I Don’t Know How She Does It! #Book Review

I don’t know how she does it! By Allison Pearson.

I have veered away from any interviews with SJP or reviews of the film. I gather that some people thought it was a bit OTT and not a great or even accurate picture of a working mother. I on the other hand thoroughly enjoyed the book. The great thing about reading over films is that you perceive things more individually, you picture the characters, the expressions, the places and the feelings differently.

Kate Reddy, who is a mother of two small children, who finds herself jetting around the world for work, constantly rearranging lunch with her best friend because she is so busy, loving her job although spending more time than enough feeling the need to prove herself as a professional still despite the fact that she has to do pelvic floor muscles.

Kate loves her work, doesn’t feel that she is someone or even herself if not working yet hurts terribly when she sees that her nanny knows more about the kids than she does. Some parts of the books are quite amusing and had me nodding in sympathy or running off to add things to my own ongoing to-do lists like Kate does. Other parts made me feel rather sad.

This book is a blown up / exaggerated version of many women’s lives. Not many of us are jest setting around the world, screaming at our husband because we feel so guilty, missing birth parties and having our breasts oggled because we are seen as Mumsy types in the workplace, but many do feel the pinch of the juggle between life and work and feel the guilt.

I work from home full-time and I struggle sometimes with the juggling act, I imagine parents working outside the home feel much the same at times. Do you?

This is a book that I think you have to read and decide about yourself. I’d definitely say book before movie (I always do!), because I really believe that’s the best way to explore a story. If you’ve read it, tell me what you think.

I don’t know how she does it is published by Vintage Books, has a RRP of £7.99 and is available at all good bookshop and also on Amazon (£4.99 at the time of publishing this post).

Watchman William, Ghost Detective #Book Review

I’ve posted many times about how Kieran is a keen reader and loves to explore the world and new ideas through books. We are regular library visitors and have a great time choosing and reading books together. Every so often we come across something really good (or as Kieran says “cool”) and this book is right up there on the coolness scale!

For age 5+ this is the exciting story of Thomas and his ghost friend William who together are a dynamic (and at times amusing!) crime investigative team!

Kieran turned 5yrs in July and I’m told at school is above national average for reading. He couldn’t read this book independently, reading parts on his own but needing us to read the majority with him, however he understood the plot perfectly and enjoyed it all. It has been a favourite bedtime story adventure, chapter by chapter. As a parent I would recommend this is a fun book which kids will be itching to pick up and continue with. Kieran’s opinion:

I like this book, it’s really cool. I like William, he’s not a scary ghost, he’s Thomas’ friend and they are detectives. Some bits are funny and I liked the people in the book. I can read some bits on my own but Mummy & Daddy help with all the hard words. I like all the clues in the book, I think I could be a proper spy now!“. This is high praise. trust me.

Watchman William – Ghost Detective (Diana Shaw) has a RPP of £5.99 and is available from major retailers and on Amazon (currently reduced!).

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“I’m William and I’m wearing these clothes because I was a night watchman at the time of Good Queen Bess. I’m a ghost you see!”

With his young friend Thomas, and a great detective for inspiration, William sets out to investigate mysterious happenings in and around hardleigh manor, all with a little helps from his readers…

Can William stop the bucycle thief? Who is causing the sabotage at Hardleigh Hotel? Floods, false trails, enormous exploding marrows and suspect upended in pig swill – all in a day’s work for William!

Loaded with clue summaries, suspect lists and lots of action, readers can pitch in with the detective work and help William and thomas in their efforts to become great detectives.

Published by Inside Pocket.