J-Dub’s Review of “The Perfect Mother”

Published on by J-Dub2 Comments

A few days ago I finished the Schaefer Public Library Book Club selection for August – “The Perfect Mother” by Aimee Molloy.  I will give my usual ramble.  Not really a review because on my misstep regarding “We Need to Talk About Kevin”.  I spoiled that book for a very irate person and I have gone to extremes to never do that again.

I really wanted to like this book … “The Perfect Mother”.  Though my kids are adults, I remember what it felt like to be a new mom.  I assumed I would stroll down memory lane which being thrilled by the scenes.  Alas, that was not the case.  This book tried to do way too much.  In the story, we had every cliche out there.

The chapters were titled by dates and most started with the mommy newsletter.  Trite and irritating.  I won’t name character names because basically they are all interchangeable.

Mysterious main character mommy.  She is “friends” with perfect mommy with perfect doting husband but baby not reaching milestones.  Another mommy with stereotypical do nothing husband.  The mommy with a secret which includes being the cause of a politician’s career ender.  We have single parent mommy.  Stay-at- home dad who tries to fit in.  Mommy who’s child was stillborn.  Typical mothers-in-law and moms to moms.  We have both a teacher and a doctor who took advantage of young girls.  Tragically sad.  We have someone talking to themselves in much like the book/movie “Gone Girl”.  Nothing original and nothing surprising in what is supposed to be a psychological thriller.

The typical negative feedback from those who know grammar.  The stuff I miss since I must read stream of consciousness too.  Repeating dialog that is not wrong but unnecessary and other assorted faux pas.  Goodreads gives the book 3.54 stars.  I gave it 3 stars which was generous.  Two stars was probably more fitting.

As always, more to come.

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Haiku – Marvelous & Terrific Take Two

Published on by J-Dub1 Comment

I didn’t realize that today is my annual anniversary of participating in Ronovan’s weekly Haiku challenge.  I made my usual post and went about my merry way.  As I came back to read the other entries, I noticed his new shiny badge in honor of FIVE years!! Which is fantastic btw.  When I went in to substitute the badges, I noticed 8/20/18 was the first time I joined in the fun.

I had written haiku prior – usually sad forlorn stuff.  Mostly about my kids and how hard parenting can be.  My tune changed based on his wonderful prompts.  Instead of sad, my words became spirited.  In my first attempt today, I slid back into forlorn with my sarcastic marvelous and terrific being late since Ms. Thesaurus made me realize terrific can be upsetting, agitating, etc… In take two, I am turning my frown upside down. Borrowing from Nando aka Billy Crystal.

You know who you are

Darling you look marvelous

Simply amazing

#SoCS for 8/17/19 ~ Co

Published on by J-Dub19 Comments

Good morning fine folks of the blogosphere!  Time once again for #SoCS.  The lovely Linda G. Hill tells us “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “co-” Find a word that uses “co” as a prefix and use it in your post. Have fun!”

This is a test.  Of the emergency broadcast system.  Not really!  Only feels like a test.

Prefix huh?  As in placing letters before the root of the word?  Doing so for the express purpose of changing the meaning?  Hmmmm.  Well let’s see what we come up with.

“Co” think, think, and think.

Co … Co … Co … pa-cabana … she fell in love

Watch Out!

Barry’s in the house and the ear worm has commenced

Her name was Lola, she was a show girl

Or Jilly two shoes

With yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to there

OMGoodness

That’s not even the assignment

Here is your mission … should you choose to accept it

Put Co- in front of something.  Then stream until your heart’s content.

Co-pilot.  Lulu is my co-pilot.  She’s all grown up though.  My little co-pilot.  Not little anymore.  For much of her life, we palled around, just the two of us.  Pony flew the coop and B?  Well he was always at work.  Why? … because … well because someone had to bring home the bacon.  So I could fry it up in the pan.

As if!

I rarely cook. And bacon is a hot mess. Tastes fan-freaking-tastic but the splatter of all that grease.  Forget it!  That’s B’s job.  He is our chief cook and I am the bottle washer.

There’s co for you … we co-operate.

And in our almost 35 years of wedded bliss, we sure have overcome some curve balls.

The tough stuff either pushes you together or pulls you apart.  For better or for worse, we’re in the former category.  With love and mutual respect, we have all that’s necessary to co-exist in relative peace and harmony.

And on that note, without further ado, I bid you all adieu.  Parlez-vous français?  Oui, oui.   But only by help of Google translator.

If you’d like to join this randy band of co-conspirators of the blogging variety, here are the rules and ping back.

As always. more to come.