A review by travelinkiki
The Bitch in the House: 26 Women Tell the Truth about Sex, Solitude, Work, Motherhood, and Marriage by Cathi Hanauer
4.0
I wasn't sure how I'd feel about this book since the reviews are all over the place. I went in with an open mind, and I'm so glad I did. I loved the stories, and I actually want more. Each of the women shared their story - whatever story that happened to be. They opened themselves up for judgment and share very uncomfortable truths from their lives.
Although I do agree with other reviewers that it would be better to have a more diverse set of authors for the essays, I was still able to identify with something from everyone's essay. There is something universal about the things these women wrote that I felt was powerful and touching.
I didn't see the stories as whiny or bitchy at all. They were personal stories and feelings, and I think there is a lot of overlap in how women are made to feel about our choices. Why those hardships are perceived as whiny, I'm not entirely sure - I just viewed it as the stories for each of those women.
Speaking of which, an unexpected finding of this book was the relief I felt in my own choice to be childfree. The trials and tribulations of motherhood became clear in ways that most other writers won't discuss (probably because they'd be accused of being bitchy). I appreciated this open honest viewing of life with kids, and it just solidified for me that I made the right choice.
I don't think for a second that everyone will walk away from the book with this feeling. In fact, I would expect that some women will want a child even more. But, that's the beauty of a personal story - everyone can take from it what they want or need. There is no one truth to fit us all.
Although I do agree with other reviewers that it would be better to have a more diverse set of authors for the essays, I was still able to identify with something from everyone's essay. There is something universal about the things these women wrote that I felt was powerful and touching.
I didn't see the stories as whiny or bitchy at all. They were personal stories and feelings, and I think there is a lot of overlap in how women are made to feel about our choices. Why those hardships are perceived as whiny, I'm not entirely sure - I just viewed it as the stories for each of those women.
Speaking of which, an unexpected finding of this book was the relief I felt in my own choice to be childfree. The trials and tribulations of motherhood became clear in ways that most other writers won't discuss (probably because they'd be accused of being bitchy). I appreciated this open honest viewing of life with kids, and it just solidified for me that I made the right choice.
I don't think for a second that everyone will walk away from the book with this feeling. In fact, I would expect that some women will want a child even more. But, that's the beauty of a personal story - everyone can take from it what they want or need. There is no one truth to fit us all.