Can I be honest here?
I think of books like The Manual for Motherhood, edited by Christine Fugate, as books for people who don’t really read books. This book is relatively thin (under 150 pages) and made up of about 30 different essays by 30 different writers. It’s more like a magazine than a book.
Now that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I hope that those of you don’t feel like this stage of life gives you the luxury to read have perked up to read the rest of this review. But fellow book snobs–I hope that you are hanging in with me as well.
I started reading The Manual for Motherhood thinking that I would read it as anthologies like this are mostly intended to be read–a little at a time. You know–bedside or bathroom reading–an essay or two whenever I had ten minutes to spare. The problem with that is that once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. I sped through this book in two sittings.
This collection was compiled from winning entries to the essay contest answering, “What do you wish you knew before you became a mother?” (You can leave a suggestion for the question for the next contest, which will possibly end up as Volume 2 of the Manual for Motherhood, and stay tuned for details on how to enter that contest.)
Of course there’s no manual for motherhood, but this book offers us the next best thing: real experiences from real moms. Isn’t that how we get through those first few weeks with our first baby? the boundary-trying toddler years? potty training? teen rebellion?
One thing that I wish that this book had was a little biographical information about each writer. Many of these essays piqued my interest in the writer. How many children does she have? Is she a blogger? Is she writing a book? (update: Apparently I’m an idiot. There are bio paragraphs, but I just didn’t see them. I looked at the end of the essays, obviously, and I looked at the back, but they are actually about 8 pages in from the back of the book).
Fugate’s website, Mothering Heights, offers links to some of the contributors websites, which is a start. Her blog also offers fun posts on her likes and interests: movies, girlfriends, and gluten and dairy-free cooking.
The following essays are just a sample of what spoke to me in this book:
- In “Fertilizer” Cynthia Jenkins writes about being herself, not the mom that she grew up with.
- Diane Compton relates her hobby of snorkeling to the challenges and surprising wonder of parenting in a beautiful essay called “Skimming the Surface.”
- Judy Berna’s “Letter to the Mother of That Baby” examines the many faces of a baby-admiring mall patron, reminding the reader of our similarities and differences as women and as moms.
- One of our own 5 Minutes for Mom community, Angela (CPA Mom), has an essay featured in the book. Her “Advice to the Mom-to-Be” is a good reminder to all of us–no matter how old our children–about accepting ourselves the way we are.
This book is not composed of pat “life is busy for a mom” kind of essays, or “I knew life would be different, but I never knew it would be so good” reflections. It covers everything from adoptive mothers, to diagnoses, to the changing of a marriage after parenthood, to losing yourself and finding it again.
I recommend that you buy this book. Buy it to support writing moms finding their voices. Read it yourself, or buy it for a new mom, or for a mom deep in the trenches who needs a little “been there” support. It’s available at amazon.com.
If you’d like to win a prize package including a copy of The Manual for Motherhood, a tiara (because a woman can do everything better in a crown), and a canvas tote, leave a comment here. I’ll announce the winner in next week’s column.
The winners of last week’s book, The Suicide Index, are #85 Dara Nix and #76 Joan Koczon. You should have received an email from me asking for your address.
This is great!
Please enter me.
Thank you!
janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com
Easy reading is wonderful sometimes. Thanks!
this sounds great, enter me please
I totally love that tiara and wouldn’t mind a book to help me out! Thanks for the chance to win!
That tiara would look so great on me in the carpool. Thanks!
i would love to win this. please, thank you.
I have never owned a tiara before. I would love to sit in our home reading this book full of wonderful essays wearing a tiara. Please enter my name in your drawing. Thanks, Cindi
This sounds wonderful!!! I’d love to be entered to win your giveaway!! I also love the fact that you’re including a tiara, and I definitely agree with you on the reason for that!!!
Thanks!
Michele R.(CA)
luvkittysmeowmail@gmail.com
what a fun prize 🙂
Please enter me! This sounds like an awesome read, and I’m quite the bookworm! 🙂
I’d love to win this!
This sounds like a phenomenal book! Not to mention a great prize package! I’m keeping my fingers crossed!
Ooooh! Pick me, pick me, please!
The book sounds really good. And my toddler would probably laugh at me in a tiara, so that’s a must.
I TOTALLY need a tiara! The book sounds great too – count me in!
Oh, can you please enter me! I need a tiara – definitely helps with the housework ;).
Sound interesting!
Sounds like a nice read. Thanks,
Maureen (jnomaxx at hotmail dot com)
I would love to be included! Thanks!
I’d love to read this
This book sounds awesome! A manual and a tiara are exactly what I need! 🙂
I would love to win this…please enter me!
I would love to win this. I don’t have the time for a full on book theses days, but some nice mommy bed time stories would be great. Thank you
This book sounds like a fun read and probably will make all mothers not feel like they go through things alone.
This books sounds inspiring and full of practical wisdom!
Thank you for the chance to win. Thanks.
The book sounds great! I love quick reads!
Sounds like a great book! Enter me in the contest please.
Count me in, too, please!! =)
Well, I would enter for the tiara alone, but the book looks awesome. Count me in!!
oops…I meant drawing
That book sounds like so much fun. Please include me in the drewing. Thanks.
I need a new tiara…ha!
I’d love to win this. Hearing the thoughts of other mothers always gives me strength to go on.
A tiara? I’m in.
I can use all the help I can get. And who couldn’t use a tiara?
Count me in! Sounds like a great read.
The book sounds really good and I just don’t own my very own crown!
Sounds like a book I could find time to read.
I would love to win a tiara and give the book a try. Thanks!
sounds very interesting. I’d love to read it!
That sounds like a fun book to read. Thanks for the review.
I wonder if I had a book (and a tiara), if I’d be a better mommy? Doubt it…but it’s fun to try anyway.
I’d love to win a tiara.
It sounds like a great read, I’m always up for a new book!
Sounds like it wuold be a good book to read! Thanks for the contest!! 🙂
This sounds like an interesting read.
Thanks for the chance to win.
Well I could certainly use a manual right about now. I read computer manuals, self- help manuals and this would come in most handy!
Oh And the tiara’s not too shabby either.
thanks!
This sounds like a very good and helpful book. Thanks for the giveaway!
A manual on how to do this mommy thing, and some supplies to look hot while doing to. Um…best giveaway ever!
sounds like a good read
Thank you Janice, Susan and Jennifer for your support of the book and moms who dare to write! I LOVE your site and am so honored to have the book featured on it. You have made 31 moms and one dad very happy today!
Awesome! Sounds great!
How neat! Please count me in. Thank you!
Megret
what a great give-away!
i know a new mommy that so needs that…and i would love to win it for her!
thanks!
The books sounds interesting, and what isn’t made better with a tiara?
Sounds like a good read (and who doesn’t want a tiara)!
I like the sound of this book. I’ve heard many times the ‘life is busy, but better than ever’ takes and, while I agree, I’d like to read some other takes on motherhood.
this sounds like a great book!
Sounds like a great read!
laura_licious101(at)hotmail*com
It’s nice to have a compact read from time to time. And this sounds like a pretty interesting read.
:–) Nell
I just got the link to this blog and I’m looking forward to the fun things I have been reading. This book does look interesting. Thanks for posting about it!
Oh, this sounds good! I can’t wait to read it.
Sounds like a good read. Count me in.
I love the idea of having both the book (I love reading) and the tiara. I am after all Queen of this Castle -ah, I mean humble home.
Sounds cool to me.
Count me in! Looks like a great read. And I SO need a tiara 🙂
Enter me! looks like a great book!
I’d love to win this book!
Wow, I’d definitely love to win this one.
I would love to read this!
That book looks great!
I do have a princess complex, but I love a good book too!! Thanks!
sounds like a fun read!
I’d love to win this, especially the tiara!
I’d love to give this book a read, and I think I’d wear the tiara while I clean the house. Or make dinner. Or wash dishes. Or read. Um, frankly, I’d wear the tiara all the time.
Sounds like an interesting book – count me in. One thing about motherhood is that they certainly don’t exagerate when they say “you’ll never sleep again”!
that sounds like a wonderful book! and you’re so right about the tiara.
🙂
Sounds like a good one, count me in!
I’d love to have this book and the tiara!
Thanks!
I know a new Mom and one in the trenches (me) who would love to read this.
Everybody says they wish there was a manual! Sign me up!
sounds funny
I would LOVE to have that tiara–oh, and the book too. lol
Sounds so cute!!!
Sounds interesting please enter me in your contest
This looks like a great book – and one that I could read in small chunks while feeding my 5 month old!!! I’d love to win!
legacyofbrutalitysa{AT}gmail.com
I would love to win this, it looks like an interesting read.
Sounds great and my daughter would love the tiara. Count me in. Thanks! 🙂
I could wear the tiara while I read the book
I’d like to give it a read. I would love to enter the giveaway. Thanks!
Sign me up! I would love to read about all the different “sides” of motherhood in one handy book!
I fully believe every woman should own and wear a tiara.
This book sounds like fun, and very interesting. I’m all about supporting fellow moms. Great review, I appreciate your honesty.
sounds like a great read!
Sounds like an interesting read. Please enter me.
I would love to win this…please enter me!