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Why Mummy Series 4 Books Collection set by Gill Sims (Why Mummy Drinks Book & Journal, Why Mummy Swears, Why Mummy Doesn’t Give a)

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Though I don't have any kids myself, I found this novel to be really entertaining and amusing. I could picture the situations very well, despite not having been through it myself, and this shows was a fab writer Gill Sims is. However, the book group did find themselves concerned that drink seemed to be the answer to all of the central character's issues; as a fairly middle class person this mum is the acceptable face of drinking and being drunk. But, if the central character was instead a working class mum, single parent, with no job, then would it seem to be so funny...we doubted it. This book was okay- but I was hoping for so much more. The first few chapters annoyed me, as it was completely reliant on a series of stereotypes- the dad who spends too much time at work, the mum who does all the child care and housework, the stay at home mums, the working mums etc. etc. I was really hoping that this book would break away from this, and have something different to say, alas not! It felt like a bit of a rip off of Bridget Jones if I'm honest with all the above mentioned stereotypes thrown in for good measure. Her appalling sister-in-law and her husband and their unruly, un toilet-trained, "the only thing we own is our soul" (and therefore what's the problem with me using all your things when they aren't really 'your's') and the Great Goddess in the Sky will provide for us says our Coven or some such rubbish. She has no notion of work, but wants to be a free spirit sponging off her brother.

This is the fourth and apparently final book in the 'Mummy' series, which makes sense since the kids are almost grown up now. And honestly, 15 year old Peter and 18 year old Jane don't feature in so many of the diary entries of Ellen anyway. She also writes about her life as a single woman, about her friends, her new sexy neighbour, her ex Simon and his new girlfriend, the imminent danger of losing her job, and also about her two beloved dogs. The book group liked the diary format of 'Why Mummy Drinks', comparing it to 'The Diary of Adrian Mole', but this time with a 39 year old (equally irritating and confused) mum. I have literally never stood wistfully in the supermarket and thought ‘Oh, how I wish someone was trailing behind me constantly whining ‘Mummy, can I have, Mummy can I have?’ while another precious moppet tries to climb out the trolley so they land on their head and we end up in AHowever, it was very readable and I enjoyed the story as it unfolded. There were a couple of laugh out loud moments, but it was definitely not as funny as I was expecting. I was happy to get to the end. Too much use of the F word for me. Not a fan of the Diary format. “ L. Billings. It got really tedious about half way through the part about baby-sitting Edward. Peter breaking his leg added nothing to the story. A highly recommended comedy fiction series for parents, these are so much more practical than any parenting book you could read and for aspiring parents.....you have been warned!

I just wanted them to stop wittering at me, eat vegetables without complaining, let me go to the loo in peace and learn to make a decent gin and tonic. We're then immersed in Ellen's chaotic, madcap life, raising Peter and Jane, coping with her husband's irritating habits, designing an app, while defending herself against the 'coven' of yummy mummies in the playground. She befriends Sam, an uber-fit dad who happens to be gay, and together, they and her other friend Hannah spend a lot of time getting sozzled, particularly when there are relatives staying at home. I particularly liked how the story was set out in a diary form covering a full year, with each of the events narrated within the correct month, e.g. the taking of exams in June and the dreaded expectation of results in August. This made for a highly realistic time line of events that sounded all too familiar and I knew exactly what issues was on their way!A weighty subject coated with light words and humour, Why mother drinks ... tries to pinpoint the frustrations and tribulations of modern motherhood. The need to be a paragon of virtue who has unending patience and good will.

Thankfully, it was largely relatable and not over the top with the drama and making it seem unbelievable. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the swearing and learning new insults. Children are supposed to be angels ..but any right witted parent will know that though they look like Angels, they often behave like devils. And Ellen has two devilish specimens in the form of Jane and Peter who test her patience sorely.Simon, her ever absent (either mentally or physically) spouse doesn't do much to help; or if at all, does grudgingly and further spoils things. Sometime good things go on for too long. A fourth book could have been good, but this one does't cut it. But she has an idea for a blog and an app, 'beat the middleclass mummies' which he puts down because it isn't proper earning work like he does. Just some silly idea a woman might have. The agreement between the husband and wife is that he is the major earner and she works part-time and does all the child care, housework, and anything else that he doesn't want to. And in common with a lot of husbands and fathers he doesn't want to do much. He doesn't want to take time off work to deal with the children, he doesn't want to put them to bed, he doesn't want to babysit on the one night out his wife wants with her friends, he doesn't want to cook, do any shopping, take her out for the evening, in fact he doesn't want to do anything he doesn't want to. And doesn't. And he feels secure in this because he "brings home the bacon" and thinks she can't leave him so long as he is the provider.

So many, laugh out loud moments. Don’t read this book in company, I couldn’t stop laughing. The worst bit was Semen Smoothies! Yes, I would have bought a new blender as well!! When we first meet Ellen (Mummy) she is waiting to take her daughter, Jane to her driving test. Her children Jane and Peter are now older. Jane is studying for her A Levels and hoping to go to university and Peter is studying for his GCSEs. She is now separated from her husband Simon and going through the process of a divorce. Throw in some changes at work and Mummy’s plate is full to bursting. However, she still has time to see Hannah one of her oldest friends and babysit Hannah’s 2 year old son Edward, who gives new meaning to the term ‘the terrible twos’. The book follows Mummy’s life in a year and each chapter represents a month and what happens in her life. This will definitely be an eventful year for Mummy, no wonder she’s partial to a drink.

Tits, Gits and Little Sh*ts

Most of the observations in this book are full of first world problems. Petty rivalries at the school gate, in the park, amongst the mothers, between the neighbours, facebook stalking, drinkies with an old love. Blah, blah, blah. It was one giant whingefest with lots of sweary acronyms I've never heard of before, which confounded me as they were said after her "adorable moppets" messed something up or her hubby annoyed her. Ouch. Lots of cattiness and spite thrown in for good measure. Yawn. Her rather well-off parents-in-law descend from their house in France to add to the work our Mummy has to do. They drink, there are boring, repeated stories and only her father-in-law sees that his daughter-in-law is the bottom of the pile, used by everyone, and with no way out. His solution, pour her another drink. Here we see Ellen dealing with devilish kids, hers as well as others, trophy mummies, irate head teachers, troublesome in laws ... meeting up with old paramour, making friends with yummy men and welcoming new neighbours. Mi-a plăcut că la acest capitol autoarea a găsit de cuviință să discute cu prietenele ei despre nefericire, perfecțiune în aparență, viața ideală și că la toți oamenii există probleme, nu numai la ghinioniști. Așadar, tratează și teme serioase. This is a comic insight into the life of a middle class family and the travails of life that disrupt all efforts to be more organised. It is written in the form of a diary, Ellen is a woman looking to change her mess of a life with her recalcitrant young children, Peter and Jane, and her tech obsessed husband, Simon, and family dog. Her turning 39 awakens all her insecurities and fears about the process of aging, she is determined to be more fashion conscious and improve her image, and be the more perfect and organised mother. So she draws up plans, gives us insights into how her actual life has been. Like all the best laid plans, they scarcely survive the realities of life. There are the stresses of the school gate mummies, Lucy Atkinson's perfect mommy and The Coven, always perfectly turned out, with whom Ellen can barely compete. Although the occasional Dad at the gate sends hearts aflutter.

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