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231st out of 431 books
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462 voters
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Your Roots Are Showing
by
Elise Chidley (Goodreads Author)
Lizzie Buckley has a life many women dream of - a gorgeous husband, a beautiful home and darling (when they're not fighting) three-year-old twins. But ever since the birth of her children, she's had a fantasy about locking herself in her bedroom for twenty-four hours with a good book and a box of chocolates.
Unfortunately, her husband James doesn't understand her feelings...more
Unfortunately, her husband James doesn't understand her feelings...more
Paperback, 384 pages
Published
October 29th 2008
by 5 Spot
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If you miss your subway stop reading a book, it should get 5 stars, right? There are some serious moments in this book, about marriage, divorce, love, depression, weight loss (and gain) and child-rearing and yet, I would say that it was a funny novel because of the voice.
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Splendid and delightful! Your Roots Are Showing by Elise Chidley is a perfect under the covers read. The main character, Lizzie, is an exhausted mother of twin toddlers. She inadvertently alienates her husband and finds herself starting life over (alone) from square one. Though she still is very much in love with her ex-husband, Lizzie is forced to make is best of it and re-build a life of her own.
This book runs the gamut from humorous to heart breaking to deliciously romantic. ...more
This book runs the gamut from humorous to heart breaking to deliciously romantic. ...more
I picked this up in London last spring (title there is Wrong Sort of Wife?) and was thrilled to discover a new favorite author. You are drawn in from the beginning when the main character does something most of us have done before-- sent an email to the wrong person. Lizzie is a well-developed character that mothers (and non-mothers, too!) will relate to easily. The writing is witty and fast-paced. My only complaint was a lack of sleep for a couple of days due to some late night reading.
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I loved this book. It is both funny and touching and I think every new father should read it to get an understanding of what a woman experiences after bearing children. It is also wonderful in that it gives you insight into why us mothers behave the way we do after children and reassures us that we are not the only ones who feel like this. The story is about Lizzie who goes off sex in a big way after children and the terrible e-mail she sends in a moment of depression about her feelings about...more
Elise Chidley is an exceptionally talented writer. I was totally enthralled with her debut book and couldn't put it down! Ms Chidley writes with ease, wit and an easy-to-read style. I read the English version that launched in South Africa earlier this year. Ms Chidley has received rave reviews from the South African press - which is no surprise. I'm looking forward to reading any of Ms Chidley's future novels.
This is a fun read with a likeable character that most women will relate to. Overwhelmed by children and prefering sleep to sex, she gets herself into a downward spiral by a misdirected email.
The book is set in England.A grown-up Bridget Jones who doesn't believe she deserves it all but gets it by being true to herself! A good book to get into the bath with!
The book is set in England.A grown-up Bridget Jones who doesn't believe she deserves it all but gets it by being true to herself! A good book to get into the bath with!
Lizzie Buckley had it all – a huge house, handsome husband James and 2 beautiful twin children Ellie and Alex. But when Lizzie accidentally sends a moaning email meant for sister Janie in Australia to her husband, her life starts to fall apart around her. James doesn’t want her anymore, she’s left in a grotty cottage with 2 toddlers, no money, no job and feels very alone.
Lizzie is determined to win James back, so sets about getting a new body and career thanks to best friend Tessa, ...more
Lizzie is determined to win James back, so sets about getting a new body and career thanks to best friend Tessa, ...more
I loved this book, it made me happy, sad and occasionally angry. It was a relatively easy read but with many different and interesting characters that kept you on your toes! There were those wonderful moments when you thought "no! don't, don't, don't!" and then you wonderered if the book would head off in the 'and they all lived happily ever after' direction, or the 'life will never be the same again' direction. There are elements of this fabulous book that are very close to my expe...more
Your Roots Are Showing,
Written By: Elise Chidley
Published By: Hachette Book Group, New York, 2008, First Edition, 367 pages, paperback, ISBN 978-0-446-17814-3
“Your Roots Are Showing is a stirring and entertaining tale of overcoming the odds and believing in yourself.”BCM
Lizzie Buckley has everything a woman could possibly want; a beautiful home, a wealthy, handsome husband and two beautiful young children.
When an e-mailed rant accidentally goes to her ...more
Written By: Elise Chidley
Published By: Hachette Book Group, New York, 2008, First Edition, 367 pages, paperback, ISBN 978-0-446-17814-3
“Your Roots Are Showing is a stirring and entertaining tale of overcoming the odds and believing in yourself.”BCM
Lizzie Buckley has everything a woman could possibly want; a beautiful home, a wealthy, handsome husband and two beautiful young children.
When an e-mailed rant accidentally goes to her ...more
Decent read. After reading through all of the trials Lizzie had been through I thought the ending came a bit too quickly.
Mary
rated it
Recommends it for:
new moms, women, husbands, everyone!
Recommended to Mary by:
a friend
I loved this book. I read the UK version (The Wrong Sort of Wife?) and was completely engaged with the story and its cast of characters from the first page. So much so, that I felt a certain kind of withdrawal when it ended! Lizzie Buckley is a likeable and sympathetic character whose comfortable life takes a turn for the worse after a misdirected e-mail, and continues to unravel with one misunderstanding after another. Elise Chidley has mangaged to write a scrumptiously, witty story about life...more
This remarkably realistic account of one woman's journey through postpartum depression, addiction, motherhood and divorce is the debut novel of Elise Chidley. The characterization of the main character, Lizzie is so true to life. She has all these imperfections, or more accurately, what she believes to be imperfections. All of theses flaws add up to make Lizzie who she is. She didn't have that unattainable perfection that makes so many characters unrelatable. I am only that true appreciates when...more
I knew what this book was going to be about, and could even generally tell the road it was going to take to get to the ending, I still enjoyed the story.
You don't often find chick-lit (I dislike the term, but that's what this is) that reflects on the effects of postpartum depression on a marriage. Lizzie has gained weight, lost interest in her health and appearance, her husband, and sex. The only thing she is interested in is her children and scarfing as many carbs as possible. She's...more
You don't often find chick-lit (I dislike the term, but that's what this is) that reflects on the effects of postpartum depression on a marriage. Lizzie has gained weight, lost interest in her health and appearance, her husband, and sex. The only thing she is interested in is her children and scarfing as many carbs as possible. She's...more
I bought this book while in Kennilworth (England) at Waterstones. The title is "Wrong sort of Wife", guess they needed to change the title for the US market. Enjoyable book and a fun read. I felt that the description on the back cover did not match with the book - but maybe that will change in the US (good thing as book was better than description). It will inspire you to get your "bum" back to the gym and feel good about yourself, rather than worry about everyone else all...more
This is a chick/lit type book. Not standard to the romance genre, because the love interest is unclear, nor very much part of the story. This was like Bridget Jones after she already landed Mark Darcy, but more serious (and not as silly as the Carol Fields sequel to Bridget Jones).
I really liked this book, and the author's handling of the subject. I would've given it four stars, but I was SO irritated by how the whole thing ended....I feel myself just so disappointed.
M...more
I really liked this book, and the author's handling of the subject. I would've given it four stars, but I was SO irritated by how the whole thing ended....I feel myself just so disappointed.
M...more
I loved the premise of this novel—one day a very tired and cranky Lizzie fires off an email intended for her sister Janie but it goes instead to her husband James. He thinks she wants out of the marriage and so decides to divorce her. We’ve all had those “do over” moments, when if we could just, as Cher would sing, turn back time.
But in this novel as is often in life, Lizzie doesn’t get what she wants but she gets what she needs. Exhausted and depressed from having twins and no...more
The most interesting part of this novel is the premise: that a woman writes an email to her sister saying she'd rather sort out the sock drawer than have sex, and accidentally sends it to her husband, who then leaves her, so she has to adjust to single life. Although the book wasn't hard to read, I didn't feel the desperation Lizzie was supposed to be feeling. Lizzie supposedly has postpartum depression (after three years?) which magically vanishes when she starts running. (Oh, she goes to thera...more
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was a bit slow starting out, but steadily gathered steam and kept me whizzing through the pages to the very satisfying finish.
It piqued my interest initially by being about issues that I remember facing on a daily basis and sometimes still do! It struck such a resonant chord with me regarding the largely misunderstood roles of new mothers and how husbands perceive our world in that frenetic time. I could certainly relate to sleep deprivation, weight issue...more
It piqued my interest initially by being about issues that I remember facing on a daily basis and sometimes still do! It struck such a resonant chord with me regarding the largely misunderstood roles of new mothers and how husbands perceive our world in that frenetic time. I could certainly relate to sleep deprivation, weight issue...more
I also bought this in London and didn't stop reading on the plane or once I was off. It's defiantely a page turner, and the central charachter is so likeable, that I felt bereft when the story came to an end. The book is funny, endearing, beautifully written and lots of fun, and I definately recommend it!
Sue.
Sue.
I loved this book - I read the English version (The Wrong Sort of Wife). Lizzie is warm, funny and endearing and Ms.Chidley is a wonderfully fresh and sympathetic new voice...
Any dates for the European release of Book two?
Any dates for the European release of Book two?
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This was an interesting story. I agree with others who have review this book and said it's similar to Bridget Joneses Diary but with a failing marriage and children. I was a little disappointed in the marriage / relationship between James and Lizzie. It just seemed so sad and shallow because it lacked the main fundamental of a good marriage - good communication.
Another thing that puzzled me was if depression can be classified as "postpartum" three years after someone has a c...more
Another thing that puzzled me was if depression can be classified as "postpartum" three years after someone has a c...more
Elise Chidley is like a Jane Austen of the information age, blending timeless romance and razor-sharp observation with comical yet keenly perceptive commentary not only on relationships but contemporary preoccupations such as postpartum depression, self-esteem, binge eating, and yo-yo dieting. Your Roots Are Showing amuses and entertains but perhaps also may offer a charming dose of perspective on your own relationship that may help you pre-empt a similar meltdown. But make no mistake, th...more
The book was okay. It took a little to get into. Being a runner myself, it was envigorating to see a woman take control of her life through running and how it made her stronger.
I was not keen on the use of flashbacks to let the reader know what had previously happend. I do realize this would have made the book longer but the beginning of the plot could have been better set. While this story focuses on Lizzie's journey, I would have liked to have seen a day in the life of James w...more
I was not keen on the use of flashbacks to let the reader know what had previously happend. I do realize this would have made the book longer but the beginning of the plot could have been better set. While this story focuses on Lizzie's journey, I would have liked to have seen a day in the life of James w...more
Fab - funny - very well written - love this book.
I loved this book it was a down home, pick yourself up from your fat ass depression and start living life after a break up. The main character accidentally sends the wrong email to the wrong person and has to deal with the fall out. Including gaining weight moving with her children to a new place, trying to be her own woman again. I though i really wouldn't like the book as I hate the mother looses identity due to having children story line and frankly could usually care less about it as wome...more
This offering from Elise Chidley is a very enjoyable book from the chick-lit genre.
Ms Chidley writes well: her prose flows well, the writing is witty and it is easy to read. Her protagonist Lizzie is a character many busy mums can relate to: she's lost her individual identity, is tired all the time, has 'let herself go' a little, is depressed, has low self esteem, and would prefer to sleep for a week than sleep with her husband. She blurbs out all her problems to her sister Janie, bu...more
Ms Chidley writes well: her prose flows well, the writing is witty and it is easy to read. Her protagonist Lizzie is a character many busy mums can relate to: she's lost her individual identity, is tired all the time, has 'let herself go' a little, is depressed, has low self esteem, and would prefer to sleep for a week than sleep with her husband. She blurbs out all her problems to her sister Janie, bu...more
I won this book off of the goodreads website and really enjoyed reading it. When the main character, Lizzie, sends an e-mail to her sister and realizes it was mistakenly sent to her husband instead, her whole world falls apart. It is a perfect example of how communicating through e-mail can lead to all sorts of misunderstanding. Initially I couldn't stand Lizzie because she was so weak and mousy. As the story went on she not only gained strength but became the person she probably was all alo...more
A gentle story about trust, forgiveness and redemption. There were parts I enjoyed very much. No let me amend that; I found the book a good read, and only two things caused my enjoyment lessen: the times when I wanted to shake Lizzie or James for not communicating, and the attempts at capturing the dialect of 3 year olds. I'd rather live in Back Lane Cottage (nettles and all) than The Mill House (with its' own garden nettle in the form of James' mum) any day. But, like Lizzie, I'd rather ha...more
I loved reading this book. It was one of those books that everyone wife/mother/woman can identify with at some point in her adult life. The author gave an honest depiction of a woman overwhelmed by her life and trying to live with an accidental venting. It shows that in order to save the very thing most precious in your life/world you need to express yourself and not bottle your emotions. The cork will one day fly off and your will be left mopping up the mess. Luckily for "Lizzie"...more
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I'm a mother, writer and avid reader, currently living in Connecticut, USA. I grew up in Swaziland and South Africa, and studied in Durban, Edinburgh and Pennsylvania. My taste in books is varied, and I would read the dictionary if I was stranded with it on a desert island. I have this vague ambition to catalogue all the books I've ever read, but I think I've forgotten more than half of them. That...more
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