(no subject)
Sep. 17th, 2009 07:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
butterbobbinBook 58: The Doll People, Ann M Martin. 256pp
Saw this one and had to get it. I mean, I've always been hugely fascinated by stories about dolls and dolls' houses, and I was definitely curious to see how a modern-day author would handle this kind of story, especially since it deals (partly) with antique dolls.
I didn't find it great (The Dolls' House by Rumer Godden still holds first place for me there), but it was good; fresh and entertaining in its mixing of old dolls and old dollhouse with a modern, plastic doll family and house; very funny in regards to the little pesty sister who played things like "flying kitchen sink"; and the illustrations were quite nice.
The story itself wasn't always all that engrossing, but the fun of the style and interaction of characters kept the ball rolling when the plot lacked.
***
Book 59: Husband-Coached Childbirth, Robert A Bradley. 231pp
Borrowed this from our midwife, and it was enjoyable to read. There are *some* bones I could pick with it. Clearly the author is not keen on homebirth. Boo.
Also, he can't seem to resolve in his head whether a Creator made us human souls or we are just human animals in the evolutionary chain. One or the other, but seriously, make up your mind and be consistent.
Oh, and my husband is not a bad cook just because he is a man. In fact, he is quite good.
Those things aside, however, I did really find it a fun read. He has a dry sense of humour as he discusses how to handle various situations and frequently refers to "Gone With the Wind" being responsible for various myths about, say, miscarrying automatically when falling down stairs. I did glean quite a lot of good information from it while remaining sceptical about other bits and pieces.
All in all, it made me glad that we are choosing to do an unmedicated birth and made me feel a lot more ready to meet the experience rather than panicking that I won't be able to do it.
Saw this one and had to get it. I mean, I've always been hugely fascinated by stories about dolls and dolls' houses, and I was definitely curious to see how a modern-day author would handle this kind of story, especially since it deals (partly) with antique dolls.
I didn't find it great (The Dolls' House by Rumer Godden still holds first place for me there), but it was good; fresh and entertaining in its mixing of old dolls and old dollhouse with a modern, plastic doll family and house; very funny in regards to the little pesty sister who played things like "flying kitchen sink"; and the illustrations were quite nice.
The story itself wasn't always all that engrossing, but the fun of the style and interaction of characters kept the ball rolling when the plot lacked.
***
Book 59: Husband-Coached Childbirth, Robert A Bradley. 231pp
Borrowed this from our midwife, and it was enjoyable to read. There are *some* bones I could pick with it. Clearly the author is not keen on homebirth. Boo.
Also, he can't seem to resolve in his head whether a Creator made us human souls or we are just human animals in the evolutionary chain. One or the other, but seriously, make up your mind and be consistent.
Oh, and my husband is not a bad cook just because he is a man. In fact, he is quite good.
Those things aside, however, I did really find it a fun read. He has a dry sense of humour as he discusses how to handle various situations and frequently refers to "Gone With the Wind" being responsible for various myths about, say, miscarrying automatically when falling down stairs. I did glean quite a lot of good information from it while remaining sceptical about other bits and pieces.
All in all, it made me glad that we are choosing to do an unmedicated birth and made me feel a lot more ready to meet the experience rather than panicking that I won't be able to do it.