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Rachel Yoder's New Novel Offers Raw, Complicated And Cathartic Vision For Mothers

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Talk of Iowa, hosted by Charity Nebbe

People say motherhood changes you. The novel's unnamed protagonist wonders how literal that transformation is.

A new mother quit her dream job at an art gallery to stay home with her son. Meanwhile, her husband's work travel has him home only on the weekends. In the isolation of her house and against the cries of her child, she is changing. Her behavior is different. So is her body. She's beginning to suspect that she might be transforming into a dog.

On this episode of Talk of Iowa, host Charity Nebbe sits down with novelist Rachel Yoder to talk about her new book "Nightbitch."

"I was on one hand, absolutely thrilled to be able to hold my baby and you know stare at my baby's face for as long as I wanted to every day," Yoder said. "But after a number of years, I sort of looked around and thought, 'Okay, I'm 40. I have nothing on my resume for the last couple of years. I thought I had a plan that was foolproof, but here I am. And what do I do now?'"

Guest:

  • Rachel Yoder, author of "Nightbitch"
Charity Nebbe is IPR's 'Talk of Iowa' host. She also hosts IPR's podcasts 'Garden Variety' and 'Unsettled'. Since 2010, Nebbe has interviewed, conversed with, and shared ideas from guests of all backgrounds and locations, and has helped listeners better understand, appreciate, and explore their state and the world around them. Nebbe has a bachelors degree from Iowa State University.
Zachary Oren Smith
Zachary Oren Smith is a reporter covering Eastern Iowa