To Hell with All That, Loving & Loathing Our Inner Housewife, by Caitlin Flanagan
First line: ”I do not plan to have another wedding; I’m standing pat at two.”
Flanagan’s book of essays on all things motherly and housewifery is the epitome of a “smart chick” read – whether you are married or mothering at the moment. Her keen look at the past, our fore-mothers and feminists alike, puts a nice perspective on the current role women play in American society. Her essays explore everything from the insane wedding industry and child-obsessed parenting to our shift from house keeping to house management. The insight into Flanagan’s own life (wealthy husband, nannies, breast cancer) gives the book further depth and perspective. She may not be mopping her own floors, but her heart’s in the right place. Besides, her writing is gorgeous, and the topic of women, children and relationships is always one worth intelligent exploration.
For: A nostalgic look at motherhood’s yesteryear and a magnetized view of the home and hearth today. – Malena Lott