My guest today is Fran Littlewood author of the best-selling novel Amazing Grace Adams. A story of the rollercoaster ride of Perimenopause which explores love, loss, motherhood, female rage, shame, self-blame, and the societal pressure of perfection.
Join myself and Fran, a former Times Journalist and mother of three teenage daughters as we discuss:
- The plot of Amazing Grace Adams and how it relates to the experiences of women who feel overwhelmed by their many roles and responsibilities. Fran shares her personal experience with perimenopause, including the "terrible itch" and the importance of advocating for oneself in medical settings.
- The clash of teenage and midlife hormones and the impossible standards women are expected to uphold. Fran talks about the almost "comedic clash" of these two hormonal stages and the societal pressure to be perfect.
- The grief and past trauma that can surface during perimenopause.
- The struggles of parenting a teenager caught between childhood and adulthood. Fran talks about the challenges of navigating this no man's land when your child suddenly becomes a stranger.
- Losing control or taking control? The differences in expectations for men and women and the legacy of our mothers.
Fran’s book choice is Wandering Souls by Cecil Pin which has been shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2023.
Want more Fran? You can follow her on Twitter
If you enjoy this episode please like and subscribe to the podcast and leave a review, it really does make a difference and helps other listeners to find me. Thank you, Jo.
Support the show
Learn more about me and my work at www.themerrymenopause.com
Follow me on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIN
Join my private Facebook group
