Harriet Alida Lye on narcissism, mother-daughter bonds and growing up
Harriet Alida Lye's novel, Mother Clown, explores the intricate dynamics of mother-daughter relationships through the lens of grief and personal reinvention. The story follows Catherine and her daughter Elise as they navigate their complex bond after a tragedy. Lye discusses themes of motherhood, identity, and the misconceptions surrounding women's roles as artists and mothers.
- ▪Catherine wakes up to find her husband has died, prompting a journey of grief for her and her daughter Elise.
- ▪Elise moves to Paris to attend a prestigious theatre school, where she explores her identity apart from her mother.
- ▪Lye aims to challenge the archetype of the self-absorbed mother by portraying Catherine as both lovable and flawed.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
ShareSave for laterPlease log in to bookmark this story.Log InCreate Free AccountHarriet Alida Lye’s new novel, Mother Clown, begins with tragedy. Catherine, one of the two central characters, wakes up one morning to find her husband has died in his sleep. Her daughter, Elise, carries the grief to Paris, where she’s been accepted into a prestigious theatre school with an emphasis on clowning. The novel paints a portrait of the complexity of mother-daughter bonds, and follows the two women as they reinvent themselves after Catherine takes it upon herself to impulsively follow Elise to Paris.Lye spoke with The Globe and Mail about motherhood, narcissism and storytelling before the book’s release on June 2.There is an element of performance to the role of mother and daughter, and neither…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Globe and Mail.
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