The Mother's Group - Fionna Higgins

Pages: 312

Published: 2012 Allen and Urwin

Genre: Contemporary /Women’s Fiction

Format: Large Paperback

Acquired: Local Collins bookstore

Date Finished: April 11^th 2012

Synopsis:

The Mother’s Group tells the story of six very different women who agree to meet regularly after the births of their respective babies. It tracks their individual journeys during that first crucial year—and the group’s collective one—as they navigate motherhood and the shifting ground of their relationships with their partners. Each woman struggles in her own way to become the mother she wants to be, and finds herself becoming increasingly reliant on the friendship and support of the mother’s group members. Until one day, when an unthinkably shocking event changes everything. The Mother’s Group is an unflinching and compelling portrait of love, sex, marriage and parenting in an increasingly complicated world. Moving, provocative, tender and utterly gripping, it will draw you in and never let you go.

Review/Thoughts

From page one I fell hard for this book. It appealed to me on so many levels but fundamentally my desire to be a mother overcome me and the risky cost involved in picking up this book, cost aside I want to run out and buy this for every mother and potential mother I know, and tell them to sit down and devour the book because I certainly did.

The story was one of many emotions and perspectives, each character fresh and full with their own trials and triumphs throughout the novel. The way that each story was interwoven made me hooked with every flick of the page. There was never a dull moment in any of the characters lives and the pacing was constantly enjoyable.

I had my favorites and it was almost like I was sitting there with them, together with my imaginary bundle bouncing on my lap as I picked and judged and drew closer towards those women who I could connect with and those who would challenge me. This is one of the many things I loved about The Mothers group – the constant questioning and challenging of my own morals and for-thoughts of pregnancy and motherhood.

Not only do we gain insight into each woman’s lives, but that of the father and family. It certainly raised a lot of questions I pressed to my partner and it made me thankful at times for having someone willing to be so supporting in my journey. Fiona Higgins has a way of capturing the human spirit throughout every word making you feel, making you a part of something so natural and yet at times the sensation of being disconnected. It was an unflinching fictional look at what a mother feels and goes through and while it did not go into the graphic nature of birth, it did fulfill the knowledge that it is a beautiful experience and that there are pros and cons.

The biggest part of this story was the building friendships and the back-story into each characters life and pre-pregnancy – these two elements made the novel and drove it forward with compassion and realism. This was not one of those stories that is a transition book, each background story built up to the present day was just as emotionally charging as the present day story. I loved it.

Nearing the mid way mark my heart started to churn, my chest tight. I did not want to put this down. The world around me disappeared and tears- oh the tears and the onslaught of overwhelming feelings. I just wanted to talk about this book. I wanted to start it over again and re-read it.

The Mother’s Group was it was set in Sydney, Australia and in modern times where technology is the new social acceptance. But this novel seemed to surpass this thankfully into good old fashioned one on one get together’s and support. Something I greatly appreciated.

I would recommend this book to anyone, woman or man. I am certainly going to give this to my partner to read, for the sheer experience and what he could learn about women and birth and the life after. There is so much fear built up, in a lot of books fiction and non-fiction but The Mother’s Group combines everything so beautifully it left me feeling satisfied and I hope you to enjoy it if you choose to pick it up.

Read if you like: Monica McInerney

Rating: ★★★★★

Getting Pregnant the Natural Way - Deborah Gordon, M.D

D.S Feingold and Deborah Gordon M.D

Pages: 272

Published: October 30th 2000 by John Wiley & Sons

Genre: Non-Fiction/ Health/ Conception

Format: Paperback

Finished: 20^th March 2012

Recommended: Yes – 5 star

Acquired: Local Library – Must buy.

Synopsis:

Natural and alternative methods women can use to become pregnant are explored in this guidebook that kicks off a series of new books on natural methods and therapies for women.

Review Thoughts:

This book was by far one of the most helpful and life altering Non-Fiction books I have ever read. Covering everything I needed to know with an approach that I am comfortable with this book was a bible with finding an alternative to my current health related ailments and how to get on top of them in the most natural ways that are both beneficial for pregnancy, but also beneficial for overall lasting health.

For anyone with Infertility or suffering from a reproductive illness, this book is definitely for you. Ranging in issues from Herbal remedies to vitamins, mind and body, information and exercise suggestions this was a gem right when I needed it and I will certainly be buying this book for myself. It was extensive, easy to understand; it has examples of programs used by professionals in several fields and had an overall positive message; You can get pregnant, and even those who cannot when medically declared infertile still have the chance and choices to mend that.

Cracked up to Be - Courtney Summers

Pages: 214

Published: December 23rd 2008 by St. Martin's Griffin

Format: Paperback

Genre: Y.A/ Contemporary

Date Finished: 7^th March 2012

Acquired: BookTopia

Synopsis:

Perfect Parker Fadley isn’t so perfect anymore. She’s quit the cheerleading squad, she’s dumped her perfect boyfriend, and she’s failing school. Her parents are on a constant suicide watch and her counselors think she’s playing games…but what they don’t know, the real reason for this whole mess, isn’t something she can say out loud. It isn’t even something she can say to herself. A horrible thing has happened and it just might be her fault. If she can just remove herself from everybody--be totally alone--then everything will be okay...The problem is, nobody will let her.

Review/ Thoughts:

It shouldn’t be this hard to tell you my thoughts about this book, but let me tell you I certainly still struggle with it. When I started Cracked up to Be it was through recommendation and decent praise. Somewhere in the back of my mind for whatever reason I have this thing where I know when I will not enjoy a book regardless, and for my Courtney Summers is one of those authors who’s writing style I just cannot get down with.

For the most part reading this book was painful. While there was a decent amount of character building and progression I could not attach myself to any other character than Jake and even at times I felt he was a little weak, just when I thought I could feel for Parker I was left feeling disappointed and guilty, confused with whether she was snarky or just a bitch I decided as it became apparent she wasn’t going to change that she was just a bitch; regardless of whatever happened to cause her to act this way.

I am not sure if there could be anything different about the story that would have made me enjoy it better. I really dislike reading about self-loathing characters, I mean I am not heartless and I understand human condition and can be compassionate, but when I was reading it, I was so tempted to Wikipedia it and get it over and done with, even when the story picked up around the middle, but I didn’t despite the constant nagging in my brain.

Sadly I would not recommend Cracked up to Be and I do not foresee myself checking out any more of Courtney Summers books in the near future. [ Even though I want to read This is not a Test haha]

★★

Forbidden Fantasies- Jodie Griffin

Roughly 27,000 words

Published: 5^th March 2012

Genre: BDSM/ Erotica/ Adult

Format: Ebook [Courtesy of Carina Press]

Date Finished: 5^th March 2012

Synopsis:

After fifteen years of marriage, Jessica Meyers's sex life is, well, a little predictable. Her handsome husband turns her on, but missionary style once or twice a week? It just can't compare to the hot new world she discovers in the pages of erotic romances. Her fantasies fuel the fire of her desire, adding a new spark to her and Alex's lovemaking. But Jess is afraid to tell her husband what she really wants in bed—and her secrets start coming between them.

State trooper Alex Meyers is a master at uncovering the truth—except when it comes to his sweet, shy wife. She's clearly keeping something from him. An affair? She wants out? When he finally confronts Jess, he's shocked to learn she wants to turn her forbidden fantasies into nightly realities. But when he takes her to a unique B and B—Bondage and Breakfast—catering to couples and multiples, Alex is about to find out just how far he'll go.

Review/ Thoughts:

Don’t get me wrong. There are days when like most people I want to read the raunchiest erotica available. Something with no plot and that is more pornographic than romantic, but going into Forbidden Fantasies I was soon delighted to know that I could enjoy both aspects in a way that would leave me feeling sated [erotically] and yet romantically satisfied as well.

I am a big fan of progression and growth and you don’t get to read a lot of adult fiction where the couple is married and who truly love one another to the point that they would try and do anything. Forbidden fantasies hits close to home and is relatable and hilarious with warmth and sensuality and yet there were so many emotional layers that made me enjoy this story so much more. Jodie touches on the key elements of a relationship and explores them, opening a chest of possibilities and a world to her characters and to her readers.

Forbidden Fantasies was one of the best novella’s I have read. I loved the gradual learning between the two main characters Jess and Alex and the understanding that comes from experiencing their fantasies together. It truly is a beautiful and believable story. There were times when it was so hot and I was so emotionally engaged with the plot that I had to put it down for a few hours just to calm myself.

Jodie’s writing style is easy and it flows with every page full anticipation and delight. Will I be reading anything by this author again: Hell yes anything I can get my hands on and if you aren’t afraid to dip your toe into some dark water or are already a fan of BDSM with realistic emotions than you will be sure to love Forbidden Fantasies.

★★★★.5