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4.45 AVERAGE
4.45 AVERAGE
I was really nervous going into to read this.
Nobody Told Me: Poetry & Parenthood, is a chronicle of three years and nine months of poet [a:Hollie McNish|6511683|Hollie McNish|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] life.
From finding out she was pregnant in Kings Cross Station on the way to Glastonbury.
“Three hours staring at three test”
To her daughter first day of pre-school, and everything in between.
I’m not a mum, nor do I have the drive to be. But this book spoke to me in so many ways.
I have learnt so much while being thoroughly and enjoyably entertained.
The book offers an immediate, unfiltered insight into McNish’s life, and into her experience of motherhood.
Written in moments at “4am, on the loo, in hospital, at work, interrupted by cries, screams, laughs…..mostly written on the floor of my Little Ones’s bedroom as she slept.”
McNish describes it as “All the things I couldn’t talk about.”
The poet records her guilt, pain, wonder, exhaustion, frustration, joy, anger and love. There’s no photo-shopping here.
Nobody Told Me offers an insight into the shared, unspoken experiences of many mothers.
Reflecting on and holding a mirror up to, culture, stereotypes and societies pressure put on pregnancy and parenthood.
It touches on the judgement of teenage mothers, we can sexualise teens but low behold they have sex and be pregnant.
The fear of race culture, Hollies partner loves being with there Little One cause he goes from
“Young, Black Male to Sling-Carrying Male, or Dad”.
And the prejudice she encounters for having a mixed race child.
“Did you always go for Dark skin/No I went for him”
And for the part that I found most enjoyable and true.
The shame and prudishness, hidden behind putting a finger on your clit during child birth for pain relief. Hollie confesses to being,
“sat and pretending I was a Buddha and secretly pressed my palm to my clit to distract the nerves from the pain in the rest of my body”
Most would sexualise this, as we do everything else (don’t even get me started on breast feeding, brilliantly covered in the book) but Hollie speaks the truth, it’s a logical pain relief at times.
I have learnt so much from Nobody Told Me, that I would never learn anywhere else, it lives up to it’s title.
For instance, did you know that,
Bounty saleswomen are allowed into the hospital ward straight after birth, when family is not.
“My dad couldn’t visit and friends couldn’t pass by/to see the new mum and dad proud/ and that’s fine, I don’t mind, until two hours past labour/our hospital door was pushed open/and sales representatives from Bounty or something/strolled in with a bag full of potions.”
CRAZY!
It’s honest, and on the spot writing as she goes through every cut and curve of pregnancy, birth and parenthood.
This moving, emotive, sometimes silly and profoundly personal account. Shows you Hollie, as she sees culture and the world, a fresh through her Little Ones Eyes.
I could go on and wax lyrical about this all day, but please just read it for yourself, and prepare for the raw energy and passion of Hollie’s very personal poetic voice.
P.S. Page 44, the poem Hollow…broke my heart a little. Thank You for the truth Hollie.
Nobody Told Me: Poetry & Parenthood, is a chronicle of three years and nine months of poet [a:Hollie McNish|6511683|Hollie McNish|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] life.
From finding out she was pregnant in Kings Cross Station on the way to Glastonbury.
“Three hours staring at three test”
To her daughter first day of pre-school, and everything in between.
I’m not a mum, nor do I have the drive to be. But this book spoke to me in so many ways.
I have learnt so much while being thoroughly and enjoyably entertained.
The book offers an immediate, unfiltered insight into McNish’s life, and into her experience of motherhood.
Written in moments at “4am, on the loo, in hospital, at work, interrupted by cries, screams, laughs…..mostly written on the floor of my Little Ones’s bedroom as she slept.”
McNish describes it as “All the things I couldn’t talk about.”
The poet records her guilt, pain, wonder, exhaustion, frustration, joy, anger and love. There’s no photo-shopping here.
Nobody Told Me offers an insight into the shared, unspoken experiences of many mothers.
Reflecting on and holding a mirror up to, culture, stereotypes and societies pressure put on pregnancy and parenthood.
It touches on the judgement of teenage mothers, we can sexualise teens but low behold they have sex and be pregnant.
The fear of race culture, Hollies partner loves being with there Little One cause he goes from
“Young, Black Male to Sling-Carrying Male, or Dad”.
And the prejudice she encounters for having a mixed race child.
“Did you always go for Dark skin/No I went for him”
And for the part that I found most enjoyable and true.
The shame and prudishness, hidden behind putting a finger on your clit during child birth for pain relief. Hollie confesses to being,
“sat and pretending I was a Buddha and secretly pressed my palm to my clit to distract the nerves from the pain in the rest of my body”
Most would sexualise this, as we do everything else (don’t even get me started on breast feeding, brilliantly covered in the book) but Hollie speaks the truth, it’s a logical pain relief at times.
I have learnt so much from Nobody Told Me, that I would never learn anywhere else, it lives up to it’s title.
For instance, did you know that,
Bounty saleswomen are allowed into the hospital ward straight after birth, when family is not.
“My dad couldn’t visit and friends couldn’t pass by/to see the new mum and dad proud/ and that’s fine, I don’t mind, until two hours past labour/our hospital door was pushed open/and sales representatives from Bounty or something/strolled in with a bag full of potions.”
CRAZY!
It’s honest, and on the spot writing as she goes through every cut and curve of pregnancy, birth and parenthood.
This moving, emotive, sometimes silly and profoundly personal account. Shows you Hollie, as she sees culture and the world, a fresh through her Little Ones Eyes.
I could go on and wax lyrical about this all day, but please just read it for yourself, and prepare for the raw energy and passion of Hollie’s very personal poetic voice.
P.S. Page 44, the poem Hollow…broke my heart a little. Thank You for the truth Hollie.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced