Gorelik Explores Motherhood in New Book

Why this is here: Gorelik details a woman walking to an abortion clinic, repeatedly suggesting names she “could” have—Olga, Natascha, Irina, Marina, Mascha—to highlight the shared experience.

Lena Gorelik investigates the complexities of motherhood in her new book, Alle meine Mütter, published in Germany. The author, born in 1981 in Leningrad, blends personal experience with historical facts and observations. Gorelik begins by addressing the high rate of abortions in the Soviet Union.

She crafts a literary collage, detailing the journey of an unnamed woman seeking an abortion. Gorelik uses repetition and possible names—Olga, Natascha, Irina—to emphasize the universality of the experience. The book contains roughly 272 pages filled with tender and difficult moments.

Gorelik’s work considers expectations placed on mothers and what it means to be a mother in society. The author acknowledges that the book is a personal exploration, a puzzle of observations and memories.

It remains unclear how much of the book directly reflects Gorelik’s own biography. The exploration of mother-child relationships continues with this new work.