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68 reviews for:
Confessions of a Scary Mommy: An Honest and Irreverent Look at Motherhood: The Good, The Bad, and the Scary
Jill Smokler
3.57 AVERAGE
68 reviews for:
Confessions of a Scary Mommy: An Honest and Irreverent Look at Motherhood: The Good, The Bad, and the Scary
Jill Smokler
3.57 AVERAGE
This book was a huge let-down. I had such high hopes after hearing about it on the Today Show. I didn't even finish it.
The author has the mouth of a sailor. The swearing just gets old and loses it's effect - if that's what she's going for. Her language reminds me of when kids would constantly cuss in middle school just to look cool in front of people.
The funny mom moments weren't even that funny.
The synopsis says "in a culture that idolizes motherhood...", ummm what culture would that be? Because it sure isn't ours.
The book was more about how having children has cramped the author's selfish lifestyle. I thought it would be a book about all the crazy/funny/absurd things moms experience.
I'm sure other people will love this book - just definitely not for me.
The author has the mouth of a sailor. The swearing just gets old and loses it's effect - if that's what she's going for. Her language reminds me of when kids would constantly cuss in middle school just to look cool in front of people.
The funny mom moments weren't even that funny.
The synopsis says "in a culture that idolizes motherhood...", ummm what culture would that be? Because it sure isn't ours.
The book was more about how having children has cramped the author's selfish lifestyle. I thought it would be a book about all the crazy/funny/absurd things moms experience.
I'm sure other people will love this book - just definitely not for me.
Initially, I found the opening chapters of this book to be funny. But I quickly realized that the entire book consists of short chapters that superficially gripe about some aspect of parenting mixed with a lot of complaining from the author. A little more depth or a bit more truth in those chapters would have nicely balanced out the snarky and the book would have been better for it.
Overall, my favorite part of this book are the "confessions" of anonymous moms at the beginning of each chapter.
Overall, my favorite part of this book are the "confessions" of anonymous moms at the beginning of each chapter.
I have read a few of thses books over the years, books about what it is really like being a mom, and so far this is one is one of my favorites. Jill is super funny and very relatable and i really sant to read her other books!
I was delighted to see this book on the "parenting" shelf in my local library's children's section. I have long been a fan of the Scary Mommy website for its honest, original, and often hilarious commentary on motherhood.
I was really into this book at first, and then it kind of fell flat. By the end, it felt insecure, desperate, and a little desperate. Maybe that hit home for me, as a mom who sometimes wonders if she's doing this right at all, but it just wasn't smart, interesting, or funny to me, and that's what I liked best out of the first half and was hoping for from the second half. The confessions alone are worth picking up the book, and I'm still a big fan of the website!
I was really into this book at first, and then it kind of fell flat. By the end, it felt insecure, desperate, and a little desperate. Maybe that hit home for me, as a mom who sometimes wonders if she's doing this right at all, but it just wasn't smart, interesting, or funny to me, and that's what I liked best out of the first half and was hoping for from the second half. The confessions alone are worth picking up the book, and I'm still a big fan of the website!
Smokler does a good job of elevating a blog into a book, the material is well organized and there are some sweet moments near the end.
Unfortunately, a good 3/4 of the book was more annoying than not. The tone, intended to be irreverent and provide solace for worn down parents, came off as alternatingly insulting (EW! Cloth diapers!) and shallow (What do you mean having kids means it can't be all about me anymore!?) Her attitudes towards husbands (unhelpful at best and useless when sick) were cringe-worthy (can I be the only person married to a responsible adult?).
I also found that there was an implicit assumption that "good" moms do not take time for themselves, they don't leave their kids alone, they don't take joy in anything their kids may like, they must always sacrifice... Smokler takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to this, showing how she doesn't follow these rules, but many of the confessions left me going "so what? you're human and besides that sounds healthier for the kids."
Unfortunately, a good 3/4 of the book was more annoying than not. The tone, intended to be irreverent and provide solace for worn down parents, came off as alternatingly insulting (EW! Cloth diapers!) and shallow (What do you mean having kids means it can't be all about me anymore!?) Her attitudes towards husbands (unhelpful at best and useless when sick) were cringe-worthy (can I be the only person married to a responsible adult?).
I also found that there was an implicit assumption that "good" moms do not take time for themselves, they don't leave their kids alone, they don't take joy in anything their kids may like, they must always sacrifice... Smokler takes a tongue-in-cheek approach to this, showing how she doesn't follow these rules, but many of the confessions left me going "so what? you're human and besides that sounds healthier for the kids."
listened to this today on a road trip with 3 other mommies. Such fun. We all laughed and identified with so much of it and cruised right through on our drive. warning for occasional naughty language!
I enjoyed this light hearted read. It was an easy read and kept my interest and allowed me to laugh out loud through out the book!
I laughed so hard I cried. What I could not relate to as a mother (my child is only 1) I could remember my parents going through. After sharing this book with my mother, we both agreed that there were many times when I was flipped off behind my back as a teenager too.
I received a free galley copy to review and I have to say, lots of people thought I was completely insane, you know, from all the random giggles and laughs that would escape me while I read this over my lunch hour.
I am already a fan of Jill from her Scary Mommy blog and was not shocked by her tone, attitude,and brilliant sarcasm. Although, like some commentors on her blog, I am sure that more than a few people will find much to horrify them in this book. These are the same people who are desperately holding onto the myth of the perfect mother who finds nothing put pure bliss in motherhood, her children, and life in general. For those that do, please bottle it. The rest of us sometimes want to stick a fork in our eye the next time we have to listen to a story about Pokemon.
Each chapter of this book opens with entries from Scary Mommy's beloved confessional. The confessional is a place to go to anoymously confess about life, motherhood, and the booger you just wiped on your jeans because you didn't have the energy to find a tissue. These confessions alone, are worth purchasing the book. Some made me think, "why the hell didn't I do that". Others made me cringe, and then feel proud that I had not yet stooped that low. Most just left me feeling like I was not alone in sometimes wanting to run away to Fiji.
After each confessional, Jill gives us a look into her life and how she handles being a mother. Had I knocked on her door and had her tell me her baby was being an asshole, but he would grow out of it, I would have hugged her and known I now had a friend for life. Of course, that is not the reaction she received when from a new neighbor.
Personally, I believe that all women that are pregnant should be given this book because no one ever tells us just what motherhood is actually like. Really, Jill is proof that it won't keep people from wanting to be moms, as she has 3 kids, but I really wish I had known what it was really going to be like.
Be sure to give this as a gift to all your mom friends who call you up with a sob and a glass of wine because their toddler has just flushed the cell phone down the toilet.
I am already a fan of Jill from her Scary Mommy blog and was not shocked by her tone, attitude,and brilliant sarcasm. Although, like some commentors on her blog, I am sure that more than a few people will find much to horrify them in this book. These are the same people who are desperately holding onto the myth of the perfect mother who finds nothing put pure bliss in motherhood, her children, and life in general. For those that do, please bottle it. The rest of us sometimes want to stick a fork in our eye the next time we have to listen to a story about Pokemon.
Each chapter of this book opens with entries from Scary Mommy's beloved confessional. The confessional is a place to go to anoymously confess about life, motherhood, and the booger you just wiped on your jeans because you didn't have the energy to find a tissue. These confessions alone, are worth purchasing the book. Some made me think, "why the hell didn't I do that". Others made me cringe, and then feel proud that I had not yet stooped that low. Most just left me feeling like I was not alone in sometimes wanting to run away to Fiji.
After each confessional, Jill gives us a look into her life and how she handles being a mother. Had I knocked on her door and had her tell me her baby was being an asshole, but he would grow out of it, I would have hugged her and known I now had a friend for life. Of course, that is not the reaction she received when from a new neighbor.
Personally, I believe that all women that are pregnant should be given this book because no one ever tells us just what motherhood is actually like. Really, Jill is proof that it won't keep people from wanting to be moms, as she has 3 kids, but I really wish I had known what it was really going to be like.
Be sure to give this as a gift to all your mom friends who call you up with a sob and a glass of wine because their toddler has just flushed the cell phone down the toilet.