Review: Older and Wider: Menopausal musings from the midlife

Older and Wider: Menopausal musings from the midlife by Jenny Eclair
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Older and Wider is Jenny Eclair's hilarious, irreverent and refreshingly honest compendium of the menopause. From C for Carb-loading and G for Getting Your Shit Together to I for Invisibility and V for Vaginas, Jenny's whistle-stop tour of the menopause in all its glory will make you realise that it really isn't just you. Jenny will share the surprising lessons she has learnt along the way as well as her hard-won tips on the joy of cardigans, dealing with the empty nest (get a lodger) and keeping the lid on the pressure cooker of your temper (count to twenty, ten is never enough).

I loved this book for many reasons, and felt that I could completely and utterly relate to it …I too used to live on the 176 bus route – in fact it used to stop right outside my first floor flat in Sydenham and I actually squealed with excitement when I read about that bus, for my 40^th birthday my husband (now ex husband…I wonder why?) bought me tea towels, oven gloves and a candle (a Tesco’s candle, not even a Jo Malone one!) and more importantly, I will turn 50 in a few weeks and the menopause is hitting me hard in the face.

Jenny gives you a warts and all account of what life is going to be like, this book is not tarted up with “light a candle and run yourself a bath” this is insightful, funny and heart-warming. I now feel ready for what is ahead of me -don’t get me wrong, I’m not some kind of weirdo who is looking forward to it, but at least I know that when I go back upstairs to get my car keys and walk back downstairs empty handed, I’m not the only one worrying that I’ve got early onset dementia – there are a whole army of women who are going through it.

The Tim Henman reference had me laughing like a drain – and I would buy the book just for that one sentence alone!!

I will buy this for all my friends who are going through the menopause, and if they don’t find it as funny or as informative as I did, at least they’ve got something to hurl at their partners and husbands who tell them to “get a grip”!

Comments

REVIEW: Moonlight Over Studland Bay by Della Galton

Moonlight Over Studland Bay – Della Galton published by Boldwood Books Samantha Jones works as an audio typist for a local company in Dorset. However, it’s not her dreams job. She wanted to devote, and expand, Purbeck Pooches, her pet sitting service. When best friend (and housemate) Abby has a baby boy Sam’s priorities change and she realises she wants more from her life. Does she want life to continue as it is or does she want to look for the perfect sperm donor – on a drunken evening Abby and Sam draw up the perfect "daddy" list. Sam’s world is soon rocked when her boss Rex accuses her of moonlighting and her parents who have run a B&B locally for years make a shock revelation. I’m going to say it from the start…I loved this book! Sam is a relatable character who knows what she wants from life, but she doesn’t want to upset, hurt or trample on people to get it. She’s just an all-round good egg!! There were times in the book when Abby made me laugh but a...

Review: One Enchanted Evening

One Enchanted Evening by Anton du Beke My rating: 4 of 5 stars Anton Du Beke has his finger in many pies, professional dancer, singer, entertainer and now he can add novelist to the list. One Enchanted Evening is set in the ballroom of a London hotel in the 1930s and tells the story of Raymond De Guise, the principle dancer, chambermaid Nancy, and porter Billy who all work downstairs, behind the scenes of the hotel. As you would expect dancing is a big feature in this book, but also surprisingly was the politics of the time, which I found added another dimension to the story. If you like Downton Abbey or The Halcyon (the ITV drama set in a hotel) or Upstairs Downstairs, you will love this book. An enjoyable debut novel from Mr Du Beke. View all my reviews

Diva written by Daisy Goodwin and published by Aria and Aries

Opera singer Maria Callas known as “ la divina” with her fabulous voice was born with note only a gift of singing, but also the drama and beauty needed to succeed on the worldwide operatic stages. Sadly, liked a bird in a gilded cage, Maria’s life is lonely, and although surrounded by people and her husband she feels isolated. When she meets the fabulously rich shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis, her isolation melts away. For the first time in her life, she believes she's found a man who sees the woman rather than the legendary soprano. Desperately in love, Onassis introduces her to a life of unbelievable luxury, mixing with celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. And then, suddenly, it's over. The international press announce that Onassis will marry the most famous woman in the world, former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, leaving Maria to pick up the pieces. This is a fictional account based on true events, think of The...

Book-Mad-Mum

Search This Blog