Wanneer een multitaskende moeder genoeg heeft van de vervelende gewoonten van haar man, geeft ze hem zes maanden om zijn leven te beteren. Alleen v...
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Nov 26, 2010
Anne
rated it: 
Christina Hopkinson's novel is a wry look at modern-day marriage, totally honest, often funny and at times, alarmingly familiar. All too often it is the tiny irritations in life that make the most impact on how we are feeling; the wet towels left on the floor, the piles of loose change and crumpled tissues on the kitchen table, and yes, the pile of stuff at the bottom of the stairs. Mary decides she has had enough of Joel's laziness and compiles a complicated list that has debits and credit
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Oct 11, 2011
Jessica
rated it: 
While this book did have some minor redeeming qualities, overall I didn't like it much. First the good points: It did bring up some points that I thought were interesting, and worth further discussion, on the battle between the sexes, relationships, etc.
Second, the last chapter was better, which will be explained further by my bad points below.
Bad points: The first bad point is pretty major, and that is, the main character/narrator of the story is just really not a likeable person for More...
Second, the last chapter was better, which will be explained further by my bad points below.
Bad points: The first bad point is pretty major, and that is, the main character/narrator of the story is just really not a likeable person for More...
Jul 25, 2011
I was glad to see that I could review this book without giving it a star rating. My personal rating would be only one or two stars, and that's really not fair to the book. It's an interesting, fairly well-written women's fiction book, and I can't blame the author for my total lack of interest in it. I kept reading, though, clear through to the end, mostly because the characters were (with a few notable exceptions) realistic and compelling.
My issue actually lays in the book's realism. More...
My issue actually lays in the book's realism. More...
Aug 08, 2011
Carol
rated it:
Mary and Joel have two young boys, both are employed - she is part-time at four days per week but still responds to e-mails & phone calls on her 'day off'. And they have a house Mary feels is never tidy and Joel believes is comfortable.
Sounds like your typical marriage, doesn't it? But Mary is fed up with doing everything while her husband walks away and ignores messes he or the kids have created. Still kinda typical. Then Mary decides to make a list and tally Joel's credits & de More...
Sounds like your typical marriage, doesn't it? But Mary is fed up with doing everything while her husband walks away and ignores messes he or the kids have created. Still kinda typical. Then Mary decides to make a list and tally Joel's credits & de More...
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Oct 03, 2011
Sharlene
rated it:
I am giving this book a one, because it flops. It was an interesting title (the reason I picked it up from the library shelf) and had some initial funny and fresh descriptive writing for the everyday OCD mother. I was reading it on a drive, and occasionally read it aloud to my husband because of the funny way it described some parenting scenes. However, the novel soon took a turn for the worse. It becomes pessimistic and whiny, threatens divorce and the break up of a family over the drop of a
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Nov 10, 2011
Lana.
rated it:
Billed as "Harried and hilarious", Christina Hopkinson's book reads rather depressing. Thankfully, as she knows to make each page interesting - it was a quick read.
Mary was once a strong, independent woman who liked things to be organised and clean. Joel was her exciting, free-spirited boyfriend who she married.
Now, years later, the pair have two children, and Mary has too much on her plate: Child care, juggling a part-time position that has full-time respon More...
Mary was once a strong, independent woman who liked things to be organised and clean. Joel was her exciting, free-spirited boyfriend who she married.
Now, years later, the pair have two children, and Mary has too much on her plate: Child care, juggling a part-time position that has full-time respon More...
Mar 05, 2011
James
rated it: 
"But you are not the only one, as there are some standard habits men have that annoy women to the core. Christina Hopkinson, author of the book 'The Pile Of Stuff At The Bottom Of The Stairs', tells you the top ten things that women hate about men, reports the Daily Mail.
This is a very funny, piercingly clever book, which is difficult to put down (does anyone else recognize the authors husband, my good friend the leading divorce lawyer and self proclaimed "modern man" More...
This is a very funny, piercingly clever book, which is difficult to put down (does anyone else recognize the authors husband, my good friend the leading divorce lawyer and self proclaimed "modern man" More...
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Sep 07, 2011
Alee
rated it:
I picked out this book on a whim when I was at the library picking up something else. The other posters' reviews are very accurate and so I have nothing to add. Many of the items on "The List" are truly things that annoy every married woman. Even though it upset her husband, the list clearly helped her release some of her frustrations in a constructive way. It definitely is not equivalent to cheating. Living with someone else is a series of compromises and the other person is putt
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Jul 06, 2011
Jeanne
rated it: 
There is a pile of stuff at the bottom of the stairs, and it irritates the heck out of Mary Gilmour. Her husband, Joel, ignores the pile and climbs right over it. And adds to it daily! For Mary, the piles and messes in her home have become overwhelming. So overwhelming that she’s actually considering divorcing Joel.
Then she has an idea: the list. Mary creates a list of all of Joel’s housework transgressions. By documenting all of his domestic don’ts, Mary seeks some clarity. More...
Then she has an idea: the list. Mary creates a list of all of Joel’s housework transgressions. By documenting all of his domestic don’ts, Mary seeks some clarity. More...
Nov 27, 2011
Melissa
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I really wanted to like this book. I picked this book up and set it down three times. Add every time, it was just the same - a wife and mom who has become bitter, angry, bitchy, and overwhelmed to the point where she makes fun of everyone and everything, blames everyone but herself, and starts making a list of all the things her husband does wrong. Incredibly tiresome. This is the 21st century right?I just couldn't support this book. I am hoping that she gets a clue and her own life by the end b
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Nov 21, 2011
Rebecca
rated it:
I thought it was time for some lighter reading and really enjoyed this. The title grabbed me because i live in a house where there is always a pile of stuff at the bottom of the stairs that everyone else walks past with ease...except for me! I did like the opening lines as well "that stray piece of jigsaw puzzle peaking out from under the rug willed me to ignore it...and allow it to continue to exist, estranged from its fellow puzzle pieces" Ahh yes. Thats me. Way too Type A...still at
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Nov 29, 2011
Peggy
rated it:
This book had some very funny bits, the best husband character in history and pretty darn likable narrator. I'm still cringing over one section (any reader and author knows which one) which is what keeps me from passing it along to more friends. The narrator is appealing, not whiny and her descriptions of the grosser parts of parenting and housekeeping are dead on. Just not the fast read I would have expected, perhaps it was me. Mothers with younger children could really get into it more. Love t
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Sep 05, 2011
Lisa
rated it:
The book started well enough but then seemed to be a constant moan about everything most of us find annoying enough about husbands without having to be reminded of it! I didn't particularly 'like' any of the characters, apart from Becky, and felt more emotional displacement rather than empathy by the middle of the book.
It didn't really live up to the blurb, and as a friend said, the idea was perhaps better than the resulting book, but the surprisingly decent ending raised it from a 2 to a More...
It didn't really live up to the blurb, and as a friend said, the idea was perhaps better than the resulting book, but the surprisingly decent ending raised it from a 2 to a More...
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Nov 11, 2011
Kelly
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I really enjoyed this book. Definitely had some stereotypes in it - and saw myself a little too clearly at times (sad admission!) - but I so enjoyed the book itself and the ease of reading - and I loved the ending.
I just read other peopel's comments - and wonder if they've ever been married! Honestly, I didn't think she complained too much - I think she was experiencing the frustration that many moms/wives experience on a regular basis.
I would definitely recommend this!
I just read other peopel's comments - and wonder if they've ever been married! Honestly, I didn't think she complained too much - I think she was experiencing the frustration that many moms/wives experience on a regular basis.
I would definitely recommend this!
Jun 05, 2011
Laura
rated it:
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Disenchanted Mary decides to create a list of all the things that her husband does to annoy/confirm her suspions that a divorce maybe an option - for six months....Sounds a bit formulaic but Hopkinson writes in a witty and knowing style that mother's/wives will relate to. Family life and all its trials and tribulations are bought to thoughtful and comedic life. 7/10
Jun 13, 2011
Sharon
rated it:
Couldn't really get into it, which was disappointing as it sounded good. It's not my usual kind of book, but looking through some book reviews and this seemed to fair quite well so thought I would give it a go. It started off quite promising, a few slightly amusing parts, but then about a third of the way through seemed to drag and it took a lot of effort to find the incentive to finish it. 2 stars, could have been better.
Dec 22, 2011
Linda
rated it:
This book is hard to rate. Basically, it's the story of a wife and mother who complains about her husband for most of the book and keeps a detailed list of his transgressions. It's quick and fun to start and reminded me of I Don't Know How She Does It (initially, as the book went on the comparison fades). I liked the book but didn't love it.
Apr 04, 2011
What a fun book! The descriptions of young mommyhood and wifehood were scarily familiar and hilarious. And although I kept wanting to shake "Scary Mary" and tell her to stop looking at the grout mold and SEE what she's got, that's exactly what Hopkinson wants us to feel. I can imagine I wasn't the only reader who was rooting for Joel. LOVED the best friend Becky. And Ursula was a hoot.
Particularly recommended for the British reading crowd, as there are a lot of references to More...
Particularly recommended for the British reading crowd, as there are a lot of references to More...
Jun 11, 2011
Carolyn
rated it:
This had so much potential and for the most part it was a good read. Along the lines of "Yummy Mummy." Some laugh out loud passages such as the author's take on the "Fly Lady." But there were a few parts I felt were really unnecessary and some character & plot development which was lacking. 2.5 stars.
Aug 11, 2011
Surprisingly accurate (in fact, minus the kids, this is my life!) The author managed to fit in alot of humour in between the more serious undertones of domestic disharmony and marital strains. lessons are learned but in an amusing and non judgemental manner.
Apr 29, 2011
Susanne
rated it:
At times this book was all too real, I could identify with a bit too much of it!! It's fairly standard chick lit with a couple of surprises thrown in. It took me awhile to get going with this one, but in the end finished with a flourish, reading the last 100 pages or so within a day or two.
It's ok, fairly enjoyable, but I wouldn't really rave about it.
It's ok, fairly enjoyable, but I wouldn't really rave about it.
Sep 24, 2011
Tbb113
rated it:
Meh...it was predictable including the ending. She did capture the frustation that I felt in my marriage when my sons were little so if you have toddlers/preschoolers it might resonate with you. Otherwise, I would only pick it up if you had nothing else to read
Jun 16, 2011
Tracy
rated it:
Interesting novel about a woman so angry that her husband does not help out around the house that she compiles a list of all he does not do around the house. Good commentary about women, work, childcare and modern feminism couched in a pretty light read.
Aug 06, 2011
Housewife lit!! For every woman who has ever struggled with an excess of testosterone and disorder in her home, this book helps to get some perspective. Great insights into family life, friendship and how truly messy motherhood is.
Jan 15, 2012
Carrieuoregon
rated it:
Finally gave up, after language and sex failed to drive me away as it should have earlier. Not a lot of redeeming qualities, but I read quite far, hoping the narrator and her husband would work it out.
Aug 07, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
The main character does spend 99% of the book pretty pissed off, but I think there are valuable lessons to be learned from her about marriage, friendships, and taking one's husband for granted. Definitely worth the time I spent reading it!
Jun 03, 2011
Not sure about this book, but I was in a rare mood for a fiction novel and grabbed it as the lady over the Barnes & Noble intercom politely announced that they were closing. I hope it was a good choice!
Apr 17, 2011
Milly
rated it:
I found that every time i put the book down, i always forgot the main character's name, untill like 80% through when I finally remembered it.
Good book, kinda funny, I kept thinking it was a bio. Didnt really get moving or shaking till the last 100 pages
Good book, kinda funny, I kept thinking it was a bio. Didnt really get moving or shaking till the last 100 pages
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May 05, 2011
Kate
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Had to read for bookclub. Would never have got past the first 50 pages if I didn't have to read it. It was a great idea, but far too negative and was trying to be funny, but did not pull it off.
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