Thanks to @scribnerbooks for a copy of Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies by Maddie Mortimer. I was completely captivated by this debut. It’s not an easy read, in many aspects. The unusual narration takes some figuring out and getting used to, and the subject matter is also tough. This story is about Lia, a wife and mother, whose cancer has recently returned. We learn about Lia’s often difficult past and witness her current life with her husband Harry and daughter Iris. All the while, something sinister is brewing within her body. 

 

The creative typography and poetic prose make this a completely unique reading experience. It feels like a completely fresh and distinctive writing style, and I was stunned to learn that the author is only 27 years old! I loved how the characters in this book felt completely human - as Lia gets sicker she reflects on her past, and she longs to be there for her daughter’s future. Iris is learning how to deal with other kids at school, Harry is coping with a dying wife, and Lia’s mom Anne is trying to be there for her daughter in ways that she hasn’t ever been before. Everyone’s flaws are front and center. The writing is so beautiful, the story is so devastating, and when I fully understood the unique narration choices of the sickness inside Lia’s body, I was blown away by Mortimer’s originality. I would definitely get a lot out of going back and reading this a second time.
 
 This is going to be one of my top reads of this year for sure. I really loved it. I’m eager to read whatever Mortimer writes next!