to be really irritated with the film "I don't know how she does it" even before I've seen it?

[headfairy]

I've never read the book either. I'm judging purely on things I've read elsewhere which is of course utterly right and proper :o

AIBU to want to run screaming from the room when ever I see the trailer. I mean. What's the big deal? She works. She has children. Er... yeah. So do millions of others every single day without making a fuss. Get over yourself love.

No, I felt the same, and it was made worse by Sarah Jessica Parker taking the lead role.

Have you read the book, it's seriously brilliant ( although the plot line is a bit shaky) I am worried that the film will be awful though, SJP is so not how I picture Helen Reddy

I read the book ages ago and was thoroughly irritated by it

i feel it is tainted by sjp in the lead role. the trailer reminds me of that scene in satc 2 when charlotte is complaining about how hard it is being a parent, when she has 2 kids, doesn't work and a nanny.

The book was written by a Daily Mail columnist I think. That explains me not reading it. SJP is the reason I won't watch the film.

YANBU

YANBU

Not only because of the stupid title, and the fact that SJP is in it (sorry I loathed Sex and/in - whatever it is - the city too) but it just sounds utter utter bollocks.

oh, I thought "I Don't Know How She Does It" referred to SJP's astonishing ability to obtain leading acting roles with such limited talent. No?

LOL armageddon, that could be a factor? Have you also noticed that she gets roles that need to be acted by a woman 10 years younger, Hollywood is stupid, they think that just because she acted in a popular series and film that she will bring gold to everything she is in.

I wondered if it was based on the book. I don't Alison Pearson writes for the DM any more and I don't think she did when she wrote the book (no doubt Nancy will correct me if that's wrong).

Its ages since I read it but I remember it as being perfectly readable but obviously also perfectly forgettable.

I won't be going to see the film but will watch it once it makes its way to terrestrial TV.

YANBU. SJP gets right up my nose, and the clips I've seen of the film made me cringe. The only thing "I don't know how she does it" is walk in those bloody silly skyscraper shoes she always wears. I bet she's got some cracking bunions.

Armageddon .

I haven't read the book but I remember it coming out and thinking "one to avoid". The fact that Alison Pearson writes for the DM makes it worse. I'm probably pre judging her but I've always imagined it to be a not so subtle dig at working mothers. Working mother is always tired, isn't there to bake cakes for her children's school fairs or isn't immediately on had to give her dh a BJ or some such other bollocks.

Didn't Private Eye make some kind of dig at her for writing the book. Or was it Julie Burchill? (I would remember but obviously I'm too tired and stressed :o). I think the whole concept annoys me... really, it's not that remarkable that women work and play a major role in the home too. It's also not that difficult.

So its only me that likes the book then. For those who haven't read it I think it perfectly expresses the dilemma that some of us find ourselves in where we find it hard to simultaneously be a good parent and a good employee, plus I thought the portrayal of the DH as a lovable but not so helpful on the practical front man was spot on.

Oh and just because someone once wrote for the DM it doesn't necessarily mean that everything they have ever done is completely and utterly crap.

No headfairy its the exact opposite of judging working mothers, honestly how can people express opinions without having read the book, gnash.

I'd rather worm the cat manually than watch a film like this, or Sex in the City, or anything with Jennifer Aniston in it

shudders

YANBU. I get unreasonable every tie I see SJP.

Even the title hacks me off. I don't even know what the film's about but certainly wouldn't waste £8 or whatever going to see such banal shite.

I liked the book, i thought it was quite MN-esque in humour at times, although I did read it a while back.

In fact I remember thinking of it when dd changed schools mid November, and the class teacher said, and on the first day (Mon) "the other children have all been given tomorrow as a deadline to bring in their costumes for the christmas play, as she has just started, you can have till THursday to make one or go to Asda, i think they are selling them and bring it in."

I smiled and nodded, thinking WTF, when on earth does she think i will have time to do that? And then sat up till the early hours of the morning creating a cape that wasnt actually used in a performance till the end of term in December

I am not sure about SJP or her 'witty' best friend who has been added as a character but will prob watch it

YANBU

The book is utter shite as well

Thank goodness littleducks I thought I was the only person who had liked the book or indeed actually read it but still felt free to slag it off

I have read it - unfortunately - for a book group.

We all loathed it, apart from one poor woman.

I liked the book and was a SAHM when I read it.

IIRC "I don't know how she does it" is a comment always made by a smug SAHM as she sees the main character struggling - it's a smug anti-compliment.

I didn't think it was a dig at WOHMs/a dig at SAHMs/immediately avoidable because it was written by a DM journalist. I think it's a good book about motherhood.

I would like to re-read it as the film is coming out. However I have just started very part time and non high-powered job and I would make myself look ridiculous if I began reading it at the moment.

I just think it's breathtakingly stupid to change so many things about the book and to put SJP in the lead role. So very, very wrong. They can't possibly want anyone who's actually read it to go and see it. It's a British book and a British character. End of.

Is SJP acting English, or is it now set in the US?

I have read it btw, but don't remember it being a difficult read, or indeed remember anything about it (was when DD was very small...)

No I think its now set in US. Probably makes sense as UK has thankfully moved on a wee bit from the working culture of the book whereas US still as brutal on maternity leave, working hours, part time working as 10 years ago.