Lire and marriage and how hard it can be. Too trite to be real. ( )

2006

(unabridged audiobook read by Johanna Parker): Though stories of multiple people all experiencing different variations on the same theme are far from uncommon, this one is reasonably fresh and enjoyable. Here we have four mothers (current, former, and soon-to-be) from four different backgrounds, each dealing with issues with her marriage and with her mother (or mother-in-law). The target audience is definitely mothers and mothers-to-be (and I think fathers could benefit from such an honest account of what their wives and girlfriends are going through), but I found myself sympathizing with the characters and wanting to know how things turned out. I especially empathized with Kelly. No, this book has not made me want children of my own, but it was a good story nonetheless. And it certainly didn't hurt that it was read by a actress with amazing subtleties in her voice. Most of the men sounded alike, but she had an amazing range in her female voices. ( )

-

This was a nice read, although I wouldn’t call it a light read, compared to most other chick lit that’s out there, it was still an enjoyable book that I would read again. Instead of the usually fluff I’ve read in some recent chick lit books, it was full of heart, humour and the misadventures first time mothers have with themselves, their new born babies, in-laws and their husbands. Although there wasn’t as much laugh-out-loud humour as I’ve found in some other books in chick-lit genre I’ve enjoyed, this book had an overall great story and collection characters you were able to care about and follow along with their journey through motherhood and watching as these women came together and formed a powerful and bonding friendship.

I liked some characters and their stories better then others, my least favourite was Kelly’s. I didn’t care for her character or her story line, she had my least favourite personality type and I didn’t connect to her at all. Ayindee was a character I felt to be on middle ground with, but Becky and Lia were my favourite characters and who’s parts of the story I enjoyed the most. Lia’s will make you tear up, and Becky has a dazzling personality and spirit, I wish she was real, because she is one of those people who have a warming heart and kindness towards those she loves, and her giving labour is a little amusing, because before she experienced her contractions she was one of those “natural birth” girls, but that part is sure to make you laugh, and her husband is the envy of all women (I want my future husband to be him, sans the mother-in-law and added a bit of book nerdiness into him).

My only real criticism of the book is that I had a hard time connecting with the characters, and I’m not sure if it was because there was because of the book itself, or because I lack experience in motherhood, because I myself am not a mother. The book does a good job at giving a more realistic look at motherhood, rather than a glorified look, which I thought was well done, but there is still a level of the book I think that just didn’t connect to me, like the author intended to do with readers. But over all, was a very well done book, a quick read, I practically read it in one sitting, and an enjoyable story, and I think I’ll check out more writing by Weiner, because she seems to have a knack for they style of chick lit I like (similar to what I like with Marian Keyes).

Review is also on my blog: http://juliebooks.blogspot.com/2009/0... ( )