Review: Tales From The Crib
Tuesday, February 26th, 2008 |
Tales From The Crib
by Jennifer Coburn
Strapless Kensington
January 2006
Sub-genre: Mom Lit
Rian’s rating: 3/5 stars
Ever wonder what it would be like to watch your husband, with whom you had just had a child with, date other women and bring them back to your home?
Lucy, the main heroine of Tales From the Crib, is speeding full ahead towards 40, and has finally gotten pregnant after several miscarriages. The problem is, her husband tells her on the same night that she plans to break the pregnancy news that he is no longer in love with her. After much discussion, it is decided that they will live together as friends and raise the child. Or at least try it for a year and see how it went.
The pregnancy itself is a nightmare for Lucy, and things don’t always go according to plan after she has the baby, either. There is her crazy and selfish mother who always has something going on; there is her husband, who decides that bringing new women into their home is OK; there are the doctors, who don’t seem to know what they are doing. Lucy somehow manages to get through it all while trying to be the best mother she could be.
I did enjoy Tales From The Crib, but not as much as I did Jennifer Coburn’s last book. What would have otherwise been a totally engrossing and hilarious novel was somewhat dampened by the unreality of it all, including Lucy’s mother Anjoli. She comes across as nothing but a spoiled, selfish and lazy woman who had far too much time and coverage in the book. I know she was supposed to be one of those quirky characters who are loved for their oddness, but it didn’t work for me, as there was not one redeeming quality about her. As much as I did love the overall story line of the novel and the main character herself, things moved along very slowly. There were, however, a couple of laugh-out-loud moments.
As always, Coburn’s writing is spunky, crisp and entertaining, and I enjoyed the overall story, but the many of the characters didn’t really do it for me this time around. However, I am sure others who enjoy wacky and quirky characters will enjoy this one.
Overall I would recommend this one to mom lit fans and to anyone who enjoys mad-cap adventures in a novel.
reviewed by Rian Montgomery
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