoking examination of family dynamics, guilt, and the unconditional love of a parent for their child.
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For this first post-election episode, Meghan welcomes back author Lionel Shriver, who is arguably America’s (and the U.K.’s) most controversial woman of letters. They talk about the over/under on the end of democracy, whether J.D. Vance is following a Trump-mandated script, how trans issues replaced abortion rights as a priority for many female voters, and whether Kamala Harris is secretly relieved that she doesn’t have to be President of the United States. They also discuss why writers must oppose Israel to remain in good standing in the literary world and how they feel about the current pronatalism movement with respect to their own reproductive choices.
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GUEST BIO
Lionel Shriver is a columnist for The Spectator and the author, most recently, of Mania, a novel. Her fiction includes The Mandibles, Property, So Much For That, the New York Times bestseller The Post-Birthday World, and the international bestseller We Need to Talk About Kevin. Her journalism has appeared in The Guardian, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Harper's, and the London Times, and she currently writes a regular column for The Spectator in the UK. A longtime American expat in the U.K, she now lives in Portugal.
Hundreds Of Authors Pledge To Boycott Israeli Institutions: https://bit.ly/40EBf2r
Lionel Shriver contributed an essay to Meghan’s 2015 anthology “Selfish, Shallow and Self-Absorbed: Sixteen Writers On The Decision Not To Have Kids”: https://amzn.to/40MHC3F
Lionel’s previous interviews on The Unspeakable: https://bit.ly/3O66FHu and https://bit.ly/3YOgNcC
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