Inferno: A Memoir of Motherhood and Madness

Catherine Cho’s memoir gives readers a taste of the harsh reality of motherhood when she is admitted to a psychiatric ward from postpartum psychosis. Cho’s memoir takes us between two timelines: her recovery in the psychiatric word and the months and years leading up to her breakdown.

In such a short book, the readers get a good feel of Cho’s personality and values even if not stated explicitly. She is a loyal girlfriend (even to an abuser) and wife (to a fantastic husband). Cho works hard to follow the wishes of her traditional Korean parents and in-laws.

However, after the birth of her son, Cato, Cho becomes paranoid, distrusting, and anxious. She think that her in-laws are spying on her to ensure that she obeys the Korean traditions postpartum. She even tries to flee with the intent of escaping the judgmental gaze of those around her. After having, well, a fit, she wakes up in a psychiatric ward.

How did I feel about this book? Well … the love-at-first-sight-long-distance-love-story-marriage part was so sweet. I also like that Cho sprinkled in some Korean customs for new mothers, though I wish this part was a little more fleshed out (give me more, Cho!) Overall, this book did not captivate me the way I thought it might. I found myself distracted while listening to it, and I lost interest after a while, but it was short enough for me to push through and finish. It was alright, but I am sure there are more interesting, in-depth explorations of the struggles of motherhood, though I like that this one had the unique viewpoint of a Korean-American family.