The Joy of Big Knickers:

by Kate Garraway

TV presenter Kate Garraway has a lot on her mind. She's about to turn 50, which is fine (she thinks) but suddenly she seems to have MANY questions about EVERYTHING.Is she running out of time? Should she have had children earlier? How will she cope when they leave home? What on Earth is happening to her body? Should she be bungee jumping, skydiving... and all of those other bucket list type things? Is cosmetic surgery the norm now? What will happen to her sex life after the menopause? Is her pension big enough? Her parents cared for? The height of her career (gulp) over? And why, oh, why do her knickers keep getting bigger? In this revealing exploration of ageing, Kate tackles the biggest issues women in their supposed 'prime' face and searches for answers on their behalf, by drawing on her own experiences and those of others, consulting experts and challenging herself more than she's ever done so before. Written with all of the natural warmth and humour she's known for, it's a candid look at what it really means to be a modern older woman and why each and every one should be celebrated... big knickers and all!

Genres: Nonfiction, Autobiography, Audiobook

247 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 9, 2017

Reviews

[Anne-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light hearted look at getting older, humorous with a few snippets of wisdom.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
I'm not very good at concentrating on Audiobooks so I tend to opt for ones that are not too intellectually challenging and don't require me to stop focusing on the road when I'm driving.
It's also worth knowing that I don't know Kate Garraway at all - I don't DO daytime television and I strongly suspect that to get the best out of a book like this, you need to have some kind of relationship (one-sided no doubt) with the author. If you don't know or love them, don't see the person as some kind of 'gal-pal' then it's hard to get much out of a book like this.

On the plus side, it's not too long and it's less annoying than Andrea McLean's 'Confessions of a Menopausal Woman; on the minus side, not MUCH less annoying. Who are these women to think they have a position from which to advise the rest of us?

Kate's knickers - well therein lies a story. See those big pants on the cover photo? That's not what she's talking about. Once you get into the book, it's clear she's stuffed into one of those massive 'sausage skin' (her words) contraptions that go from bust to knees and sometimes - as she found out to her cost - means crotchlessness is a necessity if she's to ever be able to pee. Come on ladies - is liberation and freedom in your fifties REALLY to be found via quite so much internal-organ-compressing lycra? I wish she'd tell people to embrace their wobbly bits and relax a bit more.

Too much of this is about fighting ageing rather than learning to live with change. It also requires a big bank balance. Friends my age are not torturing themselves over whether to have expensive facelifts and torrid affairs - they're much more interested in how to work hard enough to retire a few years early if they can or stay well enough to keep working if they're not.

Kate's life is not one I recognise nor do I accept her credentials to advise others. She seems like a very pleasant woman but I'm very glad I got my audiobook as a free library e-loan and didn't spend good money on it.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book. Felt really in tune to the Bridget Jones idea.
Loved the pictures.
An intelligent, beautiful and down to earth lady. A whole different way of life down south. Parents really resonated with me.
An upbeat book. Garraway didn't describe Derek or how they met, it must be private. Also, I really look up to Kate in that swimming would slim me down too, also yoga and walking. I used to walk for hours in my 20's.
Loved that Ben is like a brother to her.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great read

Kate is a wonderful presenter who brings her own personality to this book. I loved reading every page and feel like i travelledf the journey with her. Shes a truly great writer and would love to read more about her life.....maybe an auto biography?

[Jacqui B · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read, but perhaps a little too superficial for me. The fear of ‘how you look’ in middle age is too dominant and I would have preferred a deeper look into the challenges of ‘who you are’ and ‘what really matters’. This is only fleetingly considered at the end.

[Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous book full of some really useful life tips on health, happiness and financial security.

[Jodi Wray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ladies, buckle up and enjoy a journey though life with Kate Garraway as she reaches an age when many questions are unanswered. I was brought this book by a friend when they realised I was struggling in the run up to being 40. Going on a self discovery journey about being a woman heading towards 50 and what it means to her this is a fascinating and hilarious read all rolled into one. The book is very enlightening covering subjects such as money, relationships, the menopause, dying and how your career can change as you get older. Lots of funny things in here on a wide range of subject areas. Easy reading on some challenging and interesting subjects.

[Jen]

This short audiobook did grab me enough to get halfway through it over a few days. I liked the humour, anecdotes and lots of the personal reflections. But there were a number of times where it strays into repeating unproven health claims without clearly stating disclaimers upfront each time. And giving occasional dodgy advice along the lines of ‘how can anyone tell which diet is best? You’ll need to look at them all, do your own research into each of them and decide for yourself’. Hmm don’t think so. I did like her stories though.

[Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like and admire Kate Garraway. She shares her thoughts on midlife issues with her customary humour. Some of the material, especially the chapter relating to death, is particularly poignant given the recent death of her husband Derek following his long fight against Covid.

[Sel Rou · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book about going into your 23rd phase of life after childhood and parenthood into your 50's & beyond. Great tips and some important pivots that can happen later in life - the 3 D's... divorce, dementia and death.
A great read.

[mandy cottingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative

Very funny, informative and interesting. Really good all round read. Easy to follow. An Enjoyable read . Would definitely recommend.

[Christine Parkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened yo this on audio. Similar to Lorraine Kelly’s book, it gives advice for people reaching 50. Easy to listen to. I give this 3 and a half stars.

[Janet farrow1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is 3.5 stars. I listened to this, which was read by Kate herself. This was easy to listen to, funny in places and some advice for the 50 year olds. I enjoyed it.

[Louise Jeffery · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely read Kate has an appeal in whatever she does, worth a read! I hope she does a follow up after the 2020 Covid year, as her fans are rooting for the whole family.

[Rebecca Toogood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it a bit depressing.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Felt like sat listening to a friend chat and give advice about life with lots of anecdotes thrown in.

[Steve Wright]

Loved it. How can you not love Kate. Interesting insight into Kates life. Money, weight, age, sex, work. It's all in there.

[Suzanne Lees · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a refreshing insight into life. Really enjoyed reading this.

[Liz Cody · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very disappointing. I really like her as a presenter but this was just an odd collection of name-dropping and very dull anecdotes. What a pity. Also, when remembering an exchange with someone she has a rather irritating way of putting their comments in speech marks - as if it is exactly word for word what was said.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate Garraway manages to combines just the right amount of research with anecdotal evidence and outright laughs to produce a book not just for women going through the menopause, but also for their partners. All in all, it results in something highly readable and entertaining while mulling over the complex issues facing those approaching their 50s.

[Shirley · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a load of rubbish...... I had listened to Kate Garraway talking about her new book and all the promises it just did not deliver
That is a week of my time I will not be getting back......
Do not bother!!

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking and funny. I suspect I found bits funny that weren't supposed to be. My humour is quite different to most people. Packed with stories advice and things to think about. I might not be 50 yet but I thoroughly enjoyed this xxx