24th ilb
5 – 14 Sep 2024 Program
9 – 18 Sep 2024 Young Program

Words of Love and Hate – Writing Motherhood: Pilar Quintana, Julia Weber

Pilar Quin
Pilar Quintana [©

Motherhood is the central motif in the novel »Abyss«, which tells of growing up from the perspective of a daughter, as well as in Quintana’s debut »The Bitch«. This is about a woman with an unfulfilled desire to have children who, in her desperation, develops a maternal relationship with a puppy. The story, which ends tragically, shows how much misguided maternal happiness and an internalization of societal expectations and value judgments can be connected.

Julia Weber was working on her second novel when she became pregnant again. Driven by the fear that everyday life as a mother of two children could interfere with her art, she begins a conversation with the characters in her novels. »Die Vermengung« (tr: The Mixture) is a field report, novel, and essay about mothering duties and literary ambitions. »In the midst of the disillusionment of family, Julia Weber tries to establish a transcendence without which literature cannot exist. If one in interested in the topic of care, especially for women writers, then ›Die Vermengung‹ is the novel to read« [NZZ].

Moderation: Lea Streisand
Speaker: Abak Safaei-Rad
Language: Spanish, German