Fathers' Race by Charles Jennings
Books about fatherhood are usually either chipper, no-nonsense handbooks, dense with cartoons and practical advice; or collections of essays, maudlin, introspective and bowling under the weight of their own sensitivity. FATHER'S RACE is neither of these. Deliberately unhelpful, almost entirely free of useful generalisations and shamelessly frank about the realities of fatherhood from conception to ten years, it plunges into the whole sordid business of nappies, boredom, family excursions to preserved warships, madness, food, toys, sex education, clothes that don't fit, bonding, vomit, love, hitting, financial ruin, happiness and, of course, nursery-school fathers' races, where Charles Jennings finds himself overtaken by the whole field and a grandfather - but is rescued from humiliation by his own son, aged five ...This is what it's really like: a mess, a shambles of experiences and emotions, a universe in which failure and triumph occupy almost the same space, at the same time; as do love and rage; misery and elation; boredom and breathless terror. Read this book, and at least you'll know that it's not just you. Fatherhood is actually meant to be impossible.
'An unsentimental and deeply acerbic look at fatherhood's absurdities..behind Jennings' witty prose lies an acute understanding of the male psyche, and our continuing forays into stupidity.' Douglas Kennedy, DAILY TELEGRAPH 'Very funny...FATHERS' RACE is also an accurate take on the predicament of contemporary dadness' THE TIMES '[Jennings] has done baffled fathers everywhere a service.' GUARDIAN 'Charles Jennings's book is different because it's honest, with hardly a shred of sentiment anywhere...A lot of love, a lot of pride- but also a lot of realism... We look forward to the next.' NORTHERN ECHO 'Any parent, or indeed prospective parent, who has attempted to buy a practical guide to the agonies and ecstasies ahead of them will know that there are dozens of first hand accounts written by mothers--wry, sentimental, flippant and sensible are all available--but not so much from the father's point of view. There are undoubtedly many good social and psychological reasons for this imbalance, but these need concern us no longer because Charles Jennings' terrific book about paternity now fills any gaps both for the wannabe dad and the seasoned campaigner. Based on personal experience, Jennings takes the story right through from pre-conception to Those Difficult Conversations About Sex 10 years later. "When something comes up on TV like breasts or adult language I do the pitiable grown-up's dodge of starting to answer then breaking off to point out (with mad and totally unfamiliar enthusiasm) some item of interest which has taken it's place in the screen (What an interesting tree!)". The man's role in the birth itself--surprisingly important--sleepless nights, school, birthday parties, discipline--it's all here and all delivered in a seductive combination of authority and vulnerability. But best of all this book solves one of the most perennially tricky problems of modern life. What to actually get a father for Father's Day.' AMAZON.CO.UK 'Jennings is blessed with a tremendous sense of humour and a gift for piercingly evocative prose' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
Charles Jennings was born in London and was educated there and at Oxford University. He is married with two children, and lives in London where he works as a writer
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780349111353 |
| ISBN 10 | 0349111359 |
| Title | Fathers' Race |
| Author | Charles Jennings |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Little, Brown Book Group |
| Year published | 2000-06-01 |
| Number of pages | 249 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |