Nightbitch

A Novel

By: Rachel Yoder

Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell

NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE STARRING AMY ADAMS • In this blazingly smart and voracious debut novel, an artist turned stay-at-home mom becomes convinced she's turning into a dog. • "A must-read for anyone who can’t get enough of the ever-blurring line between the psychological and supernatural that Yellowjackets exemplifies." —Vulture

One day, the mother was a mother, but then one night, she was quite suddenly something else...

An ambitious mother puts her art career on hold to stay at home with her newborn son, but the experience does not match her imagination. Two years later, she steps into the bathroom for a break from her toddler's demands, only to discover a dense patch of hair on the back of her neck. In the mirror, her canines suddenly look sharper than she remembers. Her husband, who travels for work five days a week, casually dismisses her fears from faraway hotel rooms.

As the mother's symptoms intensify, and her temptation to give in to her new dog impulses peak, she struggles to keep her alter-canine-identity secret. Seeking a cure at the library, she discovers the mysterious academic tome which becomes her bible, A Field Guide to Magical Women: A Mythical Ethnography, and meets a group of mommies involved in a multilevel-marketing scheme who may also be more than what they seem.

An outrageously original novel of ideas about art, power, and womanhood wrapped in a satirical fairy tale, Nightbitch will make you want to howl in laughter and recognition. And you should. You should howl as much as you want.

“You light a fire early in your girlhood."

Nightbitch is the story of a mother who in her exhaustion descends into madness, or freedom, depending on how you view the story. I was surprised that the top reviews for this book were mostly negative and dismissive, writing this novel off as a “mommy finds herself” story, and it is that but it’s also far more.
We watch as a mother loses herself and her desires and becomes disillusioned with the expectations of womanhood. Her frustration with her world grows into rage which manifest in her becoming a dog. I enjoyed the metaphor of this whole thing, and I think the depictions of violence were occasionally difficult to listen to but provided a necessary dichotomy between the woman’s desires and her responsibilities. I don’t believe the violence was used gratuitously for shock value often, but if I ever read this again my mind could change.
I think the story was at its best when the reader was unaware of the reality of the situation. I found myself wondering if this suburban mom was actually a dog or if she was simply going insane, but Rachel Yoder doesn’t leave much room for interpretation in the end of the story. I was frustrated by the ending because she spells out the themes of the book so blatantly, as if she doesn’t trust her own writing and ability to convey the message through the story. I’m not familiar with her other work, but I thought the themes and metaphors in this novel spoke for themselves. It’s very clear why this mother would be compelled to let lose of her animalistic desires and be free from the constraints of her life. I found myself relating to her rage and her tendency to swallow it, and I related to the desire to just be free of it all. I believe Yoder captures the frustration of many of our mothers beautifully without dismissing it as “selfless sacrifice” or “maternal love”. She conveys the pain that motherhood has caused while also viewing it as an act of godly creation. The choice to make her experiences an art piece was expected, but underwhelming for me personally. The ending felt rushed and anticlimactic, with people just accepting that this women becomes an animal and the main character explaining at length what the story has been telling us for the past seven hours. This really leaves little room for interpretation as I mentioned earlier. Overall this was a good story with very compelling themes, beautiful descriptions of complex emotions, and I enjoyed it very much although It could have been improved.
But the narration was awesome in my opinion, I think the voice fit the tone and sarcasm of the story very well.

Grotesquely Empathetic

I don’t usually read fiction, and only came upon this book because of a friend who, upon hearing my own reflections of motherhood, insisted I make an exception for this one. I’m glad I did. It was cathartic and surreal, with a tinge of insanity. Everything a new mother needs to hear but most likely won’t from civilized society.

This book made such an impact on me

I listened to this book a year ago. I can't stop thinking about it! It's such a fresh perspective.

Mother rage

For those moms who f feel weighed down by their own rage and conflict. The pull between never wanting to be away from our kids but resenting the lack of alone time. This makes you want to rewild yourself

When it hits, it pulls your soul up from its deepest place.

I am grateful this book exists. I feel seen, heard, understood and inspired. I am nightbitch and so are so many others.