The Days of Hyena

Is it possible to have a child and still remain oneself?

“I had refused to believe that life without a child would be empty; I had convinced myself that it wasn’t so, but now I had to admit that maybe it was. There was a hole in my life; something was missing.”

Saara Turunen’s The Days of Hyena portrays infertility, pregnancy, and questions related to reproduction. The unique and precise narration observes life choices, their consequences and the momentary nature of life. This intelligent and straightforward work guides the reader to contemplate the physical dimension of human life and the contradictions of becoming a mother. Why images of motherhood often evoke repugnance, even though one desires to have a child? Is it possible to simultaneously embrace motherhood and preserve oneself?