Renowned actress and comedian Jenny Slate is returning to one of her most cherished forms of expression: writing. On October 22, she will release her second essay collection, titled "Lifeform." This collection delves into Slate's experiences with motherhood, capturing its indescribable strangeness, complexity, and transformative beauty. Slate and Ben Shattuck welcomed their daughter, Ida Lupine, in 2021.
In a statement, Slate shared that completing this new work brought her unparalleled joy. She delved deep into its creation, believing she had emerged more alive than ever. Slate was incredibly excited to share every bit of it with those who are willing and ready.
Following her 2019 debut, "Little Weirds," which originated as a creative response to her 2016 divorce and explored abstract facets of her life, including relationships, love, feminism, and her upbringing, "Lifeform" maintains a unique tone and concept. Slate's "Little Weirds" became a New York Times Bestseller.
The collection unfolds in five phases: Single, True Love, Pregnancy, Baby, and Ongoing. It features essays covering diverse topics, from stork dreams to fantasy therapy sessions and Slate's reflections on postpartum hair loss.
Jean Garnett, Slate's editor, praises her distinctive voice and vision, noting that she simultaneously manages to be hilarious, whimsical, and deeply philosophical.
Expressing her thoughts on motherhood, Slate shared her experiences after the birth of her daughter, Ida. She contemplated whether the desire to perform onstage would resurface. Slate candidly recalled a period where she felt she might be done with performing, attributing these thoughts to what she describes as the postpartum 'weird mom fog' that many of her friends had mentioned.
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Despite the surprise of becoming a mother, she embraced the experience. Contrary to her expectations of being solely absorbed into caregiving, Slate can reconnect with aspects of her life before motherhood.
Speaking to Marie Claire, Slate reflected on her initial expectations of motherhood, realizing that her experience differs from her perception of her mother's journey. She anticipated a mix of deep love and visible stress, similar to her mother's experience. However, Slate found her path to be the opposite. While acknowledging the challenges of having a newborn, she expressed unparalleled happiness and a newfound ability to be true to herself.
Beyond her literary and stand-up endeavors, Slate continues her creative pursuits. She is starring in the stop-motion picture "Marcel the Shell With Shoes On" and will be seen with Blake Lively and Hasan Minhaj in the summertime release of Colleen Hoover's "It Ends With Us."
The release of "Lifeform" comes with the February 23 premiere of Slate's second stand-up special, "Seasoned Professional," on Amazon Prime Video. The special also touches on her postpartum experience, with Slate humorously sharing anecdotes like her thoughts on her post-baby physique.
The book will be published by Little, Brown and Company, with Claudia Ballard at WME handling the publishing deal and Laura Bonner representing international rights. Slate's unique narrative promises readers an insightful and entertaining exploration of the complexities of motherhood and life's many phases.
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