YESTERYEAR

In this buzzy, polarizing page turner, an ambitious and unhinged Idaho tradwife with millions of Instagram followers wakes up to find herself in the 1800s, with a family she doesn’t recognize, and has to actually live off the land. It’s a riveting takedown of attention culture and sanctimonious piety, and I could not put it down.

I’ve been fascinated to see the wildly different opinions on this controversial book that skewers almost every cultural institution - especially motherhood, depicted here as a parasitic force that drains the soul of every woman ever to reproduce. I was captivated watching Natalie’s reality warp like a fun house mirror, and the smallest observations take on a sinister undertone. No matter your thoughts on the ending, IMO the conclusion is not the point, and even though I usually need to love my main characters, this book had me hooked from page one.

The way we’re drawn into the story and this deeply unlikeable character makes clear that (frighteningly) maybe we’re no better than Natalie’s audience - judging her, dissecting her actions, but also complicit in the cycle of attention. The ick of that is part of the reading experience, but also a kind of meta lens to explore whether there’s a role we’re playing in this story too, because we can’t look away from Natalie either.

Here’s a woman imprisoned by her desperation for attention and approval - but who are the wardens? Natalie, here audience, and on some level, us? That’s brilliant IMO.

For this book I made Yesteryear Ranch home-churned butter. Because I do not have the patience for sourdough starters (!!) and this is some of the best butter I’ve tasted! Add a pinch of Maldon salt and it is a total chef’s kiss.