- Hardcover: 224 pages
- Publisher: Gerald Duckworth & Co Ltd (15 Feb 2008)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0715637096
- ISBN-13: 978-0715637098
- Product Dimensions: 21 x 15.4 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 688,055 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Something I'm Not
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Product Description
Review
A complex odyssey that is ambitious in scope, carefully structured and highly accessible. It trumpets the courage needed to make - and stand by - difficult, life-defining decisions, as well as the hereditary effects of unresolved trauma and the importance of friends to our mental well-being … Negotiate[s] all this without resorting to psychobabble or sentimentality, and still boast[s] authenticity and poignancy. --The Sunday Telegraph
Sparkling … Amber is a strong and sympathetic heroine and her friends are well-rounded individuals and recognisable contemporary types … Beresford's deft plotting and warm and witty writing makes this an assured debut. --The Daily Mail
If you've had enough of reading about yummy mummy, this tale of one woman's missing maternal urges provides a welcome antidote to the glut of babbling baby books … there are no dribbling anti-child clichés in this heartfelt take on how friends can be the new family. A refreshing and thought provoking peak at people who'd rather have a cat flap than a kid. --Handbag.com
Sparkling … Amber is a strong and sympathetic heroine and her friends are well-rounded individuals and recognisable contemporary types … Beresford's deft plotting and warm and witty writing makes this an assured debut. --The Daily Mail
If you've had enough of reading about yummy mummy, this tale of one woman's missing maternal urges provides a welcome antidote to the glut of babbling baby books … there are no dribbling anti-child clichés in this heartfelt take on how friends can be the new family. A refreshing and thought provoking peak at people who'd rather have a cat flap than a kid. --Handbag.com
The Daily Mail
'Sparkling ... Bereford's deft plotting and warm and witty writing makes this an assured debut'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I was drawn to the strong and inviting title "Something I'm Not" as the cover suggests that the book will offer strong-minded points of view of a childfree, career-oriented, happily coupled-up, independent woman.
The book delivers none of that.
Instead, it's a novel about a pathetic little girl, who grew up to be a pathetic woman, scarred as a child and still letting her life be overshadowed by the bully of her childhood. Under a different title, this COULD be an interesting story. However the storyline and characters are so thin (could be summed up as the fat one, the gay one, the breeder etc.), that this book is read in an instant, and offers no food for thought whatsoever.
Even the main character is unbelievably narrow, and so whiny and -I can't find a better word!, pathetic, that she didn't have me feeling sympathy for her. The few discussions she has with a -seemingly- likeminded friend, about the downsides of having kids, have no depth or anything NEW either.
This book doesn't bring anything to the table, on the subject of being childfree, because it hardly even touches the subject. As a fictious novel, it's unimaginatively written, lacks depth and doesn't actually resolve the issues of the characters,and leads nowhere.
On more than a few occasions, I found myself thinking: "Why am I reading this book??", it was so poor, boring and unentertaining. Truely a dissappointment!
It would be time to show childfree women as strong-minded and independent, who make their own choises, instead of sheepishly walking the most beaten paths. Ones that can articulate their opinions, however unpopular by the majority, who still secretly wishes to be them.
Sadly, this book doesn't have the guts.
The book delivers none of that.
Instead, it's a novel about a pathetic little girl, who grew up to be a pathetic woman, scarred as a child and still letting her life be overshadowed by the bully of her childhood. Under a different title, this COULD be an interesting story. However the storyline and characters are so thin (could be summed up as the fat one, the gay one, the breeder etc.), that this book is read in an instant, and offers no food for thought whatsoever.
Even the main character is unbelievably narrow, and so whiny and -I can't find a better word!, pathetic, that she didn't have me feeling sympathy for her. The few discussions she has with a -seemingly- likeminded friend, about the downsides of having kids, have no depth or anything NEW either.
This book doesn't bring anything to the table, on the subject of being childfree, because it hardly even touches the subject. As a fictious novel, it's unimaginatively written, lacks depth and doesn't actually resolve the issues of the characters,and leads nowhere.
On more than a few occasions, I found myself thinking: "Why am I reading this book??", it was so poor, boring and unentertaining. Truely a dissappointment!
It would be time to show childfree women as strong-minded and independent, who make their own choises, instead of sheepishly walking the most beaten paths. Ones that can articulate their opinions, however unpopular by the majority, who still secretly wishes to be them.
Sadly, this book doesn't have the guts.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I picked it up, because, being female and not so hot on breeding, I thought it dealt with an important issue, but oh! the style of writing was cringeworthy. Compare it to a popular psychology lecture gone wrong. The mishmash of characters drawn from London's upper middle classes, complete with cliches anda token gay vicvar thrown in, were like from some literary random generator, the dialogues twisted and completely illogical at times, and many of the protagonists actions just didn't make sense. Looking at the blurb in the back of the book, I discovered to my great shock that its author features regularly on TV, so I did some light background research - seems here's another pop psychologist (3 scientific presentations so far) anting to see their book published as the numerous book reviews in in the Torygraph and the Spectator wouldn't cut it any more. if you like to reasd some psychodrivel for amusement, give this book a try, if you are seriously thinking about the subject matter on whether to have children or not, then look elsewhere.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a 30 something woman with no desire to have children I had high hopes for this book - and yes in parts it was incisively observed and very well written. However - these good parts were more than wiped out by the overriding theme of the novel. The book implies that the reason this woman does not want children is purely driven by her mothers treatment of her as a child - I found the concept both predictable and patronising. I hoped for a more rounded approach and was highly disappointed. Particularly as the other character who was anti-children falls pregnant by accident and suddenly morphs into your typical gushing natural Madonna.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Something this book is not
A bold subject, unconvincingly tackled. There are plenty of books out there dealing with slummy/yummy/just plain knackered mummies - the idea of giving us, in Amber, a central... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Catrin Meade
Highly enjoyable with some good surprises
I hugely enjoyed this book, which took me into a world that filled me with nostalgia for a childfree existence. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Ella Berthoud
Had higher expectations
I really thought this book was going to focus a lot more on the selling theme - deciding not to have a child. Read more
Published on 2 Jun 2010 by J. Ismail
Not what I expected but good all the same!
As a 'thirty something' I swing between the desire to be super mum and to experience and live a child free life. I don't believe either is right or wrong, I believe its a choice. Read more
Published on 19 Oct 2009 by S. Vance
A layered, complex and rewarding read
This book's had mixed reviews on here due to its marketing, I think - the chintzy front cover is rather misleading, and hints at none of the complexities inside. Read more
Published on 16 Oct 2009 by Journalista 09
Entertaining and thought provoking
I thoroughly enjoyed this original and thought provoking novel. It's so refreshing to read a novel where the protagonist isn't for once chasing the perfect lover/husband/children... Read more
Published on 15 July 2009 by Lids
As It Turned Out, Something I Am
I wasn't sure if this was going to be quite the novel for me - Laura Ashley flowery cover; the subject of motherhood at its core; metropolitan, middle-class angst - with the... Read more
Published on 2 May 2009 by Rick Light
Disappointing on so many levels
I bought this book based on the other rave reviews. However, I was left feeling very disappointed and dissatisfied. Read more
Published on 11 Mar 2009 by Elastigirl
Something it isn't
This is not your average chick lit - but then, written by a psychotherapist you wouldn't expect it to be. Read more
Published on 11 Oct 2008 by Susan Aubrey-Cound
Book of the Year!
As a bloke, I was sceptical about the floral cover. But inside I could relate to the theme of looking back over the choices one has made in life and working out which ones are... Read more
Published on 19 Aug 2008 by Adrian Bourne
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