Family Life - Hardcover

Magnusson, Sally

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0002570637 ISBN 13: 9780002570633

Publisher: HarperCollins, 1999

Synopsis

An enchanting portrait of the trials and triumphs of family life, which any parent of any age will recognise with a wry smile.

Sally Magnusson lives with her husband and five children in Scotland. This book begins soon after the birth of the fifth child, with a scene to which we can all relate with feeling: that night when you slept through for the first time and without any small body in your bed either. Life continues through holidays (and the baggage required for the family and British weather conditions), school Christmas plays (and the parental competition for best parts for their offpsring), pets (and how they multiply), children and cars (and how long it takes for a quarrel to start), going out (and the organization required to arrange children, animals and house), and all the many facets of family life. Family Life is written with verve and humour, as well as pithy accuracy.

About this title

Review:

‘There is a particular skill in writing in an entertaining fashion about domesticity and not many people have it. Sally Magnusson is a glorious exception and hurrah! for that. The important gift that she has and brings to her subject is an ability to appeal beyond her natural audience. It isn’t just mothers who will want to read her because she is reflecting their own interests. You will want to read her because she writes well and because she is funny. Best of all is the fact that there are lots of laughs here. The tears of mirth ran down my face and I was obliged to put the book down and blow my nose. What greater commendation could there be?’
The Herald (Glasgow)

‘Sally Magnusson has the knack of writing about her experiences in a humorous way, despite the fact that it could not have been remotely funny at the time. Sit back and enjoy.’ Oxford Times

‘A real, breathing portrait of life in a large and living family... Cunningly astute commentary on parenthood and more scenes of hilarity than any modern sitcom.’ The Scotsman

‘Full of warmth, humour and commonsense, by a born story-teller.’ Carousel

From the Back Cover:

'Last night we slept all night. In the same bed from beginning to end. Ten and a half hours of uninvaded slumber.'

Any parent of any age will recognise that heartfelt statement. Sally Magnusson lives with her husband, five children under the age of ten, au pairs, visitors, various animals and the occasional lodger. Working for television with sometimes unsocial hours, she juggles babies and telephones, domestic crises and family dramas, with wry skill.

Readers will cheer Sally Magnusson's version of motherhood. To her it is a question of continuous adjustment: to circumstances, to everyone else's convenience, to new demands and new freedoms. She argues that most mothers do not want to choose between staying at home and being a managing director, but are happy to muddle along somewhere in between. Nor do they want to have it all just a few minutes of uninterrupted conversation.

Family Life is written with verve and humour, style and honesty. Sally Magnusson gives a far more vivid, funnier and more thoughtful account of the family than any government document. Scenes such as when the dog ate the gerbil, or the youngest threw up over the eldest's birthday cake, or the collection of gear essential for a short family holiday, remain long in one's mind, and provides an exhilarating portrait of the trials and triumphs of family life.

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0002570637
• ISBN 13: 9780002570633
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 272