Largehearted Boy: Book Notes - Ayelet Waldman ("Bad Mother")

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May 5, 2009

Book Notes - Ayelet Waldman ("Bad Mother")

In the Book Notes series, authors create and discuss a music playlist that relates in some way to their recently published books.

Ayelet Waldman's essay collection, Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace is perfectly timed, in bookstores the same week as Mother's Day.

I have seen the words "brash," "controversial," and "witty" tossed about by reviews and friends about this collection, but what struck me most was its honesty. Waldman's courage to explore more than just motherhood, especially women's gender roles in our society, make this book both insightful and entertaining, even if you are not a mother (or even female).

When I queued up these songs and played them in order, they present a dialog as interesting and surprising as the book itself. Ayelet Waldman joins the rare exceptions of Bret Easton Ellis and Dean Haspiel in submitting a Largehearted Boy Book Notes music playlist consisting solely of song titles, forming a mix CD I have been sending lately to friends expecting children.

In her own words, here is Ayelet Waldman's Book Notes essay for her book, Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace:

"Your Mother Should Know," the Beatles
"Free to Be...You and Me," The New Seekers
"Housework," the B52s
"Milky Way," by Shonen Knife
"Rip Her to Shreds," Blondie
"Tell That Girl to Shut Up," Holly & the Italians
"I Need a Man," Eurythmics
"Mother-in-Law," Ernie K-Doe
"Homework," J. Geils Band
"Short & Cocky," by R-Son
"Hot Child in the City," Nick Gilder
"Walking With a Ghost," Tegan and Sara
"Talking in the Dark," Elvis Costello
"Landslide," by Fleetwood Mac
"Crazy," Gnarls Barclay
"Killer Queen," by Queen
"Stay Up Late," Talking Heads
"Yes We Can," by will.i.am
"Excitable Boy," Warren Zevon
"Making Plans for Nigel," XTC