Hey, it's Ampier's Book of the Day. I'm Andrew Limbong. Today on the pod is all about motherhood

and not just the part of motherhood that involves, you know, taking care of the child,

but all the stuff that surrounds that job. In a bit, we'll hear about a novel that tackles that

rough time where you not only have to take care of your kids, but you've got aging parents

to worry about too. But first, Claire Lombardo's novel, same as it ever was, zooms in on the

lonely parts of motherhood, which I'll be real. I don't think I completely understood until I had a kid,

and let me tell you, they're not actually a great company. Anyway, she talked to NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben

about how she nailed this detail of motherhood without being a mother herself. That's after the

break. In the U.S., national security news can feel far away from daily life. Distant wars, murky

conflicts, diplomacy behind closed doors on our new new show, Sources and Methods.

NPR reporters on the ground bring you stories of real people,

helping you understand why distant events matter here at home.

Listen to sources and methods on the NPR app or wherever you get your podcasts.

They say it takes a village to raise a child.

Claire Lombardo's new novel, same as it ever was, is, in part, about a woman named Julia

raising a child without a village.

Julia is quickly unraveling as a lonely stay-at-home mom when she makes a new, older friend

in Helen.

Julia's life improves rapidly, before nearly imploding. It's funny and sharp,

and it's just really real if you've ever birthed a small person. Claire Lombardo, welcome to

Weekend Edition. Thank you so much. It's a delight to be here. Well, your book is a delight.

Let's start right at the start. This story opens with Julia. She's now 57. She's at the grocery

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