#BlogTourReview : small : Claire Lynch

Before I get started on my response to this incredible book, let me thank Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for bringing it to my attention and inviting me to take part. small: on motherhoods by Claire Lynch was published on 24th June by Octopus Books.

small is the story of motherhood, of a very personal journey to become a mother, to find a space to be a mother and to be recognised as such. For Claire Lynch and her wife Beth becoming parents was a difficult path, one fraught with difficulties. Some familiar to all, some specific to just a few but all equally unique to this small family as it struggles to grow.

This book is an honest reflection on the realities and emotions that made up the journey of queer motherhood. The heart wrenching and physical demands of the IVF process and the difficult decisions and acceptances that they both need to make are just the beginning of the story.

In poetic and rolling prose Claire details the highs and lows of loss and hope, of lives that began too early but grow into big adventures. Of trying to build lives and love in a system that seems to only recognise one mother, whilst coming to terms with the all encompassing love and devastating change that only children can bring.

I am reluctant to call this post a review. There is so much raw honesty and carefully curated, intimate detail within these pages that it feels wrong to do any more than hold the words lightly and feel immensely privileged to have even a the smallest glimpse into a very personal and beautiful experience.

The title of this book may be small but there nothing diminutive about the feelings and experiences that are documented here. Without being intrusive Claire Lynch expresses her experience and depth of feeling in the most authentic and beautiful way. This book is a testament to truth, to hope , life and love.

Thank you for allowing me to share.

Rachel x

About the Author …

Claire Lynch works as a university lecturer and is author of two academic books and numerous scholarly articles and chapters. Small is her first book for a general audience.
Claire’s Four Thought talk ‘The Other Mother’ was first broadcast on BBC Radio Four in 2020 and her first piece of narrative non-fiction took second place in the Spread the Word Life Writing Prize in 2017. She was a shortlisted writer for the Penguin Random House WriteNow scheme in 2018 and a longlisted writer for the Hinterland non-fiction Prize in 2019. small is her first book for a general audience.