Rating: 
Summary: The Adventures of Everywoman
Review: "I Don't Know How She Does It: The Life of Kate Reddy, Working Mother" by Allison Pearson was a novel I really enjoyed, because I thought it was a really accessible and poignant portrayal of the issues women still cope with as they try to "have it all." (They struggle with sexism and male chauvinism at work, while still feeling responsible for doing everything traditionally a mother's duty at home. No one asks men how they manage to combine career and fatherhood, writes Pearson.) While the book has been compared to "Bridget Jones's Diary," (for its colloquial tone and semi-daily-diary form), Reddy is not Jones. Jones was kind of a lovable buffoon, but Reddy is a high-ranking fund manager for a major investment bank in London. A Cambridge graduate married to an architect, Reddy tries to make sure that everyone in her life gets her 100 percent. Of course, she fails and feels herself going under as she drowns in all her commitments.What I thought was most effective about the novel was the way that Pearson so clearly lets us in on the emotional conflicts that Kate has about her job and children. Reddy e-mails a friend (but doesn't send it) that though her job is very stressful, she almost views it as a vacation because her children's emotional need of her is too exhausting. She writes that in a weekend or miniholiday together, she lives through the throes of an entire relationship with her daughter Emily and son Ben, they need her, they love her, she's beautiful, they hate her, they rebel, they want intimacy, they want to be left alone. Reddy performs all her duties at work and some of them at home, but it all is in an attitude of "I have to do this." She doesn't seem to enjoy playing with her kids or doing her job; everything, including her marriage seems like an incredible burden. I thought Pearson did a good job of letting us into this woman's stressful, overextended life. I did think, too, that Pearson portrayed VERY well the competition that exists among women. Reddy is very intimidated by the women she calls members of the "Muffia," who stay at home full time, make everything home made and book entertainment for their children's parties years in advance. I did not enjoy the "Court of Motherhood" sections. I thought they were redundant and boring. I also thought the ending was a little bit of a let-down, although there was still a ring of truth in the final turn of events. The book is nearly pitch perfect, from my perspective, and it's funny and engaging on nearly every page. I recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: Why doesn't her husband help?
Review: There were a lot of moments in this book that working moms (including myself) could relate to, many of which were just laugh-out-loud funny. But there were also moments where I just wanted to slap Kate and tell her to either get a new job, get her lazy husband to help, or just relax and not get caught up in the whole status-parenting trap. I mean, OK, so Kate Reddy has a high-stress job that requires long hours and frequent travel. She also has a husband whose job doesn't seem so demanding. Why can't he pick up some of the workload at home? When the baby cries in the middle of the night, if I were her, I'd whack my husband in the ribs until he woke up and I'd tell him to go give the baby a bottle! If one spouse--male or female--has such a demanding, high-paying job, then the other one should handle most of the work at home!!!
Rating: 
Summary: disappointing
Review: Was very disappointed with this book after reading such great reviews. Yes, it is well written- the Brits have a way with comedic writing- but my God. Throughout the book Kate Reddy struggles to balance a high powered job as a financial advisor with husband and 2 children, railing at the Sloaney stay-at-home full time mothers who deride her for her working mother status. This group is very well characterized and described- appalling types- and bright beautiful Kate suddenly at the end joins them. Quits her job, buys a home in the country with a paddock, and joins the PTA while her husband works on building a rock wall. Its as if Allison Pearson stopped writing this book several chapters from the end and it was completed by her alter ego, a stay at home wealthy mother. Extremely disappointing- and in fact, unrealistic. The majority of women in this country need to work- it is not a luxurious option to be tossed away when its time for a change. Ms. Pearson does a wonderful humorous job of describing the conflict this role provides- then provides a completely unrealistic sappy pat solution, one not available to those of us who do not have the luxury of having a husband who can provide. And why on God's earth did she become one of "them", the very group she so delightfully disparages, the minority of women who take pride in their cooking, their ability to get their children into tony prep schools, who spend all of their time arranging play dates and sending thank you notes? She leads the reader to believe this is the only solution to a happy life. Its appalling. Save your money. This book will inevitably make you angry...
Rating: 
Summary: I know how she does it
Review: It seems that most of the reviews have come in from married women with kids, working or not. The reveiws are more sociology than criticism. But, hey, it strikes a nerve. I am the HUSBAND of a Kete Reddy plus plus, and we have seven, count them seven children. Not easy, but in the broad sense, well worth it. She's a workaholic, and would be unhappy dealing all day with the kids.
This is how Kate Reddy does it: her husband. Even if he is unable to bring up the laundry, she should have been a LOT nicer to him. Obviously, Richard was doing a helluva lot to make things work for her (who was keeping the home finances, bills, shopping, driving the kids, etc.). You see ladies, its not that he did not want to bring up the laundry from the bottom of the stairs: He's congenitally blind to it, just as I am. We just can't help it, honest! It's all in the hard wiring. My advise to the Kate Reddy's out there: get over it. Just ask nicely, don't lose your cool, be understanding of our basic needs (even if you can't always fulfill them), and maybe he will remember to bring up the laundry. And if he forgets, well, worse things can happen. Bravo to Allison Pearson, a modern Balzac.
Rating:
Summary: My life, only British.
Review: I roared with laughter and cringed at the dead on assessments in the very first chapters. A wonderful, brutally honest, *funny* view of working mothers. I immediately bought and lent copies to my casual network of working mother friends, saying "Read this, it's about us!" Readers not familiar with British slang will struggle a bit, but it's still worthwhile. My only complaint, and a very small one, is: why does the resolution depend on Kate rescuing everyone else in her life: her father, her slandered co-worker, her mother, her sister, her sister's co-workers, probably the whole darn economy by the time she's through? Does getting out of the working mother trap require performing great acts for the social good? Isn't that what got us into the mess in the first place? But I rant, and I digress. Read it, and enjoy it as comedy, social commentary or both. Here's hoping Kate Reddy pulls it off!
Rating:
Summary: Right on the nail !!!
Review: I too am baffled by the number or negative reviews or reviewers who don't understand this book. It hit home 100% with me, as a working mom of 1 and one on the way. I work in an intense, demanding, male dominated field. And unless I want to reschool myself, this is my career and my trade. My family is first, but the balance is NOT easy. And if you are the bread winner, which many of my female friends are these days, many are high up and travel, you have to put forth your best. Why is it that it is OK for men to do that but woman are not putting their family first. Shame on the woman here who wrote that ! Not one woman here asked why her husband didn't quit his job !!! Shame on all of you !! Much of what kate brought up about what is acceptable for a man at the office as a dad vs. a woman and a mom, is right on ! sad but true. She nailed all of the frustrations. The muffia is out there, woman we should learn from this and stop torturing one another. It's not easy being a bread winner and a mother, the standards are NOT equal yet and I think that is one of the main points kate tries to make. I only wish that she had talked more about the transition to a stay at home mom more indepth. I hope this book will help us all to grow as a society. I had my husband read it and I hope you all will too !
Rating:
Summary: funny? yes witty? yes --- original? NO
Review: This book IS funny, witty and right on target. It accurately captures the life of a corporate working mother. BUT....Ms. Pearson must have seen the movie "Baby Boom" starring Diane Keaton? Change the location from Maine to England and you've got Ms. Pearson's book - with the exception that Kate's children are her own
Nothing new here.
Rating:
Summary: Been There Done That!
Review: This book is a good read for any season. Snuggle up by the fire during this winter storm or take it to the beach. I laughed out loud at the author's humor and sarcasm, and empathized with Kate's guilt and struggles. I found the book to be very insightful of mothers in general, especially high powered working moms.
Rating:
Summary: Go Kate Reddy
Review: I truly loved this book. I hated to put it down. I think any woman juggling job and family can indeed relate to Kate. Her observations are hilarious, especially concerning the office personnel. This is the type of book that you can laugh at loud as well as sympathize with Kate and her family. You are able to picture Roo, Kate's mom, and Emma's bouncy castle. Don't miss it!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, funny book.
Review: Kate Reddy is a working mom who is trying very, very hard to balance her job at a conservative, male-dominated company and her role as mother to two small children. When we first meet Kate, she is "distressing" a store-bought mince pie to make it look homemade. Why? Well, her daughter's school is having a bake sale the next day. She's been out of the country on business and has no time to bake. But she refuses to be the kind of mother who brings a store-bought pie to a bake sale. Kate's not perfect. There are times when her relationship with her husband and children is not something she can be proud of. But the author lets us get to know Kate well enough so that we can understand why she tries as hard as she does to create the life she wants for her family. I loved this book, and I loved Kate. Would strongly recommend!
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