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Book swap-The bad mothers handbook by Kate Long

15 replies

nikkie · 01/06/2006 20:00

Haven't started this yet but starting a thread ready!

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melbob · 01/06/2006 20:04

I hated that book!! i thought it was smug and lightweight but my bf loved it!

hana · 01/06/2006 20:07

also not a fan , sorry - it sounded great and I bought copies for my sisters ( we're in a book club thingy) but it was awful
maybe you can swap it before you read it Grin

WelshBoris · 01/06/2006 21:27

Hi nikkie glad you got the book x

WigWamBam · 19/06/2006 11:42

I wasn't looking forward to reading this one, having read some of the comments about it, but I have to say I enjoyed it.

It can be read in a number of ways - as a straighforward chick-lit novel, as a study of three women's experience of being both mother and daughter, as a social commentary on the ways that unwanted pregnancy has been treated through the years, and as an examination of how much we are affected by our past - whether we like it or not! To quote from the book: "everyone's history is a product of someone else's; what we think of as our own experience is only what's been bestowed on us by others and you can't walk away from that", and that's really the central theme of the novel. The past shapes our present, and we can't escape it.

It's an easy book to read which on the surface doesn't leave you with much to think about, but when you dig a little deeper, particularly into Nan's life experiences, there's more than meets the eye. The narrative is split between Nan, daughter Karen and grandaughter Charlotte (with each one being in a differently spaced type, just to make things easier for you!), and as most of Nan's are her experiences of the past, the reader has a real sense of who she is and how her experiences colour her present.

I thought the characterisation was excellent in most cases, Charlotte and Nan particularly, although I didn't feel that Karen was quite so well characterised. The plot is simple, and it has to be said it's a bit unrealistic in parts - but a lot of the narrative is an expression of emotions and feelings, and I identified very much with some of the feelings that Charlotte has in trying to come to terms with looking after a new baby.

On the whole this was enjoyable, and I will probably look for other titles by the same author.

UCM · 21/06/2006 22:44

bump

schneebly · 21/06/2006 22:46

I liked it too, an easy read but some nice moments.

tallmummy · 21/06/2006 22:46

Is that you UCM?

UCM · 22/06/2006 09:32

Oiiiiiiy! Go and stand in the corner immediately.

Coolmama · 22/06/2006 19:46

oh UCM - you just know this is going to follow you wherever you go

levon · 23/06/2006 20:58

my god, I've just found the book club section and nearly died of happiness, (although my brain seems to have fell out since the birth of dd and I'm too knackered to read much of anything). I agree this book was lightweight but I enjoyed it lots. I read it while pregnant and may even have shed a few tears I'm ashamed to say in anticipation of my baby's arrival.

kickassangel · 21/08/2006 12:26

just got back off holiday & read this pretty quickly. an enjoyable light read, and for once a birth scene which didn't completely me off by being totally unrealistic. (WHY do female authors pretend that birth is not what it is. i understand blokes who do that in books, but why do women lie about it? makes me furious).
there were some things to think about, but a bit of a chick lit, with a fairly happy ending. Fortunately it didn't labour the points, just told the story & left you to enjoy it.
Quite fun & gave you some hope if you've got stroppy teenagers around.

KISSassangel · 12/02/2007 16:32

bump

nikkie · 12/02/2007 19:18

Have you seen the trailers for a tv prog of this?With Catherine Tate in!

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KISSassangel · 14/02/2007 09:40

no, but will look out for them

nikkie · 14/02/2007 20:30

Its on next week, Mon I think on ITV

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