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I don't know how she does it....Chapt...

The TVClubHouse: Archives: Movies & Library 2003 -2004: Library: June 2003 - April 2004: TVCH Book Club (ARCHIVES): I don't know how she does it....Chapters 21 through 30 users admin

Author Message
Twiggyish

Thursday, January 30, 2003 - 7:56 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I'm almost through this section. I'll post soon.

Calamity

Monday, February 03, 2003 - 2:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I don't have the book with me but am pretty sure that I've read into this group of chapters - at least up past Easter.

At first, I had been pleasantly surprised to find that I liked Kate. Not being a wife or mother I was prepared to be put on the defensive. (Isn't that odd? I've read other books about harried moms & wives without getting that feeling. I guess the only explaination is that since the book's main premise is how difficult everything is for working moms, I figured that by default the rest of us were going to be depicted as complete jerks.) But now I'm really beginning to lose patience with her character. In real life, few things annoy me more than women who play household martyrs. Not only do I have to witness her character being St. Kate, I have put up with her internal b*itching about it too. And some of her mishaps strain my credulity - she's made it abundantly clear how exhausted she is but good grief.

It's gotten so that, despite her adoring talk about her kids, I can scarcely stand anyone in Kate's life. And so much of this misery is self-inflicted.

All my grouching aside, I do think this is a very well written book for its genre. The author has a wonderful talent for description and painfully funny humor.

Calamity

Tuesday, February 04, 2003 - 3:04 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I’m probably the only one left who hasn’t finished the book so I’ll just talk to myself :) . Read a little more last night, am up to chapter 31. Paula’s been portrayed much more sympathetically these last few chapters. I keep wondering how different the story might seem if she were the narrator instead of Kate.

It’s hard to read this book without projecting my own experiences on the characters and action. A number of times I have been put off by Emily’s behavior and how Kate does not discipline the kids unless she finally throws her own temper tantrum. Kate acknowledges herself that she gives in to the kids to make up for her absences. While I sympathize with her, it seems she’s just perpetuating her own problems. Rich - I don’t know how much he contributes so I can’t make up my mind about him.

Jill’s funeral. I couldn’t help feeling depressed during this part and wondering if they even make books anymore where someone or something doesn’t die. Dramatically speaking it was poignant that Kate never did get around to calling Jill but I felt a bit cheated that we never got to know her character until after she passed away.

I liked the line about Rich patiently using his “man-in-a-white-coat voice”.

Tess

Tuesday, February 04, 2003 - 8:48 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Calamity, I'm not done either...been sidelined by life and the fact that I set my book down somewhere the other day......but where??? ack!

Calamity

Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 11:42 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Oh good, Tess, I'm not the only slacker :) . Finally finished it last night.

Karuuna

Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 11:59 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Phooey Calamity, now that you're done, does that mean I'm the worst slacker, I'm only thru Chapter 20. :)

Fanny

Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 11:59 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
No, Calamity & Tess, I'm behind you two; about half-way through. I'm not finding much sympathy for Kate so far.

Grooch

Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 12:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I'm the worst slacker. I haven't even gotten the book yet.

Tess

Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 1:11 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Grooch, that is pitiful.

Grooch

Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 1:17 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
<hangs head in shame>

Karuuna

Thursday, February 06, 2003 - 1:55 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Yay! Grooch wins!