Confessions of a Forty-Something F**k Up (Confessions, 1)

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This book was a breath of fresh air especially if you are having a bad few days this is a book that will have you in giggles - But hopefully not in public transport like I was!!! oops!!!!! I also loved Nell's relationship with her family especially her father and that bit towards the end scared me to bits. There were some awkward conversations at the beginning with her mother as expected because her mum was still holding out hope for Nell to patch things up with her fiancée. It was all believable and I loved how it all came to be. I won’t lie; there were moments I thought, ‘Is this story ever going to end?’ But those short, snappy chapters? They were like little pit stops in a marathon, ensuring I was well-fed with light humor and hope as I journeyed through. V tomto prípade, téma veľmi aktuálna a rezonujúca (len teda mi chýbajú kamošky žijúce v okolí Koliby a Slavína, ale tak neprší tu tak často… všetko má svoje plus i mínus). Príbeh je písaný zrozumiteľne a bez okľúk, venuje sa všetkým témam (aj ekológii i sexu, pre krátky prehľad). Veľa deja je v dialógoch a nesnaží sa podriemkávať pri okraji. Výborné je delenie po mesiacoch v roku a tak hneď vieme, že je to jeden rok v živote našej hlavnej hrdinky. Áno, je nešťastná a stratená, ale počas roka objavuje aj pozitívne veci a zisťuje, že život sa nezastavil, tak prečo by mala ona? Neviem či by som rovno povedala, že má jedinecný zmysel pre humor či sebairóniu, ale tak uznávam, že 4 roky v Británii ma poznačili a tak je to asi skreslené. Proste mi to príde len veľmi britské so “vším šudy”. Aj čaj o piatej, aj nedeľné futbalové zápasy, vianočné panto… no proste istá nostalgia sála z každej stránky :)

I actually read the first look of this over on Readers First and thought it was such an uplifting and fun book; and I felt that way for perhaps the first half, but then i just began to feel very cliche and the ending was just really disappointing for me. I thought this was going to be a story about her finding herself and I was hoping the ending would follow suit but then it just felt like such a let-down for me. This book has such a witty way of expressing the loss, the confusion, the desperation to be successful according to a set of standards that we have had nothing whatsoever to do with creating. It’s a reminder that sometimes where we find ourselves is exactly right, as it is, and that nothing is ultimately beyond redemption if you know how to view yourself and your own personal journey. It’s probably no surprise (if anyone’s still with me :)) that I found the ending disturbing and symbolic. Yes I know it’s supposed to be funny and tongue in cheek, but seriously? Na starobe je smutné len to, že strácate priateľov a ľudí ktorých máte rada," pokračovala. Všetci naokolo vás umierajú, jeden po druhom. Prísť o Montyho nie je ľahké, ale veľkú časť života som prežila prv, ako sme sa s nim sme sa spoznali, bol workoholik a často pracovne preč. Som zvyknutá na jeho neprítomnosť... No prísť o kamarátky bolo v mnohých ohľadoch oveľa ťažšie, ako prísť oňho..Nell e amuzantă nu pentru că se pune singură în situații stânjenitoare (și chiar mi-a plăcut asta, faptul că lipsesc situațiile a la Stan și Bran care abundă în Bridget Jones, de ex), ci pentru că știe să mânuiască excelent o unealtă salvatoare: autoironia. Nell decides to pull herself up by her boot straps and do something to make her situation bearable. She sets out by writing 5 things she’s grateful for (well just one for now, she’ll have to work her way up to 5). She also decides to start an anonymous podcast and talk about what it’s like to start over at forty something and not have her life be where she thought it would be at this stage in her life. It’s also the perfect place to vent on how she hates her oldest friends seemingly new bestie. One is the “relationship” with the hot dad/uncle. I felt there could have been more added to Nell & Johnny’s story and I was disappointed by the outcome. Nell handled it very mature which on one hand was great but I wanted it handled in the “Nell” way. It was just cut too short and tied in too neat a bow.

I really loved this catch up with the characters. I leave them at the end of this book wishing them well, and wondering if we will get another peek into their lives again in a few years, I hope so. Potter’s writing grips you with prose that you’ll remember, this description of routine a prime example - “Routine is a funny old thing. It gets such a bad rap. We think of it as dull and predictable and long to escape. But routine is like a clothes hanger. You hang your days on it and it gives them shape. Without it life has no structure, if you’re not careful it can collapse in a heap on the floor” Výborné sú aj pasáže kde sa rozoberá postavenie ženy a tlak spoločnosti na to, aby žena plnila rolu matky lebo to by mala byť jej “najvyššia ašpirácia”. Je zaujímavé všimnúť si takéto pasáže v knihe, kde to proste nečakám :) Nell is our forty-something protagonist, she represents so many women, in our different ways. She is intimidated by the yummy mummy brigade, she isn’t proficient at yoga, hates air-kissing and high heels. These character traits tell me she is definitely one of my tribe.

Nell's best friend, Fiona doesn't have time for her as she has a new friend of her own. Basically, any of Nell's friends don't have time for her unless they want her to babysit their kids and I felt for Nell. Who hasn't thought at some time that life just didn't turn out the way you imagined? I think we all do. This book looks at that very situation with a good deal of humor and some insight into finding happiness.

Read the hilarious rom-com that inspired the hit new sitcom Not Dead Yet starring Gina Rogriguez ( Jane the Virgin), Hannah Simone ( New Girl) and Lauren Ash ( Superstore). As recommended on Davina McCall's Making the Cut podcast, and perfect for fans of Dolly Alderton, Ruth Jones and Marian Keyes. The story of Nell Stevens’ struggle through her imperfect, messy life doesn’t just make brilliant fiction, it’s turning into a cultural revolution!' – Matt Cain Niekedy rozmýšľm nad tým, či to nie je takto lepšie. Skúsila som a zlyhala. Možno som to niekde hlboko vlastne ani nechcela. Ako ste povedali, nie každá žena chce deti." I wanted to love this book, I really did. As someone who is forty without the husband and children I’d always thought I’d have (and no real prospects on the horizon), I thought I’d finally found something I could relate to. There is nothing out there that’s I’ve found so far in literature for women like us and when I saw this book, I thought ‘about time!’ I thought I would laugh, cry and take comfort. But this book really triggered me.

Featured Reviews

Life is rarely a straight line, and as the saying goes, 'Life is not a puzzle to be solved, but a dance to be danced’. That's certainly the case for our forty-something protagonist, Nell, and we have a front-row seat to her grand rhapsody. This book is just as funny and heartfelt from start to finish and for any woman or man who wonders how the hell she got here and why life isn't quite how she imagined it was going to be... But there are two main things I have a problem with in this book. The first is the main character’s grief. Now I know this is a humorous book, I totally get that. But humour and pain can co-exist quite nicely, especially in fiction. My gripe is the main character feels pain, but not quite enough. This is not to say that the pain of the childless can’t be overcome, not at all. All I’m