Books I Read These Days.....

With a baby in tow, my reading habits have somewhat changed drastically. I still do buy and read the weekly tabloids but even then I would skim through the entire mag and focus mainly on the glossy pictures of the celebrities in all their finery or caught in an awkward or embarassing situation. I hardly read any of the articles or captions on the photos. However, recently I bought 2 books which I thought were pretty good. One is essentially a guide/reference book for new mothers like myself which I found more useful and interesting compared to the lengthy explanation given by Dr Spock in his Baby and Childcare Books. The other is a witty but honest account of a celebrity mom's experiences as a new mother. It was hard to put it down after reading the first chapter! I'm almost half way through the book and I must say it is one of the best books I have bought in the last 12 months!


ASIAN PARENTING TODAY



I tried to get the book after its launch at MPH. It was an instant best seller and sold out pretty quickly. It took me a week to get hold of the book as I scoured for it at almost every MPH store in the Klang Valley!


Synopsis:
This book is thoughtfully put together by a team of very experienced and respected Parent Craft Education practioners, Jennifer Hor, Ho Ai Ling & Jocelyn Oo. They specialize in childbirth preparation, advice on early parenting skills, breastfeeding support and advice on women's health. Asian Parenting Today was born from numerous requests by parents with whom Jennifer, Ai Ling & Jocelyn have worked over the past decade to publish a book that specifically addresses the issues and concerns of Asian parents today. Asian parents are often faced with the quandary of either subscribing to western practices or following traditional customs of their mothers and grandmothers before them. This book addresses many of the very common childcare issues that perents today face, with special emphasis on and respect to Asian cultural beliefs and practices. More that just an indispensable parenting compendium for modern parents, Asian Parenting Today also provides real-life questions and practical, realistic solutions for new parents to help make their parenting experience an enjoyable, stress-free one.


MINUS NINE TO ONE: THE DIARY OF AN HONEST MUM



Jools Oliver (wife of Celebrity Chef, Jamie Oliver - The Naked Chef) wrote this one and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed reading her witty and funny accounts!

Synopsis:
Being pregnant for the first time changed Jools Oliver's life. Having longed for children since before she can remember, she was suddenly faced with an array of unfamiliar, unexpected and sometimes downright embarrassing emotional and physical reactions. And when Poppy (and a year later Daisy) was born she had to learn a whole new set of skills. From trying to conceive and first positive pregnancy test to Poppy's first birthday, Minus Nine To One takes you through the worries, surprises, excitement, miracles and sheer bloody hard work that Jools and all new mums in their own different ways have to cope with along the way. As Jools writes, This certainly isn't meant to be read as a guidebook, or a medical reference book it is simply my story and I hope that you can relate to it in some way (and maybe even relax with it in the bath!). Down to earth, personal and very very funny, this is the book no aspiring mother will want to be without.