A review by bethebookworm
Waiting for Birdy: A Year of Frantic Tedium, Neurotic Angst, and the Wild Magic of Growing a Family by Catherine Newman
4.0
When I was reading this book my husband kept giving me startled looks... understandably because I kept busting out laughing. Something about the way Catherine Newman writes is unbelievably hilarious without being hurtful to anyone. She is somehow very tender towards her family, a strong voice herself, and consistently able to express the funny side of things.
As a hoping-to-become parent who spends a lot of time with kids, I really enjoyed all the little idiosyncrasies of two and three year olds she portrays so well, as well as all the craziness of being a mother. This book may have a bit too much breastfeeding, vomiting and temper tantrums for your average guy to enjoy, but on the other hand it could be great encouragement for guys whose pregnant or nursing wives seem just a tad crazy.
The only really odd thing about this book is that it was from a blog, which makes for a type of this-just-happened past tense that is a little startling at first. The time frame of the book is not consistent, because it was written in the moment and then edited presumably months or years later. I've read several bloggers-turned-authors lately, and I don't think it is a bad thing, but it can make things flow a little oddly. Its more like reading a series of letters from a very newsy friend than like reading a memoir. The good thing about reading a blogger-turned-author is that now I can read the blog and find out how Ben and Birdy are doing these days!
As a hoping-to-become parent who spends a lot of time with kids, I really enjoyed all the little idiosyncrasies of two and three year olds she portrays so well, as well as all the craziness of being a mother. This book may have a bit too much breastfeeding, vomiting and temper tantrums for your average guy to enjoy, but on the other hand it could be great encouragement for guys whose pregnant or nursing wives seem just a tad crazy.
The only really odd thing about this book is that it was from a blog, which makes for a type of this-just-happened past tense that is a little startling at first. The time frame of the book is not consistent, because it was written in the moment and then edited presumably months or years later. I've read several bloggers-turned-authors lately, and I don't think it is a bad thing, but it can make things flow a little oddly. Its more like reading a series of letters from a very newsy friend than like reading a memoir. The good thing about reading a blogger-turned-author is that now I can read the blog and find out how Ben and Birdy are doing these days!