The last book we discussed in my book club was Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother
by Amy Chua. This was the book that created a stir when it was published last year for the strict parenting style Chua advocates. Having read it now, I'd recommend it to other parents. It's not a brilliant book, it's not great writing but it's a quick read that really makes you think about your own parenting style and parenting tendencies in the western world today.
Bill Bryson's At Home: A short history of private life
was another recent read in the group and is one of those books that makes you read lots of snippets out loud to your partner! Bryson takes us through his home looking at the history behind all the little details in each room, from why salt and pepper ended up being on every table, to bedbugs and vermin and why we need to flush the toilet with the lid closed! It's full of fascinating facts.The very last book I read was The Sense of an Ending
, the Winner of the Man Booker Prize for Fiction in 2011 by Julian Barnes. It's very much a character-driven novel and although I didn't love it or enjoy it as much as I have other books by Julian Barnes, it's well written and provides a perceptive portrayal of human fragility. Finally, a selection of books my three year old has been enjoying of late. His favourites change every few weeks of course but some we've been reading frequently or that he's mentioned he likes at nursery are as follows:
I'd love to hear of any books either you or your children have been enjoying lately!
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Ooh I remember the Tiger Mummy controversy! Probably not a parenting style I'd choose to adopt, but from the excerpts and author-interviews I read, certainly an interesting read!
ReplyDeleteI'm still trying to plough my way through Mary Boleyn: The Great and Infamous Whore. It's a good read, but I have to be in the mood for this very factual of historical accounts.
As for my little 'un... she's not very book focussed at the moment, though 'Some Dogs Do' by Jez Alborough and this other one about a ginger cat are currently acceptable for a few pages before she zips off to do something else!!!
I quite like the sound of the Bryson, though slightly scared of the toilet seat fact as I'm fighting a losing battle with my partner on that front!!! xX
Not a new post but definitely a redesign. Does that mean we'll be hearing from you shortly??? :)
ReplyDeleteThat's the plan....watch this space ;-)
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