Role Mommy Book Club

2008-02-17T16:56:00.001-05:00

Here at Role Mommy, we pride ourselves on finding great books for busy moms to read. For the most part, when we receive a book that we love, we instantly write about it (or we eventually write about it when we have a free moment). So when this new book arrived with its adorable cover, we were completely bowled over the moment we started reading it.

In Rebel without a Minivan, the fabulously gifted syndicated humor writer Tracy Beckerman shares an incredible collection of essays on what it's like to be a former city slicker living life in the burbs with her two kids, husband and a dog. No matter which story you select, you'll find yourself laughing out loud and completely relating to Tracy's identity crisis as she leaves a television career behind for the road less glamourous - living in a town filled with soccer moms, loads of laundry and minivans. While there are dozens of humor books available today about moms juggling the demands of family, Rebel without a Minivan is a gem and a Role Mommy must-read for anyone in need of a good laugh! Click on the Amazon link today to buy a copy and visit Tracy's website, Lost in Surburbia to sign up for her weekly column. Tracy has also been a contributor to Role Mommy for many years and every time she gives us a story, she has us rolling in the aisles!

Secrets of a Writer Mama by Joanne Rendell

2008-02-16T15:11:00.000-05:00

People often ask me how I’ve managed to write and sell two novels while a.) being a stay-at-home mum, and b.) being at stay-at-home mum with a four year old son who is homeschooling/unschooling/not-bothering-with-that-whole-school-thing and therefore is always by my side…or thereabouts.

Well, if any of you’re interested or crazy enough to want to try such a motherhood-meets-author lifestyle, here’s five insights and tips:

1. rearrange traditional sleeping schedules – I have managed to train Benny into sleeping incredibly late in the mornings. In fact, he gets up at noon. Yes, noon! This means, of course, that he also stays up late at night. Now, I know a lot of mother’s would shudder at the thought of their children staying up beyond nine because they need their “me” time with a glass of wine and watching The Late Show without the whines of “mama” ringing in their tired ears. If your such a mama, this sleep routine might not be for you. However, if you can stomach it and you can train your child into enjoying The Late Show and pouring your wine for you, I’m telling you there’s a whole lot of writing you can do between 8 and noon every morning while Sleepy Head is still in the world of Z’s.

2. sneakily sharing childcare – If you manage to train your child into this sleep routine and you have a partner in the house, this means childcare will be shared for a good proportion of the day. For me, I only really have to care for Benny on my own from noon to 6ish each day. Brad comes home from work after that and Benny’s whines, demands for juice, and pleas for more books to be read to him, can be equally divided between us.

3. educational kid’s DVDs – Yes, I rely heavily on the TV for those moments when I need to simultaneously do the laundry, reply to my editor’s email, update my blog, finish the paragraph I was working on that morning, and finalize the details for Benny’s afternoon play date. I only put DVDs in the machine for Benny and don’t let him just idly flick between channels (while sitting in his underwear). I get to choose what he watches, therefore, and I’m careful to pick DVDs which are teaching him things which I, at that moment, am currently too preoccupied to teach him. Thanks to the Leapfrog DVD collection, together with Word World and Between the Lions, Benny is pretty much reading – if sentences like “The cat sat on the big mat” count as reading.

4. reading in the bathroom – A lot of people already do this, I know. But if your going to follow tips 1-3, you must take bathroom-reading very seriously. Every time you go – yes, every time – you must commit yourself to quickly reading a few paragraphs, ideally a page. It leads to a herky-jerky feeling with novel. But, there is little time to read if your writing in the mornings and entertaining your little ‘un in the evenings. And reading other novels is a must for wannabe and established authors. So bathroom reading is essential. I have finished a good number of novels while sitting on the john, getting those delightful red marks on the back of my thighs and a slightly chilled behind!

5. surround yourself with good people – A sympathetic mama-crew is essential. Of course, they don’t have to all be mamas. They can be dads or nannies too. But what is important is that the people you hang out with must be understanding. They mustn’t grumble if you’re always late for play dates because you just had to answer that one comment on your blog or someone posted something interesting on the online writer’s forum you belong to or an interesting chapter in a book meant you couldn’t get off the toilet. Your crew must smile and nod when you blather on about a scene in your novel that you’ve been struggling with for weeks. Furthermore, they should understand that talking about this tricky scene is far more important to you than talking about children’s learning levels or whether a four year old boy should be standing to pee or sitting. Most importantly, they must not judge you for your seemingly crazy lifestyle.

So there you go. Not a life for everyone, I understand. But it works for me, and my novels, and my sanity. Plus, Benny doesn’t seem to complain too much…yet.

Award-winning Author Hosts Online Workshop for Aspiring Mom Writers

2008-01-27T07:44:00.000-05:00

I recently had the incredible opportunity to meet celebrated author Gwendolen Gross, whose recent release, The Other Mother has struck a chord with working and stay at home moms across the country. Gwendolen appeared on a panel produced by Role Mommy called Authors we Love and she shared some of her secrets about how she finds the time to write each day, teach and even sing in a professional chorus, all while juggling the needs of her family. What I loved about Gwendolen is her spirit - she has this amazing aura about her that makes you feel like anything is possible as long as you put pen to paper and start writing!

And that's what brings me to what I found this morning. I checked out Gwendolen's blog and found that she also teaches an online writing workshop for moms! If you are an aspiring writer, you should definitely check it out. She gives great exercises that'll get your mind racing with ideas and hopefully your fingers tapping away on your keyboard with the makings of the next great American novel, short story, essay or poem.

So if your dream is to unlock your hidden talent for writing, or if you just want to explore your creative side, visit Gwendolen's site today. Click Here to take a look.

Role Mommy's Favorite Books of the Year!

2007-12-16T11:22:00.000-05:00

It's been quite a hectic year and yet I still managed to squeeze in time for my favorite past times - reading and writing! So before we head into the New Year, I've compiled the Role Mommy 2007 book club list of my must reads of the year. If you have any books you'd like to add to this list, please feel free to email me at beth@rolemommy.com and I'll send you a copy of my #1 favorite book Peeing in Peace (okay I'm a little biased since I wrote it). Anyway, without further ado, here's the list of top reads and if you haven't picked up these books yet - it's time to stock up in time for Christmas break!

1. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

2. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

3. I Feel Bad About My Neck by Nora Ephron

4. Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen

5. Second Chance by Jane Green

6. For One More Day by Mitch Albom

7. The Other Mother, by Gwendolen Gross

8. Carpool Confidential by Jessica Benson

9. In an Instant by Bob and Lee Woodruff

10. Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Piccoult

11. Swapping Lives by Jane Green

12. Shopaholic & Baby by Sophie Kinsella

13. The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

14. The Other Side of the Story by Marian Keyes

15. A Woman in Charge by Carl Bernstein

16. The Choice by Nicholas Sparks

17. Rise & Shine by Anna Quindlan

18. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

19. Small is the New Big by Seth Godin

20. See Jane Lead by Lois Frankel

Some more book suggestions from our Role Mommy readers:

Moloka'i by Alan Brennart - submitted by Tanya

Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos - submitted by Maureen (http://www.justaskmo.blogspot.com/)

Send us your book suggestion and we'll send you a copy of Peeing in Peace! Email us today at beth@rolemommy.com.

Carpool Confidential by Jessica Benson

2007-10-28T14:23:00.000-04:00

Sometimes when you start reading a book your sensibilities can instantly click with the author's. And the moment I dove into Carpool Confidential, by Jessica Benson that's exactly what happened to me. This hysterical new novel which is hot off the presses, tells the tale of Cassie Martin, a former writer turned stay at home mom living in a tony section of Brooklyn Heights overlooking the Manhattan skyline. Cassie's life seems picture perfect, that is until her investment banker hubby throws her world into a tailspin when he decides to chuck his career for Barry Manilow. No, it's not what you think. He realizes his calling is to produce a retrospective on the man who writes the songs, and his wife is left holding the bag and figuring out how she's going to explain to her kids, her parents and her friends that her husband has skipped town so he can "Try to Get the Feeling Again." As a Barry Manilow fan (yes, I am proud to admit it) and a lover of chick-lit - Carpool Confidential is the perfect companion for anyone craving a book that'll keep you engaged and entertained the moment you crack it open. Plus - when the publicist for the book sent it to me, she cleverly packaged it with the essential Barry Manilow two CD collection - in my book, that move was truly a stroke of genius - so if you're in the mood for a fun read, pick up Carpool Confidential - this one's a total winner.

THE CHOICE BY NICHOLAS SPARKS & AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

2007-10-04T21:33:00.000-04:00

This week, Role Mommy got the chance to be a part of the first-ever blogger teleconference with New York Times best selling author Nicholas Sparks. Yes - the author whose books pretty much have you hanging on his every word, longing for a couple to get together only to find yourself sobbing uncontrollably when the relationship takes a tragic turn of events. Ahh - the perfect ingredients for a great read. And with The Choice, which debuted at #1 on the USA Today best seller list, Sparks has done it again.

In an interview today with a select group of bloggers, we asked Nick who he based his latest book on and he shared that the main character, Travis is loosely based on his brother - who led a carefree life as a bachelor while Nick was married and raising kids. While Nick and his own brother were a year apart, their experiences, which spanned over a decade, couldn't have been more different and that was the catalyst for his latest novel. Travis is a free wheeling bachelor who meets his match in Gabby, an independent and strong willed neighbor who eventually falls for him and the two get married. The book then takes us to another part of their lives - much like The Notebook (which is by far one of my favorite tear jerker novels of all time). As the couple confront one of the most difficult choices in their lives, Sparks once again has crafted a page turner, with readers riveted by his every word.

Most of Sparks' books have been motivated by real life events. Tragically, Sparks has experienced tremendous loss - losing his mother, father and sister while he was writing his books. As a result, he has woven many of these real life experiences into his novels but then, as the story unfolds, he says his books seem to take on a life of their own. Sparks says his fundamental goal as an author is to craft a modern day Greek tragedy and while many of us would like to see his characters in his books live happily ever after, it's the oftentimes tragic and real circumstances that they face which keeps his readers coming back for more year after year.

While on his latest book tour for The Choice, Sparks, who unfortunately was battling a bout of food poisoining while preparing for what he says was a 5-6 hour book signing (hopefully one day, our book signings will rival these marathon sessions), says he's been doing a lot of reading to keep him occupied while he's on the road. Some of his recent reads include everything from best-sellers to historical non-fiction to a book about homework - Sparks, a father of five, runs a private school and is a track coach so don't expect him to be surfing the 'net checking his Amazon rankings or vegging out on the couch watching Dancing with the Stars or Grey's Anatomy.

So what is Nicholas Sparks reading these days? Click on the links below to get a glimpse into the books he's been reading on the road:

The Post Birthday World by Lionel Shriver

Unbroken by Tracy Elliot

Playing for Pizza by John Grisham

1453 - The Fall of Constantinople

The Case Against Homework

Bowermen and the Men of Oregon

For more about Nicholas Sparks, visit his website at http://www.nicholassparks.com/. Or, to purchase The Choice, Click Here.

The Other Mother by Gwendolen Gross

2007-09-16T10:47:00.000-04:00

Ever wonder what your new next door neighbor really thinks of you? I mean, you think she's a bit odd for leaving a high powered career behind to become a stay at home mom while you work 80 hour work weeks, are pregnant and determined to jump right back into the work force the moment your baby is born. Well that's the premise behind a delicious new novel by Gwendolyn Gross. It's called The Other Mother and it's Gross's third novel (following Getting Out) and this time, it documents the front lines of the Mommy Wars, but its real strength lies in exposing the complex inner battlefields motherhood can open up.

Eight months pregnant Amanda, a successful children's book editor and dedicated New Yorker, picks up with her lawyer husband and moves to suburban Teaneck, N.J. Her new neighbor, Thea Caldwell, is a full-time mother of three who still lives in her childhood home and who arrives bearing brownies. When the newcomers take extended shelter in the Caldwells' basement following a damaging storm and, later, when Amanda hires Thea as her newborn's nanny, the growing intimacy between the two breeds resentment, bitterness and misunderstandings. The series of external crises designed to create tension and suspense are, in the end, less compelling than the women's own inner demons, revealed through alternating, and overlapping, first-person narration. Jersey resident Gross shows the strife between SAHMs (Stay at Home Moms) and WOTHs (moms who Work Outside the Home) to be a lot more nuanced than it's often portrayed. To order The Other Mother today, Click Here.

Water For Elephants, Hillary Clinton and More Summer Books....

2007-08-28T20:00:00.000-04:00

There is something about me and book titles. If a title is strange, I usually stay away from the book and that's why I avoided Water For Elephants for the longest time. That is, until one of my in the know girlfriends started raving about the book and I finally decided to check it out.

I brought it with me this weekend to our visit to Rocking Horse Ranch and within two days, I'm totally powering through this best-selling novel. So what is the book about? Simple - Jacob Jankowski is an old man who is now living in a nursing home who reflects on his past when he chucked his Ivy League veterinary degree and joined the circus after suffering a major tragedy in his life. I love the flashback sequences in the book and truly felt transported when author Sara Gruen takes readers back to the late 1920's and into the lives of an eclectic cast of characters.

While I'm only half way through, I'm totally loving this book and can't wait to dive in once the kids hit the hay. This book is also reminiscent of Five People You Meet in Heaven, which automatically qualifies it for a must read!

Now I know I haven't posted reviews to some of the other books I've read this summer but now that the season is almost over, in case you have a few months to spare, then check out the new Hillary Clinton book, A Woman in Charge by Carl Bernstein. The beginning is great but I'm mired in Whitewater right now so Carl has lost me a bit. Maybe when I can concentrate, I'll be able to finish that 600 page read and finally get to the part about Monica Lewinsky.

For a quick read, there's For One More Day...another Mitch Albom favorite that came out this year that I managed to read on a plane ride. I recommend this one to anyone who doesn't have much time on their hands and loves a book that'll have you crying once you hit the last chapter.

To return to the Role Mommy home page, Click Here.

Second Chance by Jane Green

2007-07-01T14:47:00.000-04:00

There are certain authors on my radar that I instantly read the moment they release a new book. Jane Green is one of those writers and when her latest book, Second Chance was released last week, I snatched it up, took it on my vacation and read it in a day and a half.

Yes, I suffer from OCRD (Obsessive Compulsive Reading Disorder) and when I get a copy of a juicy book in my hot little hands, I can't help but finish the thing cover to cover - even if I have to stay up all night while everyone is fast asleep! And so, while vacationing in Jamaica, I giddily opened Green's latest book and was pretty pleased with the story that unfolded before my eyes.

Green's latest is book is not a laugh out loud tome like some of her other books (Swapping Lives, Jemima J), but this time, she follows the story of a group of friends who were very close through college then lost track of each other for nearly 20 years until the one person who linked them all together dies tragically in a terrorist attack. As they reconnect for the funeral, the group finds strength in their friendship while dealing with everything from divorce, to alcoholism to unplanned pregnancy. Green truly has another gem on her hands. To order a copy of Second Chance today, Click Here.

If you're interested in finding out more about Jane Green, then visit our Moms of Reinvention page to read our exclusive Role Mommy interview with this amazing best-selling author and mom of four!

Reading with Robin's Summer Book List!

2007-06-15T11:25:00.000-04:00

If you are getting ready for summer vacation (personally, I am counting the hours), then it's time to get your reading list ready! No need to pick up crappy books that you plunk down $15 bucks for and then realize the only thing that intrigued you about the book was the cover art or the title! Our very own Robin Kall, host of the popular radio show Reading with Robin (click on listen live at 7am on Saturdays), offers her summer reading list. So get your mouse clicker ready! Every book links to amazon so all you need to do is point, click and order! And...check out Robin's show this weekend when she interviews Jennifer Connelly about the Judy Blume anthology. Should be a great interview!

Late Night Talking - Leslie Schnur
Life's A Beach -Claire Cook
A Little Bit Married - Debra Borden
Posh - Lucy Jackson
The Sonnet Lover -Carol Goodman
The Next Thing On My List - Jill Smolinski
Second Chance - Jane Green (Yippee...I love any book by Jane Green!)
Dream When You're Feeling Blue - Elizabeth Berg
A Day At The Beach - Helen Schulman
Sweet Ruin -Cathi Hanauer (now out in paper)
And...Peeing in Peace! (Okay - had to give us a plug - since we are a great summer read)

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

2007-06-12T13:27:00.000-04:00

I've seen this book listed on the best-seller list for the last year and kept thinking to myself - I don't want to get this book because it'll totally be depressing and will probably be a slow moving read and who has time for that? Well, I was completely wrong! The Glass Castle is in a word, enthralling. Jeannette Walls is an incredible storyteller who shares the tale of her dysfunctional childhood upbringing and keeps you amazed with every turn of the page. I truly could not put this book down and read it on a car ride to and from Maryland this weekend!

There are moments that are completely unbelievable, painful childhood memories, and even funny stories about how Walls and her family were like travelling gypsies - every time their dad got into hot water or felt it was time to pick up stakes, they were on the road travelling to a new town. But through it all, it is truly a testament to Jeannette Walls that she was able to overcome such a rough upbringing to not only graduate from college but become an award-winning journalist. I highly recommend this book - it makes anyone who reads it open their eyes and realize how lucky they are when you see how far Jeannette Walls has come since she was a child.

Click Here to order your copy today!

SEE JANE LEAD by Lois Frankel

2007-05-19T08:51:00.000-04:00

I was one of the many women who picked up Lois Frankel's last book, Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office, because I could totally relate. Well, in her latest book, See Jane Lead, Ms. Frankel picks up where she left off to show us nice girls how to get an edge and take charge at the office and how to transition back into the workforce. The book is filled with real stories and resourceful tips on how to stop being a worker bee and become a leader. The book also highlights the characteristics of female leaders today that have helped them survive and succeed in the workplace and the world. I'm still reading the book but I'm enjoying what I've learned so far and every time I finish a chapter, I feel empowered to shake things up and take charge. To find out more about See Jane Lead, visit Amazon and buy today!

In an Instant by Lee & Bob Woodruff

2007-03-25T16:14:00.000-04:00

I bought three books today at Borders, and I usually give my picks the five minute rule. If they don't keep me engaged in five minutes or less, well, then they're not worth my time. Well, I'm happy to report that In An Instant, the new book by Lee & Bob Woodruff, not only had me at five minutes, they had me at the very first page.

In what has become one of the most surreal moments of her life, Lee Woodruff, a contributing editor to Family Fun magazine and mother of four shares how she found out her husband, who had just been named co-anchor for ABC World News Tonight, had been severely injured while on assignment in Iraq. While she had taken her children with her to Disney World to shoot a pilot for Family Fun, her entire world was turned upside down when she received a call from David Westin at ABC News telling her that Bob had been hit by shrapnel and had suffered a brain injury.

While I've only just begun reading this book, I know I'm not going to be able to put this one down. Lee Woodruff is an incredibly gifted writer whose description of the events that transformed her picture perfect life, had me riveted fom the start.

Since I've just begun reading the book, for more details, here's an excerpt from Amazon.com:

In one of the most anticipated books of the year, Lee Woodruff, along with her husband, Bob Woodruff, share their never-before-told story of romance, resilience, and survival following the tragedy that transformed their lives and gripped a nation.

In January 2006, the Woodruffs seemed to have it all–a happy marriage and four beautiful children. Lee was a public relations executive and Bob had just been named co-anchor of ABC’s World News Tonight. Then, while Bob was embedded with the military in Iraq, an improvised explosive device went off near the tank he was riding in. He and his cameraman, Doug Vogt, were hit, and Bob suffered a traumatic brain injury that nearly killed him.In an Instant is the frank and compelling account of how Bob and Lee’s lives came together, were blown apart, and then were miraculously put together again–and how they persevered, with grit but also with humor, through intense trauma and fear. Here are Lee’s heartfelt memories of their courtship, their travels as Bob left a law practice behind and pursued his news career and Lee her freelance business, the glorious births of her children and the challenges of motherhood.

Bob in turn recalls the moment he caught the journalism “bug” while covering Tiananmen Square for CBS News, his love of overseas assignments and his guilt about long separations from his family, and his pride at attaining the brass ring of television news–being chosen to fill the seat of the late Peter Jennings.And, for the first time, the Woodruffs reveal the agonizing details of Bob’s terrible injuries and his remarkable recovery.

We learn that Bob’s return home was not an end to the journey but the first step into a future they have learned not to fear but to be grateful for.In an Instant is much more than the dual memoir of love and courage. It is an important, wise, and inspiring guide to coping with tragedy–and an extraordinary drama of marriage, family, war, and nation.

A percentage of the proceeds from this book will be donated to the Bob Woodruff Family Fund for Traumatic Brain Injury.

To return to Role Mommy, Click Here.

SHOPAHOLIC & BABY by Sophie Kinsella

2007-03-03T13:59:00.000-05:00

Let me just state for the record that I love Sophie Kinsella. She is by far, my favorite British chick-lit author, hands down, no contest. I inhaled her last book The Undomestic Goddess in about two days and on Thursday night, when I was trapped at O'Hare airport for six hours, I was overjoyed when I spotted Shopaholic & Baby at the overpriced Hudson newstand and even though I probably paid 10 bucks more than I should have, it was worth the extra investment because I literally, devoured it in about a day and a half.

In this latest addition to Kinsella's "Shopaholic" hilarious book series, our favorite flighty heroine, Becky Bloomwood is happily married, pregnant with her first child and ready to decorate the nursery - even though the sex of the baby is still a mystery. When she finds out about the must-have obstetrician to the stars who has just moved to London, Becky manages to get an appointment with her and soon learns that her new doctor used to date her husband Luke. Of course, Kinsella throws in tons of twists and turns - the OB/GYN is drop dead gorgeous and out to kick Becky out of the picture; Luke is having trouble with his company and Becky, while concerned her husband is cheating on her, is also trying to bribe the owner of her potential dream house with hard to find designer shoes.

I literally laughed out loud throughout the book and as quickly as I finished it, I was a little sad because I knew I was going to have to wait at least a year before another Kinsella comic chick-lit masterpiece makes its way to the book shelves.

If you'd like to order Shopaholic & Baby today, just Click Here...trust me, this is a great read - and you won't want to put it down!

SUPERMOM SAVES THE WORLD!

2007-02-16T17:16:00.000-05:00

By Melanie Lynne Hauser

Our fabulous Role Mommy columnist Melanie Lynne Hauser is about to release her latest book, SUPERMOM SAVES THE WORLD. The book will be available in early March but if you want to find out about it now and pre-order a copy on Amazon, then read on...you won't be disappointed!

About the book...At the end of a long day at work, saving the world, you'd think Super Mom would get a break. But no. She still has to do battle with a foe more terrifying than the most dastardly of super villains - teenagers. It's six months after the Horrible Swiffer Accident that left her a superhero, and Birdie Lee is still adjusting. For starters, she's hearing voices and having lustful thoughts about Mr. Clean. Then there's the fact that her daughter is suddenly sporting a bright pink streak in her hair, courtesy of her new friend Vienna (and if recent history has taught us anything, we all know that a girl named after a foreign city is going to be trouble). Birdie's son is experiencing his first case of puppy love, her nerdy scientist love interest has just proposed marriage, and her annoying ex-husband is suddenly less annoying. Which can only mean he's up to no good.But things get even more sinister when her hometown of Astro Park gets Little League fever in a big way. Rabid parents, performance-enhancing Gatorade and a domed stadium on shaky - potentially explosive - ground are just the beginning of Super Mom's problems; throw in a ticked off school janitor and a corrupt mayor, and Super Mom has her hands full.

Read SUPER MOM SAVES THE WORLD to find out how one woman - one mother - struggles to keep her teenagers in tow with one hand while saving her hometown from disaster with the other. While trying to find time for herself amidst the very real, very messy job of blending families as she plans her marriage to her very own Super Man.

To check out Melanie's latest Role Mommy column, Click Here!

The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood

2007-02-16T16:15:00.000-05:00

Robin Kall, the fabulous host of the radio show "Reading with Robin" gets to interview authors for a living and this week, she recommends a fabulous book by Ann Hood. Based on her tragic real life experience - Hood lost her own daughter when she was only five years old, this is truly a page turner that will bring tears to your eyes as you lose yourself in this sad, yet compelling novel.

Here's a brief description...After the sudden loss of her only child, Stella, Mary Baxter joins a knitting circle in Providence, Rhode Island, as a way to fill the empty hours and lonely days, not knowing that it will change her life. Alice, Scarlet, Lulu, Beth, Harriet, and Ellen welcome Mary into their circle despite her reluctance to open her heart to them. Each woman teaches Mary a new knitting technique, and, as they do, they reveal to her their own personal stories of loss, love, and hope. Eventually, through the hours they spend knitting and talking together, Mary is finally able to tell her own story of grief, and in so doing reclaims her love for her husband, faces the hard truths about her relationship with her mother, and finds the spark of life again. By an "engrossing storyteller," this new novel once again "works its magic" (Sue Monk Kidd).

Click Here to order The Knitting Circle today.

I Feel Bad About My Neck...by Nora Ephron

2006-12-27T12:59:00.000-05:00

I know that I normally review books about moms waxing poetic about their harried lives or British chick lit writers whose lives seem far more interesting than mine, but it's almost the New Year and I've decided to take a departure. Somehow, my recent trip to Florida to see my folks has made me ponder the thought of aging. And who better to provide a glimpse into what it's really going to be like when I hit retirement age than Nora Ephron.

I've always loved her movies - in fact, I have a Sleepless in Seattle poster on the wall of my office and I am a total Sally (ie. "When Harry Met Sally") who orders everything with dressing and sauce on the side so naturally, as soon as I started to read I Feel Bad About My Neck as I was soaking in a hot tub because I was battling a bad cold, I felt like I had finally been given a really great Hannukah present - okay - my holiday is over but I really didn't buy anything good for myself this year so this is my gift to myself for those 8 hectic nights...but I digress.

Ephron shares her laugh out loud thoughts about everything from plastic surgery to purses to parenting and all with deadpan humor, incredible descriptions and real life moments that'll have you smiling from start to finish. She even talks about a private moment with JFK, her secret crush on a famous restaurant critic and how hair dye has transformed her life. I still have about 40 pages to go - savoring this quick read for my next tub soak, and all I can say is that no matter your age, this book is great for anyone who can appreciate the truth about aging packaged with an overdose of humor. To order I Feel Bad About My Neck, Click Here.

"Reading with Robin" Radio Host Picks Top 10 Books of the Year

2006-12-11T14:32:00.000-05:00

Since busy moms have a hard time selecting a good book for themselves, much less finding time to read a great page turner, radio personality Robin Kall, who hosts "Reading with Robin" on WHJJ in Providence, RI has selected her top 10 favorite books of 2006. To make it easy for you to order these books, we've created Amazon links to all of Robin's favorites.

READING WITH ROBIN'S BOOKS OF 2006...

Sweet Ruin by Cathi Hanauer
The Real Animal House by Chris Miller
The Guy Not Taken (short stories) by Jennifer Weiner
Piece of Work by Laura Zigman
The Abortionist's Daughter by Elizabeth Hyde
Pug Hill by Alison Pace
Elements of Style by Wendy Wasserstein
Happiness Sold Separately by Lolly Winston
The Men I Didn't Marry by Janice Kaplan and Lynn Schnurnberger
Love and Other Impossible Pursuits by Ayelete Waldman

Reading with Robin is a talk show devoted to authors, readers, and their favorite--and not so favorite--books. The show was launched in November of 2002 with an entertaining and lively look at the books and topics about which people are talking. Listeners are invited to call in with comments and questions for the day’s guest(s) and to participate in contests where the prizes are…you guessed it…sought-after books. Some of her memorable author guests include Jodi Picoult, Sue Monk Kid, Jennifer Weiner, David Baldacci, and such children's authors as Aliki, Lois Lowry, Meg Cabot, Mary Jane Begin, Margie Palatini and Lois Lowry.Robin grew up during the 60s and 70s on Long Island in a close family of five. The enjoyment of reading came from her mom who was an avid reader. Among Robin's favorite books as a youngster were Judy Blume's Are You There, God, its Me, Margaret and Gone with the Wind.

To visit Robin Kall's website, click on Reading with Robin. To visit the Role Mommy book store and order some other great books today (including "Peeing in Peace") CLICK HERE!

Bitchfest...Review by Joanne Rendell

2006-10-04T21:46:00.000-04:00

Bitchfest: Ten Years of Cultural Criticism from the Pages of

Bitch Magazine, edited by Lisa Jervis and Andi Zeisler

Brace yourself, I’m going to use the F-word. Ready? Are you sure? Okay, take some deep breaths. One….Two…Three…. FEMINISM!! There, I said it. Now, you can pick yourself off the floor, dust yourself off, listen up, and perhaps buy a new book.

Feminism, for too many people these days, has become a dirty word. It has come to signify ball-busting women burning their bras. Or, at the very least, women who want to bitch about their poor lot in life. “Oh, just get over it,” is the silent (or not-so silent) shout of too many powerful people who think that feminism is now defunct or irrelevant.

But, as the fantastic new book Bitchfest: Ten Years of Cultural Criticism from the Pages of Bitch Magazine shows, there is nothing unnecessary about feminism. In fact, we need it today as much as we needed suffragettes fighting for our right to vote at the beginning of the 20th Century or Betty Friedan telling us in the sixties that staying at home and washing dishes wasn’t our inherent destiny.

Okay, so maybe we can grab our blackberries and head for the office, or go to the ballot box and cast our little X. However there are still many forces at work making us – and our daughters, sisters, and mothers – the “second sex” (to use Simone de Beauvoir’s famous phrase). Indeed, these forces are at work in the very place many of us love best: popular culture. Within the magazines and books we read, the films and television we watch, the music we listen to, and the blogs we peruse, in other words, women are frequently getting the rough end of the deal.

Sometimes it’s obvious. We are all aware of the abundance of skinny, pouty, barely-dressed women and girls on TV, pop videos and movies. And we’re all pretty certain this contributes to low self-esteem (and, at worse, eating disorders) among young women. However, there are many other subtle – yet equally insidious ways – that popular culture makes us the second sex.

And that’s what Bitchfest is all about.

The book brings together an array of essays (originally published in Bitch magazine) which think critically about the messages skulking behind our favorite TV shows, books, movies, newspapers, and music. Jennifer Pozner’s contribution to Bitchfest is a good example. Among other things, it points out that, while The New York Times talks about Condoleezza Rice’s dress size and “girlish laugh,” we never hear “Donald Rumsfeld’s inseam measurements.” And while a CNN panel spends time describing Hillary Clinton as “bottom-heavy,” and “bitchy,” Rudy Giuliani’s comb-over is never considered newsworthy.

Everything from slasher fiction to reality TV to fat suits in Hollywood are similarly exposed, unpicked, and unpacked in Bitchfest. And the articles show that, although we shouldn’t just dismiss the popular culture we love, we need to consider how its messages and narratives powerfully – and often negatively – effect women’s views of themselves and their lives.

Not only that, the book’s articles are as enticing and fun as their titles suggest. Just check out, Lisa Moricoli’s Latham’s “Double Life: Everyone Wants to See my Breasts – Until Your Baby Needs Them.” Or Jennifer Newens’ “The Paradox of Martha Stewart: Goddess, Desperate Spouse-seeker, or Feminist Role-Model?” Or Tammy Oler’s “Bloodletting: Female Adolescence in Modern Horror Films.”

Margaret Cho says that Bitchfest is “essential reading for the modern woman.” And that, I would add, includes every Rolemommy too. So read Bitchfest for your own sake and the sake of your daughters, sisters, and mothers.

Believe me, it’s bitchin’! To purchase a copy of Bitchfest, Click Here.

Review by Joanne Rendell (see Joanne’s Rolemommy column, “A Laptop Naptime Mama”

http://www.alaptopnaptimemama.blogspot.com/)

2006-09-20T17:08:00.000-04:00

THIS IS CHICK-LIT

Review by Joanne Rendell

Calling all Chick lit lovers!

It’s time to get mad, make a stand, and buy a copy of This is Chick Lit.

Earlier this year, This is Not Chick Lit: Original Stories by America’s Best Women Writer’s hit the stands. As the title suggests, this book wants to set itself apart from chick lit writing. In the introduction, editor Elizabeth Merrick claims that the huge popularity of “bubbly” and “fluffy” chick lit novels is obscuring the writing of “some our country’s most gifted women.” She went on to say that chick lit “numbs our senses” and “reduces the complexity of human experience.”

When Lauren Baratz-Logsted, a seasoned chick lit author, heard about this collection she got angry. And then she got motivated! Baratz-Logsted without delay rallied the troops, quickly compiled eighteen stories by loud and proud chick lit writers, and This is Chick-Lit was born.

Straight off the bat, the book proves that chick lit and its authors are far from mind-numbing or fluffy. In her fantastic introduction, Baratz Logsted hits the nail on the head when she considers the publication of Merrick’s This is Not Chick Lit and wonders, “What next: These Are Not Mysteries? This is Not Science Fiction? This is Not a Literary Coming of Age Novel?”

What Baratz-Logsted understands – unlike so many literary critics, book reviewers, and many supposedly smart writers – is that chick lit is a genre. And thus like all genres – mystery, sci-fi, literary fiction – chick lit has its own features and style and concerns. It is not better or worse than any other genre, it is just different. Logsted-Baratz demonstrates how it is basically sexist to single out chick lit, a hugely popular genre by and for women, as the one genre to attack and malign.

Logsted-Baratz’s smart introduction is followed by a whole host of intelligent, funny, sad, ironic, entertaining, and very real tales about women. Jennifer Coburn’s “Two Literary Chicks” wryly captures the whole standoff between a literary chick and her chick lit writing enemy. Deanne Carlyle’s “Dead Man Don’t Eat Quiche” is a mystery set in France and is as hilarious as its title suggests. Heather Swain deals beautifully with the trials and tribulations of postpartum life in “Café con Leche Crush.” Logsted-Baratz’s own story, an eloquent satire called “Shell Game,” is a must for any successful and independent career girl heading for marriage, the suburbs, and potentially the loss of identity.

Many people are going to love This is Chick-Lit. However, true to form, the literary world and the press are putting the boot in. In its review of the book, Publisher’s Weekly says the stories in the collection are marred by “ho-hum dialogue” (and you’re telling me Hemingway never wrote a ho-hum exchange?), “clichéd characters” (uh, and Dickens didn’t have a few stock villains?) and “may pander to female audiences” (oh my god, what a crime!). The Village Voice described the stories as “glib and goal-oriented and focus on well-dressed women afraid of being 30” (hello? Can you read?).

To snoots like these, I say, “Go read what you want to read and leave the chick lit writers and chick lit lovers alone!” And to everyone else, I say, “Buy This is Chick-Lit. You won't just make a purchase. You’ll be making a political stand!!” To purchase This is Chick-Lit, Click Here.

Visit reviewer Joanne Rendell's Rolemommy column: A Laptop Naptime Mama. To return to the Role Mommy home page, click here.

2006-09-10T21:25:00.000-04:00

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY
By Marian Keyes

When I first picked up this book, I was a little intimidated. Not that it's hard to read - it's typical breezy chick-lit fare, but it's over 500 pages! Since I like to cram really long books into vacations and car rides, I took this one along on a recent New England getaway with the kids and it was the perfect companion (in addition to my family of course!) Marian Keyes is a hilarious writer and in The Other Side of the Story, she weaves a tale with three points of view. Find out what happens when a woman's life is turned upside down after her dad announces he's leaving her mom and her best friend steals away the love of her life. As she starts emailing her friend about this sour turn of events, her messages get sent to a big time literary agent who gives her the chance to write a book about her life (fiction of course). Meanwhile, the agent, who happens to be having a torrid affair with one of the partners in her firm, represents the two-faced hussy who stole away the boyfriend in the first place. The hussy of course is not a hussy but a guilt-ridden author, mother and ex-friend who, after her book winds up becoming a surprise best seller, hits a run of bad luck when her second novel is a big flop. The twists and turns in this book are terrific and even though a 500 pager can be tough for any mom to tackle, trust me, this one is definitely worth it! To order The Other Side of the Story, Click Here.

2006-07-22T16:31:00.000-04:00

PEACHY KEEN WITH JANE GREEN

If you are a die-hard British chick-lit fan but also love a taste of American sensibilities, then Jane Green is the perfect author for you. This fabulous writer who penned the book JEMIMA J (my friend Jayna turned me on to that book and I loved it!) is a fabulous and fun writer who gets you right into the story with her great characters and storylines you could relate to. Who wouldn't want to swap lives with someone who they think is living the life they've always wanted to live? Well, Swapping Lives does just that when a single Fashion editor at a British magazine trades places with a suburban Connecticut mom living a cushy life in a McMansion, with a doting husband, cute kids and a live-in nanny. I read this one in 24 hours. Give it a try...you won't be disappointed! To purchase Swapping Lives Click Here or for more information about Jane Green and her latest books, visit her website at www.janegreen.com

2006-07-22T16:29:00.000-04:00

CHICK LIT FOR THE SOUL

For the chick lit afficionado, look no further than Sophie Kinsella, a fabulous British author who has captured the essence of what it's like to be an ambitious, materialistic woman with a really great sense of humor. I've read all of Kinsella's Shopholic books and loved every minute of them...probably because I can relate so well to her main characters. If you're addicted to your blackberry and crazed on the job and wonder what it would be like if you chucked it all one day and stepped into someone else's shoes, then The Undomestic Goddess is for you.
I finished book and thought it was adorable. Sophie Kinsella is a chick lit Goddess! If you're heading out for a vacation or need a quick read on your commute, then this is the book for you! Click here to buy The Undomestic Goddess.

2006-07-22T16:24:00.000-04:00

A BOOK THAT HITS HOME

This book my Role Mommy friends is a doozy. I'm totally a chick lit fanatic so I never imagined I'd be hooked by this serious novel about a family who faces the greatest challenge in their lives when Anna, a 13 year old girl decides to hire a lawyer so that she can gain medical emancipation from her parents who have been using her since she was an infant to help cure their older daughter who is battling cancer. Very heavy subject, but let me tell you this - the moment you start reading, you will not be able to put this book down!
Jodi Picoult is a masterful storyteller who writes in the voices of all of her characters. The twists and turns in the book are amazing and it's a story that will not only make you cry, but it'll make you think about what you would do if faced with a similar situation. This is a great book to take along on a vacation, long train ride, or if you have an hour or two at the beach this summer. If you like this book, you can check out Jodi Picoult's website for other great books - she's the ultimate mother of reinvention...a woman who has found a way to pursue her passion while still being a great mom! Click Here to buy the book or visit Jodi Piccoult's site for more information. www.jodipiccoult.com

2006-07-22T16:23:00.000-04:00

FOR PULP FICTION FANS...

It’s one of the most anticipated novels of the season. Paul Malmont’s “The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril” takes readers on a non stop pulp fiction ride through old New York. You may have already read the reviews calling “The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril “ one the best books of the summer – but there’s so much more to this story than just what you’ll read between the action packed pages. The story behind the book is one of the sweetest and most poignant love stories we’ve ever heard. Like most new parents, Paul and his wife Audrey were deliriously happy with the arrival of their son Nathanial but deliriously sleep deprived as well. Doting dad and husband that he is, Paul would get up ridiculously early with Nathaniel every morning and allow Audrey a few extra hours of much needed sleep. Paul started writing the book during these early morning playdates with his baby boy. While Nathaniel watched the Wiggles and Audrey slept, “The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril” was born. After about a year of these am dates with his little man, Paul had completed the book. Audrey never knew what her husband was up to so you could imagine her surprise when he presented her with a most unique Mother’s Day gift – his first novel, lovingly dedicated to his wife and young son. Note to all husbands – a novel beats flowers and a spa gift certificate hands down! PAUL MALMONT PODCAST!!! Want to hear more about this new book that's already climbing up the best seller's list? Then listen to this free podcast featuring the author, Paul Malmont...Click here.

2006-07-22T16:17:00.000-04:00

INTRODUCING...KITSCH LIT!

I just finished reading this book and it's hilarious. Okay, it's not chick-lit, but if there were chick-lit written by guys, then this would fit perfectly into the category. In fact, let's call it Kitsch-lit. This happens to be a true story that reads like fiction. The story of a 28 year old comedy writer who decides to try out early retirement and moves to Century Village, Florida. Rodney moves in with an eccentric widow, her two cats and parrot that mimics his signature phrase "Hey Man, What's Up?" and his annoying alarm clock. During his six month stint at Century Village, Rodney joins every club imaginable, from Shuffleboard to the Red Hatters Club and comes across a cast of characters that every Jewish kid who has been to Florida can easily relate to. I won't give anything else away, but this is a great read for young, old and anyone with a sense of humor. Click Here to buy now!