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Summary: Ariel Gore expertly weaves stories...
Review: ...from her past with tales from other mamas in hew newest winner, The Mother Trip. Their combined words remind us that we are not alone and that most inportantly, we need to be honest with ourselves about who we are and what we need to feel personally fulfilled. She addresses the combined feelings of joy and isolation that motherhood beings upon us. It isn't easy to be a mom, and while our generation has received so many mixed messages about what a good mother is, she reminds us that the world in which we live has no room for the strict patriarchal parenting styles of our grandmothers' time.While I honestly believe and support Ariel's message, I can't help but feel guilty for not practicing what I preach. I feel as though some of my words quoted in the book were used against me, but for that reminder I am surprisingly thankful.
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Summary: From the Portland Mercury:
Review: Ariel Gore consistently does right by moms. Longtime publisher of the witty Hip Mama magazine, her first book, Hip Mama Survival Guide, is more like an intelligent, animated conversation than a parenting guide. The reason? She's entirely, unfalteringly real. She's a 30-year-old, single mom, sure, but there's no way she'll be pigeonholed into being only that. More importantly, by being unfalteringly honest about her frustration and desires ("Explain to me why it is more socially acceptable to be the Air Force hack who drops cluster bombs on small countries than it is to be a mom who has a paying job,") she sends out a message: sometimes, you should send the kids with a friend and take a bath--and for god's sake, don't feel guilty about it. Makes sense, but when most books for parents preach mommy martyrdom, Ariel Gore's approach is like a hand reaching out to pull you from the quicksand of guilt. In The Mother Trip, Gore reinforces that idea through a series of gorgeously written, autobiographical essays. She simply explains parts of her life, from memories of being pregnant in Italy, to her own mother doing the "unacceptable" (marrying a Roman Catholic priest), to balancing her creativity and caring for her daughter. Gore never lies about her desires, her exhaustion, her fear, or her bewilderment; she lays it all out and wants to converse about it. The Mother Trip is a book about motherhood, life, and perseverance, but most of all, it's about self-actualization. Now go take a bath. You deserve it.
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Summary: Ariel Gore gets it
Review: Ariel Gore gets what it's like to be a mom, on the good AND the bad days, and she's not afraid to tell the truth about the not-so-great days of motherhood. That's what makes this book so honest and so refreshing. Read it if you dare to read a book that doesn't whitewash the truth about motherhood.
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Summary: Every Mama Needs This Book
Review: Ariel Gore is an honest, inspirational, and much-needed voice in the world of mothering literature. The essays in The Mother Trip will provide sustenance and support to Mamas who are tired of second-guessing everything they do. We can be ourselves and still be great Mamas, in fact, we'll be better Mamas if we maintain our identity and nurture our needs. This book is a blessing for mothers and their children!
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Summary: Moving, witty, entertaining and graceful
Review: Ariel Gore's collection of essays is like artful finger-food served at a really good party. Each morsel is delicious, clever, well-crafted, and bite-sized -- bite-sized is something you come to appreciate in reading material if you, like I, have a pre-schooler and an infant. But I must admit, I snacked on these essays during the day and then, after the kids went to bed, I pigged out until the whole book was done. It doesn't matter, I have a feeling I'll be reading this book in snatches for many years yet. Like the Hipmama Survival Guide, this book offers understanding and nice big doses of reality (contrary to what the media keeps telling you, there ARE mothers of colour, single mothers, mothers who have 'jobs' instead of careers, mothers who paint, mothers who have sex, etc. out there), while avoiding doling out pat advice with a heafty side of guilt. It's an intelligent book and Gore should be congratulated on taking the stance that mothers are capable of complex thought. Maybe because the format of the book is a lot of small essays, I thought there was an excellent effort made to cover the many aspects of motherhood. Among others, there are essays about unspeakable thoughts, money and lack there of, body image, depression, housework, political activism, community, spirituality, guilt, and (my favorite) the value of giving in and indulging your inner goof-off. This should give you an idea that this isn't just another parenting book filled with advice about when babies sleep through the night and what to take to the hospital (should you opt to go to one). It's also unabashedly feminist which is a huge relief after hearing so much nonsense about feminism (esp. among women of my generation) being a dirty word. This is pure comfort food for your brain. Fill up your plates.
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Summary: Ariel's Done It Again
Review: Ariel's essays on motherhood and life are an inspiration to those of us who had to cut our (mothering) teeth on garbage like "What to Expect.." and "On Becoming Babywise." She is honest, funny and never hesitates to do things and say things her own way. I was truly sad when I finished this book. A great companion to "The Hipmama's Guide" Hipmama 'zine and the best website on the net.
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Summary: Love Ariel and all the Hip Mamas!
Review: Bravo Ariel! Took the words right out of my mouth! As a hip mama living in "Stepford", this book has been a savior! Ariel is one of the most honest writers around....Bless her! By the way all you single hip mamas if you enjoyed this book..you must check out my new book ( alot of you have been buying it along with Ariel's).... The Single Mother's Survival Guide. I think you'll relate! Love to you all! Keep walking your walk, talking your talk and standing up to the "status quo" if it is not your truth. Keep the faith and God Bless You....Patrice Karst.. Author of The Single Mother's Survival Guide, God Made Easy and The Invisible String.
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Summary: Different babies, different mamas... it's all good
Review: DO YOU JUST KEEP WONDERING IF YOU ARE DOING THIS RIGHT? DO YOU JUST NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IF YOU HAVE WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS WHY IS IT YOU AREN'T HAPPY? DO YOU EVER WONDER WHY MIDDLE CLASS MOMS ARE SUPPOSED TO STAY AT HOME BUT WELFARE MOMS ARE SUPPOSED TO GO TO WORK? HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED EXACTLY WHAT IS A "GOOD MOTHER" AND WHO DECIDED THAT? DO YOU EVER THINK THAT IF ANYONE REALLY KNEW WHAT YOU WERE THINKING, THEY'D HAVE YOU COMMITTED? HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT THAT YOU HAVE SOMEHOW JOINED THE WORLD'S BIGGEST CLIQUE AND YET YOU ARE MORE ISLOATED THAN YOU EVER THOUGHT YOU COULD BE? DO YOU EVER WONDER WHY YOU BECAME A MOTHER? DO YOU EVER GUILTY FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON WHATSOEVER? WELCOME TO THE MOTHER TRIP. THE X-FILES SAY THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE. WELL, THE TRUTH IS IN HERE. ALL IN THIS LITTLE BOOK. THE MYTH OF THE GOOD MOTHER, THE CAPITALIST REASOING BEHIND WHY WELFARE MOTHERS SHOULD WORK, THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION'S IDEA BEHIND WHY MIDDLE-CALSS MOTHERS NEED TO STAY AT HOME. EVERYTHING ABOUT WHY WE ARE CONSTATNLY PERFORMING SELF-SACRIFICE ON THE ALTER OF MOTHERHOOD. ACADEMICALLY CORRECT, RADICALLY UPLIFTING, TOTALLY EMPOWERING. THIS IS A MUST READ FOR ANY MAMA.
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Summary: self-sacrifice on the alter of motherhood
Review: DO YOU JUST KEEP WONDERING IF YOU ARE DOING THIS RIGHT? DO YOU JUST NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IF YOU HAVE WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS WHY IS IT YOU AREN'T HAPPY? DO YOU EVER WONDER WHY MIDDLE CLASS MOMS ARE SUPPOSED TO STAY AT HOME BUT WELFARE MOMS ARE SUPPOSED TO GO TO WORK? HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED EXACTLY WHAT IS A "GOOD MOTHER" AND WHO DECIDED THAT? DO YOU EVER THINK THAT IF ANYONE REALLY KNEW WHAT YOU WERE THINKING, THEY'D HAVE YOU COMMITTED? HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT THAT YOU HAVE SOMEHOW JOINED THE WORLD'S BIGGEST CLIQUE AND YET YOU ARE MORE ISLOATED THAN YOU EVER THOUGHT YOU COULD BE? DO YOU EVER WONDER WHY YOU BECAME A MOTHER? DO YOU EVER GUILTY FOR ABSOLUTELY NO REASON WHATSOEVER? WELCOME TO THE MOTHER TRIP. THE X-FILES SAY THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE. WELL, THE TRUTH IS IN HERE. ALL IN THIS LITTLE BOOK. THE MYTH OF THE GOOD MOTHER, THE CAPITALIST REASOING BEHIND WHY WELFARE MOTHERS SHOULD WORK, THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION'S IDEA BEHIND WHY MIDDLE-CALSS MOTHERS NEED TO STAY AT HOME. EVERYTHING ABOUT WHY WE ARE CONSTATNLY PERFORMING SELF-SACRIFICE ON THE ALTER OF MOTHERHOOD. ACADEMICALLY CORRECT, RADICALLY UPLIFTING, TOTALLY EMPOWERING. THIS IS A MUST READ FOR ANY MAMA.
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Summary: We deserve the same attention we give our kids!!!!!
Review: Ever fell as though there is no one out there who understands what you are going through as a mother? Or understand that there are times where you just want pull your hair out? Well there finally is an answer to all your questions. This book gives very good advice for those who are losing there minds with all the sterotypes of what a "good mother" is. It is indeed a guide to staying sane through motherhood. I found this book to be very appealing. It let me know that there is someone out there who understands what us mothers go through everyday. There are some mothers who are lost within themselves and forget what it really means to be a mother. Ariel Gore explains that being a good mother is not always about putting your needs last and that sometimes it is ok to just sit back and relax on your couch. There is time for a relationship, career and childern in your life and you are able to manage it all. As Ariel Gore states "it takes a heap of loafing to raise a kid." She writes about things that mothers feel or do and then feel guilty about it. There is no reason for us to feel guilty she breaks it all down and offers support for those who feel this way or break the "good mother rules." So there is a way to do it all and dealing with it all. In the end it is all okay.
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