Babyville

Rating:
Summary: Jane Green is back!
Review: And better than ever!

After reading, and falling in love with, Jemima J., I bought and read everything written by Jane Green. While I thought Bookends and Mr. Maybe were OK, they were no where near Jemima J., so I was a little hesitant when purchasing Baybville.

I didn't need to worry.

Babyville is not Jemima J. Ms. Green introduces us to a new phase in life and writes it so well that I saw the first year of my motherhood life when reading Sam's story. In fact, I had to put the book down a few times because Sam's feelings, her frustrations, her fears, brought everything that I felt during that time back. (My husband asked me to keep this book around and re-read Sma's story every time a "baby urge" strikes -- we have a 4 year old and a 2 year old).

I couldn't relate to Julia's story, although I understood the frustration for both her and Mark. I could relate to Maeve a bit more, but thought that story was a little too neat -- nothing ever works out that well in real life, but this is a book, after all.

I highly recommend this book to anyone whose had children or is thinking of having children. Jane Green doesn't pull any punches, describing both the good and the bad of having children. It's comforting to know that everything parents feel -- isolation, fear, resentment, overwhelming love, etc. -- is normal!

Rating:
Summary: Moving Out Of Chick Lit - Into Mommy Lit
Review: For those who have loved Jane Green's work in the past, as I have, this exploration into the next phase of life (committed relationships with offspring) was a welcome and wonderful trip. Green's previous work (Bookends, Mr. Maybe, and Jemima J) are some of my favorite books and I think Ms. Green is a wonderfully talented storyteller. I'm really glad to see her moving in a more mature and complex genre. I think it's time - and I look forward to more of it.

As for this newest book, "Babyville" revolves around the lives of three very different women. Seeming perfect Julia, who is a successful TV producer, career driven Maeve who gets faint with the mention of motherhood and mother in training Samantha, who can't wait to buy those maternity clothes. Of course, things don't go as they expect (otherwise, why write the book) and it's those twists and turns that make this a great Jane Green experience.

I really enjoyed this one --- it gets better with age, and I suggest a couple reads to really appreciate it. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Cheers!

Rating:
Summary: Another hit from Jane Green!
Review: I've been a big fan of Jane Green's other books, so I couldn't wait to read Babyville when it was released. I actually was able to get a paperback copy from the UK before it was released here in the States. It's the story of three women, Julia, Maeve and Sam. Julia desperately wants a baby, thinking it might revive her lifeless relationship with her boyfriend. She tries to get pregnant for a year without success. She tries everything, including some funny rituals and following old wives tales. Then there's Maeve, who's a high power business woman climbing the corporate ladder as a TV producer. Having a baby is the last thing on her mind, but she finds herself pregnant after a one night stand. She's horrified at first, and plans to have an abortion. But then she has second thoughts and starts to like the idea of being a mother. Sam is already a mother with an 8 month old. She's crazy about her son, but her devotion to him and the idea of being the perfect mother borders on obsession. She's also having doubts about her marriage even though her husband is a fun, loyal and loving man. Her thoughts start to stray when she meets Dan. She gets a massive crush and starts thinking about having an affair. Her best friend tells her she's being crazy and must be suffering from some postpartum depression, but Sam doesn't agree.

This book, like so many others from Jane Green, is hilarious. There's a little sex, a little romance, a strange love triangle, talk about both the ups and the downs of having kids, and fun, embarrassing moments. The ending is nice and happy and tied up in a perfect little bow. It's a fun, light summer read. Read it. You won't be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Jane Green does it again!
Review: If you have just picked up Babyville because you thought that it would all be about babies and pregnancy then think again. This book is about three women whose lives are turned upside down by a life changing event, which is motherhood of course.

Jane Green has written this book in three sections for each of the main characters. Julia is trying desperately to have a child but is trying to cover up her bad relationship. Maeve has never wanted children until something unexpected happens. Sam has just had a baby and realizes that having children is not all that it is cracked up to be.

This is a really great about motherhood and friendship. If you have never read a Jane Green book before then this would be the perfect book to start with.

Rating:
Summary: Jane Green scores a hit!
Review: If you haven't read Jane Green's latest release, Babyville, I command you to drop everything that you're doing, and go get it NOW! Yes girlfriend, it is THAT good. You know how most chick-lit books are TOTALLY focused on the single, late 20's/early 30's chick, trying to snag a guy (a la Bridget Jones)? Well the brilliant Jane Green did something totally different in Babyville. She still creates the neurotic, witty, and human characters - just like she did in Jemima J, Mr. Maybe, and Bookends. But here, she takes it a step further and puts them into their next phase of life - the phase of motherhood. As you know, Jane usually focuses on one chick, and she allows that chick to tell her story throughout the entire book. Here, the book is divided into three, distinct parts, each that centers around three separate women. The neat thing though Stef, is that it's not until you finish one, that you TOTALLY get how their three lives intersect. So now that I've told you that, let me tell you about the three women that Jane has created. First, you have Julia. She is a very successful television producer. Although not married, she's been living with her lawyer-boyfriend Mark, for quite some time. Julia has wanted a baby for eons and she and Mark practice a TON. You should see the lengths that Julia will go to just to try and get pregnant (without seeking medical treatment). Second up is Maeve. Maeve is one of those chicks that IS single. She likes men for one thing - S-E-X. Not a bad thing if you ask me :). Her main focus is climbing the career ladder. Children repulse her. She would rather eat worms than to have kids. But then guess what? Yep, she ends up pregnant.... Last up is Samantha. Samantha is married to Chris and they seem to have a fantastic life. She quit her job as a graphics designer so that she could move into the June Cleaver world. Part of that world is her infant son, George. Sound boring? Oh my, it couldn't be further from the truth! You will DIE LAUGHING when you read about some of the fantasies that Sam has. When I got to the Maeve section (part 2), I couldn't put the book down. I think that this is the night that I stayed up until 3 in the morning, turning pages, craving more!!! It's not to say that I didn't feel that way with the Julia section. It's just that when I got to the Maeve part, I finally understood what Jane was doing. Clever woman she is!

Also recommended: THE LOSERS' CLUB by Richard Perez

Rating:
Summary: SO good!
Review: Jane Green does it again! I never fear when I pick up one of her novels. I liked how the seperate storys wove around eachother. Great, great read!

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: Jane Green is definitely one of my favorite chick-lit authors. "Babyville" is different from her previous works (Mr. Maybe, Bookends) which concentrate on single girl finding love, etc. "Babyville" deals with different women and the themes that tie all three of them are relationships and babies. The first woman, Julia was a succesful television producer who had a steady relationship with Mark, who was an attorney. Their relationship had been going downhill and Julia felt that a baby would heal and "repair" their relationship. Unfortunately, Julia was unable to get pregnant and resentment towards Mark grew as she blamed him for that.

The next woman, Maeve was a career oriented television producer who was recently offered a great job. Maeve did not believe that she needed a man to make her life complete and commitment was the last thing on her mind. Unfortunately for Maeve, she became pregnant after a one night stand with a stranger. She had to decide whether to keep the baby or to get an abortion as a baby would be an obstacle to her career. The last woman, Sam, recently gave birth to a baby boy and the author showed the difficulties of the first year of having a baby. Sam's relationship with her husband suffered when she resented him for leaving the house for work when Sam was stuck at home, doing chores and taking care of a screaming baby. Chris, on the other hand had to deal with a difficult wife and anything he said might cause a huge argument.

I really enjoy "Babyville" because it deals with real issues that women can relate to. In addition, Jane Green also did a great job in developing her characters making them seem "real" and likeable. She has a way of making you feel that you know the characters personally. The themes are definitely - relationship, love and career, and how you balance one with the other. I highly recommend this book because it is different from other typical chick-lit as this one is more serious, better written and is definitely a keeper.