Someone Could Get Hurt: A Memoir of Twenty-First-Century Parenthood
2 journalers for this copy...
I got this ex-library hardcover from Better World Books. I enjoyed the author's speculative-fiction novel The Postmortal; this non-fiction look at his life as a parent is... a bit different! It opens with this eye-catching line:
"We all agreed that the child must be disemboweled."
That begins the harrowing account of his third child's medical problems, which provide bookends for the rest of the book. (Not to worry; the surgery went well!) In between are many accounts of father-and-children, from his first experience in holding his newborn to his down-the-road looks at juggling multiple kids, home life, and work.
His writing style is often snarky, yet he doesn't shy away from revealing deep emotions here - whether they're the joyful-parent ones or the I'm-so-tired-don't-you-DARE-keep-screaming ones. As a non-parent myself, I read it with (I admit) some relief - though many accounts did remind me of times with the children of family or friends. Some of the anecdotes are cringe-inducing - even for the author, who has some regrets - while others are flat-out hilarious. Recommended!
"We all agreed that the child must be disemboweled."
That begins the harrowing account of his third child's medical problems, which provide bookends for the rest of the book. (Not to worry; the surgery went well!) In between are many accounts of father-and-children, from his first experience in holding his newborn to his down-the-road looks at juggling multiple kids, home life, and work.
His writing style is often snarky, yet he doesn't shy away from revealing deep emotions here - whether they're the joyful-parent ones or the I'm-so-tired-don't-you-DARE-keep-screaming ones. As a non-parent myself, I read it with (I admit) some relief - though many accounts did remind me of times with the children of family or friends. Some of the anecdotes are cringe-inducing - even for the author, who has some regrets - while others are flat-out hilarious. Recommended!
I'm sending this to BCer glade1 to fill a wish. Enjoy!
*** Released for the 2017 Tick Tock release challenge. ***
*** Released for the 2017 Tick Tock release challenge. ***
Thanks for this one, GoryDetails! Not sure when it will get read but it's safe (with lots of company) on Mt. TBR!