IS ANYONE BEING HONEST HERE...? OR DID I READ A DIFFERENT BOOK...? - Rated 
NO,THIS REALLY IS NOT A `MUST READ` AND NEITHER IS IT `AN UP-YOURS TO OTHER TRUE LIFE STORIES.` ( A PHRASE I FIND HIGHLY INSULTING TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE COURAGE TO TELL THE STORY OF THEIR CHILDHOOD ABUSE.) I DON`T THINK THE OTHER REVIEWERS ARE BEING HONEST HERE,AS THIS IS THE ONLY BOOK ANY OF THEM HAS REVIEWED, AND THEY ALL SING IT`S PRAISES TO HEAVEN`S HIGH.THIS BOOK TELLS OF CHRISTINE FIELDHOUSE`S CHILDHOOD,AND YES HER FATHER DRANK TOO MUCH-BUT HE WAS NOT AN ALCOHOLIC-AND SHE WAS NOT ABUSED. OH YES-HER FATHER HIT HER ONCE WHEN SHE WAS FOUR...I NEARLY FORGOT. SHE KEEPS BREAKING OFF FROM THE MONOTONY OF HER CHILDHOOD TO TELL US WHAT A GREAT MOTHER SHE IS HERSELF -IE- HOW SHE SPOILS HER SON, HOW MUCH SHE SPENDS ON PERFUME AND MAKE UP FOR HERSELF, WHAT SHE WATCHES ON TV, HOW HER HUSBAND IS FATHER OF THE YEAR - WHAT A GREAT LIFE THEY HAVE - AND SHE CRACKS A FEW `JOKES` ALONG THE WAY, WHICH ARE CRINGINLY NOT FUNNY. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER PUT IN A DIARY AND PASSED DOWN TO HER SON WHEN HE GROWS UP - NO-ONE IS INTERESTED IN THE 24/7 ROUTINE OF SOMEONE ELSE`S KID - THEY`RE REALLY NOT. TO DRESS THIS BOOK UP AS A TRUE ABUSE STORY `WITHOUT THE DEPRESSING BITS` IS BAD ENOUGH - BUT TO HAVE YOUR FRIENDS REVIEW IT AS ` A GREAT READ`, TO GET PEOPLE TO BUY IT, IS AN ABSOLUTE OUTRAGE.
SAVE YOUR MONEY FOLKS - THIS IS A BOAT LOAD OF BORING CRAP.I AM ANGRY THAT I WASTED MY MONEY. I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN A CLOSER LOOK AT THE REVIEWS BEFORE BUYING - CHECK THEM OUT FOR YOURSELVES - THESE ARE NOT REVIEWERS - THEY ARE FRIENDS OF THE WRITER.
SHAME ON YOU CHRISTINE FIELDHOUSE !!!
A fabulous read - Rated 
I thought this book was fabulous. In fact I found it compelling and now have great big (well bigger than usual) bags under my eyes because I read it over three nights and found it hard to put down. I have the attention span of gnat and this really kept my interest. It made me laugh, it may me cry. (So watch out if you're reading it on the bus!) When I read the blurb I was a bit worried it might be depressing, but not so, although the underlying story is a sad one, Christine has a gift for lifting the mood at just the right moment by contrasting her own troubled childhood with that of her son's which is clearly happy and joyful. Her commentary on her own life as a mother is, honest, down to earth and hilariously spot on. Without giving anything away the conclusion leaves you feeling as satisfied as if you've just eaten your favourite chocolate pudding. This book is written with such humility and compassion it will make you think about and question yourself and how you behave with others, not because it's the author's intention but it just will. If you don't put it down feeling inspired in some way I'd be surprised. I'd certainly recommend this book and think my copy will be dog eared and falling apart after it's made its journey round all my friends who I know will love it. Thanks Christine for a great, thought provoking and inspiring read.
Defusing bitterness with warmth and humour - Rated
Here's a writer with a warm way to tell a chilling tale. For what could lower the temperature of a child's esteem more than to be frozen out of the warm relationship she should have had with her father? Christine uses the past and present to powerful effect in telling a story that should have been effervescent with bitterness, yet we're shielded from the harshest effects of her fearful childhood experiences through the warmth and energy of her escapades in motherhood with Jack. We love Jack and his childlike transparency. We love Christine's honesty about motherhood; the same peaks of elation and troughs of uncertainty that assail every mother. Jack will be proud of his mother not just because she is a gifted writer and can tell a story well, but principally because, to Jack, she's the best Mum in the world.
Delightful - an 'up yours' to depressing true life stories! - Rated
As avid readers will know, there has been a market saturation of 'misery books' - as the author of this very one calls them. However, the difference with Why Do Monsters Come Out At Night? is it isn't a straight narrative about the writer's past. It's contrasted with her life the way it is now, and more pointedly, the childhood of her young son. It is this comparison that really emphasises the terrible time Christine had. It also shows how different people bring up their children, and it's very touching to see the ferocity with which parents will protect their offspring.
I really enjoyed this book for those reasons - I'd definitely class it as unputdownable. What made it so compelling was the detail Fieldhouse went into. This meant you could really identify with her as a child and also get to know the other people in her family. I adored the passages on her life now, and the endearing stories she told about her young son, and the cute things he said.
The book also brought a tear to my eye at times because Christine talks about her childhood, then her son, and says although she sometimes gets angry with her son, she could never envision treating him the way her father treated her. Although physical violence only occured once in Christine's childhood, the mental abuse she must have been through is horrific - and I think it's fantastic the way she has bared her soul because it increases awareness of alcohol abuse and the way it can affect families. Some people are of the opinion that it's just the person who is drinking that is affected. I know from personal experience that this is not true, and that it can tear apart families. It can, however, bring the remaining members closer together, which is what happens in this case. Christine, although terrified of her father, defends her mother as much as possible.
Despite the serious and emotional subject matter, I didn't find this depressing like some of the 'misery books,' simply because the passages which talk about Christine's young son really bring a brilliant ray of sunshine. The things they do together, and the things the little one says are hilarious and had me tittering along. This was an excellent book and I'd recommend it even if you're someone that has become disillusioned with the genre.
Why Do Monsters Come Out at Night? - Rated
I came to this book largely by accident, being put off by the thought that it was aimed at mothers ('a mother's true story') or children ('why do monsters come out at night?'). I should not have been put off. Having picked it up I could not, as they say, put it down. It painted pictures in my mind which in turn tugged at my emotions. It made me laugh, it made me angry and, dare I say, it made me cry.
This book puts together beautifully two contrasting childhoods. It is like the grim past of William Woodruff's 'The Road to Nab End' meeting with the modernity of Bridgit Jones's Diary. There is abundant humour in the modern episodes of the author's parenting, but it is the author's own childhood that resonates most strongly. I often read with adrenalin pumping at the activities of the alcoholic father, and was angry that anyone should have to put up with such abuse. I read of the death of the author's mother with tears running down my cheeks.
The author has put together both a powerful and humourous story of her life. I gained much from the book as I felt able to draw many parallels with my own life of growing up and of parenting even without an alcoholic parent.
I was left thinking that the old fashioned values of the author's mother putting up with the behaviour of a violent husband would not be tolerated in today's age. But in reality I guess that it is far more prevalent than we would care to believe.
|
