Read a Girl #28: "Motherwell”, Deborah Orr

Happy 2021, friends!

To kick off the new year in style, this month’s book is the posthumous memoir by journalist Deborah Orr. “Motherwell” is a reflection on leaving home - and family - behind in order to pursue what we want in life.

Deborah was the successful editor of the Guardian’s Weekend magazine. But before that, she was just a regular young girl growing up in an industrial Scottish town: Motherwell. At age 18 she moved to St Andrews to go to university, a decision that forever changed her life and relationship with her mother, Win, who was not happy nor supportive of her daughter leaving the nest.

The book’s chapters are cleverly divided into objects Deborah finds in her parents’ home after they die. These objects are central pieces to the family’s history and complicated relationships. “Motherwell” is a remarkable memoir about how our families and surroundings shape us into who we are and what happens when we finally break free.

My first book, “a spectacularly sad ending”, is a collection of poetry and prose about heartbreak, loss and survival. It chronicles experiences of love, loss, abuse and grief, and is for anyone who is or ever had to mend a broken heart. It's available as a paperback and also on Kindle. You can get it here.

🎵 This newsletter was written to the sounds of “Lazy Line Painter Jane”, by Belle & Sebastian.

We have a playlist with all of the music featured on our newsletters. You can listen to it on Spotify.

My name is Renata and I am the Founder and Editor of Read a Girl, a platform aimed at promoting the work of women writers. My background is in journalism and I spent most of my career covering foreign affairs and travelling around looking for good stories to tell. Reading is a very big passion of mine. My favourite authors are Elena Ferrante, J.D. Salinger, Julian Barnes and Sylvia Plath.

You can learn more about me here and on my website.

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