A deeply personal exploration of childless and childfree women in their own words.
Others Like Me is the story of fourteen women around the world, from different walks of life, who don’t have children. It’s also the story of why Nicole Louie had to find these women and what they taught her. Part memoir, part exploration of childlessness through candid conversations, this book showcases the many ways in which people find fulfilment outside of parenthood. And because the social expectation to procreate weighs the most on women, Louie focuses solely on them, their experiences, and how they flourish outside of motherhood. In doing so, she upends the stereotypes that diminish women who are childless by choice, circumstance, or ambivalence and offers reassurance and companionship on a path less known.
A deeply personal exploration of childless and childfree women in their own words.
Others Like Me is the story of fourteen women around the world, from different walks of life, who don’t have children. It’s also the story of why Nicole Louie had to find these women and what they taught her. Part memoir, part exploration of childlessness through candid conversations, this book showcases the many ways in which people find fulfilment outside of parenthood. And because the social expectation to procreate weighs the most on women, Louie focuses solely on them, their experiences, and how they flourish outside of motherhood. In doing so, she upends the stereotypes that diminish women who are childless by choice, circumstance, or ambivalence and offers reassurance and companionship on a path less known.
| Published By | House of Anansi Press Inc — Nov 5, 2024 |
| Specifications | 364 pages | 5.5 in x 8.5 in |
| Keywords | finding purpose; mother daughter relationships; creative life; finding fulfilment; challenges stereotypes; defying expectations; patriarchy; Regretting Motherhood; Orna Donath; cross-cultural; Rebecca Solnit; Sandra Oh; birth control; |
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Supporting Resources
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Excerpt Guide |
| Written By |
NICOLE LOUIE is a writer and translator based in Ireland. A former content strategist and creative writer for virtual assistants, she holds a BA in advertising and postgraduate diplomas in literature and translation. When not writing, she is reading about the lives of women without children. Her essays about not having children have appeared in Oh Reader and Childfree Magazine, and her curated collections of books, movies, and podcasts about women who are not mothers by choice, circumstance, or ambivalence can be found on social media: @bynicolelouie. Others Like Me: The Lives of Women without Children is her first book. |
| Written By |
|
NICOLE LOUIE is a writer and translator based in Ireland. A former content strategist and creative writer for virtual assistants, she holds a BA in advertising and postgraduate diplomas in literature and translation. When not writing, she is reading about the lives of women without children. Her essays about not having children have appeared in Oh Reader and Childfree Magazine, and her curated collections of books, movies, and podcasts about women who are not mothers by choice, circumstance, or ambivalence can be found on social media: @bynicolelouie. Others Like Me: The Lives of Women without Children is her first book. |
"These interviews are digestible in length and fascinating in breadth, adding depth and nuance to Louie's own story … Tender, emotive and quietly revelatory."— Irish Times
” —"Louie’s tone is vulnerable and empathetic, making this a must-read for everyone." — Stylist
” —“An affirming account of the lives of childless and child-free women.” — Library Journal
” —“Diligently researched and thoughtfully organized, Others Like Me is an honest look at the diverse identities and life paths of childless women.” — Maisonneuve
” —“Louie presents brief, stylized first-person vignettes drawn from interviews with 14 other childless women, who offer up an intriguing range of rationales … as well as sharp insights into both childlessness and parenthood.” — Publisher’s Weekly
” —“A great read for those interested in the lives of people without children.” — Quebec Library Association
” —"A distinctive, original book, Louie’s approach to childless lives is thoughtful and empathetic. I couldn't get enough of her beautiful, lyrical prose and the care with which she holds other women’s stories. While it doesn’t shy away from some hard conversations, this book is ultimately uplifting." — Caroline Magennis, author of Harpy: A Manifesto for Childfree Women
”"What a unique addition to the genre exploring women without children! Creatively interweaving her story with the stories of women she interviewed, with candour and self-reflection, Nicole Louie takes us on her journey to a deeper understanding of wanting a life that does not include motherhood. Beautifully crafted, this book shows us how inner work and learning from others leads to living assuredly in our truths." — Laura Carroll, author of The Baby Matrix: Why Freeing Our Minds from Outmoded Thinking About Parenthood and Reproduction Will Create a Better World
”"Deeply felt and deeply researched, books like this will help women decide what is right for them." — Rowan Hisayo Buchanan, author of The Sleep Watcher
”“Others Like Me is an important, beautiful, self-excavating memoir about female autonomy and joy found in childlessness, told with great tenderness.” — Nuala O’Connor, author of Seaborne
”"Lyrical, full of insight, humanity and compassion." — Clodagh Finn, author of Through Her Eyes: A New History of Ireland in 21 Women
”"Lyrical, full of insight, humanity and compassion." — Clodagh Finn, author of Through Her Eyes: A New History of Ireland in 21 Women
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