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45th out of 216 books
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A Broom of One's Own: Words on Writing, Housecleaning, and Life
by
Nancy Peacock (Goodreads Author)
For the twice-published novelist, reading an article about herself in the "National Enquirer"--under the headline "Here's One for the Books: Cleaning Lady Is an Acclaimed Author"--was more than a shock. It was an inspiration.
In "A Broom of One's Own," Nancy Peacock, whose first novel was selected by the "New York Times" as a Notab
...morePaperback, 169 pages
Published
April 1st 2008
by Harper Perennial
(first published March 25th 2008)
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Engaging set of stand-alone essays by a novelist who worked (by the end of the book she is making enough money from teaching writing classes to drop the other job) cleaning people's houses. Each has the structure of reminiscing about a particular house/office she cleaned and then connecting that to some aspect of her writing.
Occasionally it felt forced. One that stood out to me in this sense was an essay in which the paper clips she scavenged from an office she was cleaning conne...more
Occasionally it felt forced. One that stood out to me in this sense was an essay in which the paper clips she scavenged from an office she was cleaning conne...more
Nancy Peacock is a writer whose first two books were written with great depth of understanding. "Life Without Water" is one of the few books I have ever stayed up into the early morning hours, unwilling to put down until I had finished it all in one sitting. "Home Across the Road" surprised me even more by the depth of the generations of the characters and the overriding sense of loss that ran through the character's lives.
"A Broom of One's Own" is Pea...more
"A Broom of One's Own" is Pea...more
first 3 pages... already love it ;)
"Earning a living has always been a question of what sort of job I could or could not wedge myself into. On this I think we all are equals. Some people are able to find their wedge early in life. And some people just accept the wedges they were raised to fill, without question. Others find well-paying wedges and, while they may not like it, they stay because the money keeps them there. But for most of the creative people I know, earning a living has always been a problem."
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I just picked this up off the library shelf, something I haven't done in ages (I go in with a list) while looking for inspirational writing books to get me going. Not only was this inspirational, it was also very funny. As soon as I finished it, I got on Amazon and purchased a copy for my personal library. This book reminded me of Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird. It was funny, sad, and most importantly, uplifting. Peacock is by no means a spoiled, pampered writer. She doesn't downplay the diffi...more
Keen observations from a writer/housecleaner. Nancy is a sensitive introvert who takes the things that people say and do in front of her to heart, and often needs to write it out to make sense of it--and often to get over/through it. Kinda like me...
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"Nisht ahin, nisht aher" -- not one of the most often used expressions, but one familiar to those who grew up in households where at least bits and pieces of Yiddish were spoken. In her "focused memoir" or collection of related narratives, Nancy Peacock captures the experience of being "nisht ahin, nisht aher": neither here nor there. She hauls her cleaning supplies and equipment to and through and from the places where she is the cleaning lady. Quite a number and v...more
One of the best books I've read in a long time. Her candor and powers of observation won me over as did the fact that she lived/lives within her means.
LOVING this book. Can't put it down. Local author endorsed by one of my heroes - Lee Smith. One of the first dates with my husband was when I was a student at NCSU in Raleigh. We went to hear Lee Smith talk about writing. She stressed the importance of writing what you know. Nancy Peacock knows a lot about people and writing. This b...more
LOVING this book. Can't put it down. Local author endorsed by one of my heroes - Lee Smith. One of the first dates with my husband was when I was a student at NCSU in Raleigh. We went to hear Lee Smith talk about writing. She stressed the importance of writing what you know. Nancy Peacock knows a lot about people and writing. This b...more
I liked this book even though I usually don't care for memoirs. I liked it because the author, Nancy Peacock, writes in a down-to-earth, conversational voice that's easy to read. It's inspiring (an overused word, I know) to hear a success story about a writer who worked a real job to pay her bills and who had no college education, and still managed to get published against the odds.
Read this book and pick up your pen. Read this book and take heart. Read this book and pump your fist. Rejoi...more
Read this book and pick up your pen. Read this book and take heart. Read this book and pump your fist. Rejoi...more
I might have gone as far as three stars with this had I found it under other circumstances. I picked it up in and amongst the book for writing.
While its an interesting if somewhat depressing slice of life piece, it certainly doesn't talk much about writing other than the author complaining how writing two books didn't change her life much and how much she hates being a housekeeper.
I had higher hopes from the blurb on the back and the location of the book on the shelf. I...more
While its an interesting if somewhat depressing slice of life piece, it certainly doesn't talk much about writing other than the author complaining how writing two books didn't change her life much and how much she hates being a housekeeper.
I had higher hopes from the blurb on the back and the location of the book on the shelf. I...more
Delightful! Peacock was a housekeeper for many years, among other manual labor jobs. With a very refreshing and appealing voice, she describes sticky situations in the course of her cleaning duties. She then relates whatever came up with that household to some aspect her of true passion, writing. She published two novels and still had to clean to make ends meet. As a fledgling writer myself, trying to overcome fears about writing, I found her perspective encouraging and her advice sound. R...more
In the first heady days when I joined Goodreads it was like when you first join Facebook--you add everyone you can even hazily recall but then realize later that you aren't *really* interested in all their thoughts. I did that with books on the to-read list, so now I'm trying to clear them out.
Nancy Peacock is a published author with two novels in print. However, her writing was not enough to support her, so she kept doing the job she found most tolerable: cleaning houses. This is ...more
Nancy Peacock is a published author with two novels in print. However, her writing was not enough to support her, so she kept doing the job she found most tolerable: cleaning houses. This is ...more
I read this as a memoir not as a writing manual. I say that because as a memoir I really liked the author's voice, but the tips on the writing life are so general it's hard to think those would be tremendously helpful (although the free writing topics listed at the end of the book did send me into a reverie).
When I used to watch Michelle Shocked at McCabes or whenever I read Anne Lamott I always think I would like them to come to Bad TV night -they are just such great people and i...more
When I used to watch Michelle Shocked at McCabes or whenever I read Anne Lamott I always think I would like them to come to Bad TV night -they are just such great people and i...more
An interesting memoir by a published novelist who for years earned money cleaning people's houses. She starts many of the chapters with descriptions of the house she's cleaning or the inhabitants or both. But almost always this leads her into a discussion of aspects of her writing. A full time job did not work for her. Neither did full time writing, so this was the perfect compromise, giving her along time and thinking time, and earning some money too. Interesting
Donna
rated it
Recommends it for:
Anyone interested in writing and authors
Recommended to Donna by:
saw it on Amazon when looking for a different book
As a hesitant but determined writer I love this book. Lots of things to underline and go back to. Her descriptions of her cleaning clients and their homes are great examples of paying attention to what we see and how not to be afraid of adding description when writing. This is the first time I'm tempted to write a letter to the author. She sounds like a real person; accessible.
One of the best books about the writing life I have ever read. It also covers some of the same social justice territory as Barbara Ehrenreich's Nickel and Dimed.
Nancy Peacock does a terrific job of taking her readers through her writing process via essays of her experiences working as a house cleaner. It sounds like kind of an odd premise for a book but it really worked for me. Her writing was concise but also fully reflective.
I have to say it one more time -- I really liked this book! I also enjoyed the Q&A at the end.
I have to say it one more time -- I really liked this book! I also enjoyed the Q&A at the end.
An enjoyable read. Interesting meditations on the nature of a writer's life, with Peacock's experiences as a housecleaner woven in. What I found most interesting was Peacock's observation that when she tried to give up her housekeeping work and write full-time, she was frequently stymied - she needed the physical work to write.
This book helped me so much! I'm a struggling writer having to figure out to support my habit and keep my family from living in a cardboard box. You do what you need to do, but on your own terms to keep your integrity. It's hard. But it's true. I hope I can meet Nancy in person someday.
These essays about the writing life and what it takes to live it are funny and wise. Any illusions you have about the glamour of that life, well, sorry, but you'll have to part with them. But you'll appreciate your favorite writers even more.
I couldn't decide whether to clean the house, write in my journal, or finish reading the book. (My back was already sore, so I finished the book.) It was OK, but might have made a better long magazine article than a monograph.
This was a delightful book to read on a Sunday afternoon! I enjoyed hearing about the author's various jobs (mostly as a housecleaner), and what she's learned along the way about her writing and herself.
This is an amazing book. It really encouraged me to keep writing, and to find humor, life-lessons, and writing material in everyday life. I write at home and work at a preschool part-time, so I really related. The extras in the back are also very good. I have been using the prompts section daily.
Check out my book review of A Broom of One's Own:
A Broom of One's Own, by Nancy Peacock
A Broom of One's Own, by Nancy Peacock
Well-written book. An interesting peek into one writer's thoughts, trials and tribulations. I really enjoyed this book.
Ingrid
added it
I really enjoyed this book! A great book for all aspiring writers, and housekeepers :)
Not particularly insightful for a book of essays.
By Nancy Peacock
Loved her thoughts on the process of creating.
I've struggled with feeling insecure about writing, especially where it concerns having a "real job". Reading Nancy's experience with housecleaning, while being a published author was very helpful for dealing with those issues. It was a quick read, and I recommend it for anyone who has ever felt that their dreams of becoming a writer didn't mesh with their day to day life.
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