The Fat Ladies Club: The Indispensable 'Real World' Guide to Pregnancy - Softcover

Bettridge, Andrea; Jones, Annette; Gardener, Hilary; Lawrence, Lyndsey; Groves, Sarah

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0141017015 ISBN 13: 9780141017013

Publisher: Penguin, 2003

Synopsis

THE FAT LADIES CLUB met at antenatal classes and became firm friends. This book is the result of their shared experiences of first-time pregnancy. Nothing is left out, so be prepared to read about their emotions, hormones and bodily changes - some humorous, some horrendous - as the ladies get ready for motherhood. Forget the textbook theory and settle down for what amounts to an eavesdrop into their girly chats. Did they get stretch marks - how many, where and what were they like? What happened to their sex lives? Did 'it' feel the same afterwards? When did they first feel like a mum? Other books give you the factual stuff but this alternative guide to the real ins and outs of pregnancy gives advice which all women will learn from.

About this title

Product Description:

Paperback. Pub Date: 09 2004 Pages: 224 Publisher: Penguin Global They met at their pre-natal classes and their book will give you a taste of that all the withemotions and CHANGES humourous and Horrendous which they experienced-through their Pregnancies and early months of first-time motherhood. Forget the textbook theory now and settle down for what amounts to an eavesdrop into their girlie chats.

Review:

The five authors of this alternative guide to pregnancy met at ante-natal classes and became friends. Instead of a text-book analysis of what happens during all the stages of pregnancy, this offers a down-to-earth experience from five women's perspectives. The honesty, notably in the chapter on sex, is endearing. The chatty, warm, style is undeniably readable, and bearing in mind how much information overload pregnant women have to handle, this certainly isn't a taxing read. It's a reassuring one.

The amateurish tone and the fact that these are clearly not professional writers is oddly the biggest plus point--and paradoxically the biggest weakness. Cynics will point to the overuse of certain words (namely "well"), the contrived jokes and liberal clichés. This, however, is not the fault of the five intelligent women who consist of a community learning disability nurse, a European Business studies graduate, a research scientist, a police officer and an accountant. While the style and approach would have been ideal for a Web site, many readers will be put off by the unnecessary suburban style (not to mention illustrations). Skilful editing and rewriting on the part of the publishers would have elevated their experiences from what amounts to an extended mass magazine feature, and done them the justice their honesty deserves. --Lorna V

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0141017015
• ISBN 13: 9780141017013
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 224