This is war, Celeste…War, I tell you.
Yes, this is just a book, but be honest. Haven’t you been involved in, or at least been privy to, something similar in your own mom circles? The politics of the playground can be as intense as those in the boardroom. The main difference? On the playground, you add children into the mix and moms are nothing if not passionate about their children and how to care for them.
There’s something else that happens in the world of motherhood politics – insecurities.
Am I a good mother?
Why didn’t my kid get invited to the party? Is it because she’s shy like me?
Now that I’m a mother, who am I?
To me, the last one is the most influential. As women, we fight to gain our identity. To prove we can make it on our own. Then, suddenly, these tiny beings enter our worlds and everything we thought were priorities before the day they were born is shifted. We rethink our jobs and our goals realigning them with raising these tiny beings and sometimes, if the decisions we make don’t seem like the best to those on the outside looking in, we feel judged. Unfortunately, the easiest way at times to combat those feelings is to judge right back.
If your choice is wrong, by default, mine must be right.
It’s like being back on the playground as kids all over again. So, yes, this story is a piece of Fiction but it also hits very close to home.
Fiction, is however, more fun so let’s talk about the book. I’m still very much in love with Madeline. She’s a fighter. Her anger might be sometimes misplaced, but she decides who she’s loyal to and sticks with it. Her wit and attitude makes me want to fight with her, so I very much dislike Nathan and Bonnie. I get where Madeline’s coming from. Nathan left her and abandoned his daughter. It must be tough watching him make up for that mistake with a totally different family even if she’s truly happy with Ed.
There should be a law against ex husbands procreating
In this case, I agree.
Madeline and Ed – could they be any more adorable? He talks about when he first fell in love with her like a dreamy eyed teenager and puts up with her crazy like it’s his job. She clearly wishes they had more money, but you can tell she’s truly happy in her second marriage.
We learned more about Celeste and her marriage, and it’s not pretty. There’s so much disfunction going on in that relationship that it’s hard to read. Celeste’s inner monologue is painful. She’s looking for any and every way to get out of the life she’s currently living and yet, it’s like an addiction.
What do you think is the big secret that Jane is continuing to keep about Ziggy? Will we get to see the fall out from the Disney On Ice/Amabella Birthday party division? Even though it’s a little over the top, do you agree that this Fiction seems quite real (without the murder, of course)?
For next week, let’s read up through Chapter 28. Only one month before trivia night!
If your interested in reading a great blog about getting past the judgement of real life Mommy Wars, check out this post by fellow contributor, Kacey.
One of the main reasons I love this book so much is because I can relate to it!! It is so true that I can imagine and even been through what some (if even all) these moms have gone through! I feel like I know the characters!!! I spent almost 30 minutes talking about this book to my table at the MNO event last night!!!! LOL
Jenny – I so wanted to come last night, but I couldn’t make it. I could have crashed your table and talked about the book – lol
I would have loved that!!!! Heehee I hope there is a book club get together in the works soon!!! <3
Everyone is saying how they are almost done and I am desperate to carve out 30 minutes to read at all! But I am basically caught up and I love this book as much as The Husband’s Secret. I think Madeline is awesome and yes, the idea of the mommy wars, or just judging moms in general is so very nonfiction. Celeste’s story really interests me b/c I think most women have been in their own version of an addictive relationship (hopefully not abusive) where you hate the person but you are also obsessed with them. Looking forward to reading the next few chapters!
I’ve finished the book so I need to be careful what I comment about. However, I do want to say that this book was awesome and that I loved it more than The Husband Secret. She does a great job developing the characters; you really start to feel like you are in their personal circle of friends. I don’t think anyone will be disappointed! I’ve recently read two books that were not “completed” so to speak. Their endings were left a little too open. But rest assured that this book all comes together in the end. What I liked doing while reading the book was to try to figure out who gets murdered. 😉 So, who do you think dies?