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4.45 AVERAGE
4.45 AVERAGE
A moving compilation of poetry and diary excerpts from Hollie’s experience of pregnancy and new motherhood.
I really took my time reading this one as I started it when pregnant (for the second time) and during the first two months of my newborn daughter’s arrival.
As with most anthologies, I loved some poems so much more than others. There were some real standout poems and diary entries that really resonated with me.
A great read for anyone who’s already or soon to be a parent.
I really took my time reading this one as I started it when pregnant (for the second time) and during the first two months of my newborn daughter’s arrival.
As with most anthologies, I loved some poems so much more than others. There were some real standout poems and diary entries that really resonated with me.
A great read for anyone who’s already or soon to be a parent.
I love Hollie’s writing, but didn’t feel like delving into this subject matter.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
I'm not the biggest poetry reader and I think some of the poems just went over my head. But this was still an enjoyable and entertaining read, despite my not being able to relate to the subject matter!
Moments of McNish’s experience from pregnancy through to her child’s fourth birthday, as she runs into the many things it turns out that nobody tells you about parenthood, interspersed with poems.
As somebody who was woefully unprepared for motherhood and also felt utterly clueless, much of the first half or so really resonated with me - it’s always nice to feel you haven’t been alone in your experience, and it was quite validating at times, actually. There are several excellent poems that perfectly capture the disorienting experience of new motherhood, but also that rail against societal norms and expectations of those initial months of new parenthood.
However, I started to lose interest in the latter sections, partly because it is quite long and might have worked better split into two volumes, but also partly because McNish brings in a little more political commentary. While I largely agree with her sentiments, over-simplified idealism isn’t an approach to political criticism that holds my interest.
McNish goes to such great pains to acknowledge how grateful she is of various circumstances (eg - having family support in the form of regular visits from her mum) that it began to grate on me a little after a while. It’s great that she’s aware that not everyone has that, and by all means acknowledge your gratitude, but re-acknowledging it at every mention feels a little like rubbing it in. Which I highly doubt was McNish’s intention, and my irritation presumably reflects my own struggles and frustrations more than anything, but there you have it. Also, to be clear, this is a minor niggle in the grand scheme of a generally enjoyable book.
A validating memoir of the first four years of motherhood, interspersed with resonant poems but that dragged a little towards the end.
Every new mum should read this. It's like she narrated my life in the most beautiful way. You'll laugh you'll cry, you'll cry some more. One I'll go back to again and again.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced