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Nobody Told Me
- Poetry and Parenthood
- Narrated by: Hollie McNish
- Length: 7 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Poetry
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"Audible hopes you enjoyed this..."
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Summary
There were many things that Hollie McNish didn't know before she was pregnant. How her family and friends would react; that Mr Whippy would be off the menu; how quickly ice can melt on a stomach. These were on top of the many other things she didn't know about babies: how to stand while holding one; how to do a poetry gig with your baby as a member of the audience; how drum'n'bass can make a great lullaby. And that's before you even start on toddlers: how to answer a question like 'is the world a jigsaw?'; dealing with a 10-hour train ride together; and how children can be caregivers, too. But Hollie learned. And she's still learning, slowly.
Nobody Told Me is a collection of poems and stories taken from Hollie's diaries - one person's thoughts on raising a child in modern Britain, on trying to become a parent in modern Britain, on sex, commercialism, feeding, gender and finding secret places to scream once in a while.
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- Victoria
- 30-12-20
Motherhood read in her own words
I only wish that my first child hasn’t been born before the publication of this collection of thoughts and poems. Every new mother (and father too) needs to listen to Hollie reflecting on the highs and lows of motherhood in the context of a society which hasn’t evolved far enough in its attitudes towards gender roles, feminism or acceptance in general.
The overall message of “it’s okay” is so empaowering. It’s okay to feel tired and lost. It’s okay to feel angry. It’s okay not to be okay about injustices both great and small.
Despite these themes, the message is, overwhelmingly a powerful one; love, compassion and acceptance (of ourselves as much as each other) and honesty... brutal, gentle, forgiving honesty. People talk about the redemptive, transformative power of love and, expressed in simple, beautiful, thought-provoking language, that is the overarching theme here.
Thank you Hollie; my youngest is nearly 6 years old but I still needed to hear this.
2 people found this helpful
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- C Wong
- 04-05-17
Modern day poet
Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Love her poems - beautifully written, full of emotion and depth and so relatable, not pretentious.
This is beyond parenthood. Topics covered include sexism, feminism, racism, sex, income equality and the struggle and frustration to shield our children from society's absurd prejudices.
2 people found this helpful
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- Oliver P. Holden-rea
- 21-06-20
Wonderful
The insights, the honesty, the delivery, the poetry, all just wonderful. I would thoroughly recommend.
1 person found this helpful
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- Kelly
- 24-05-22
Must read
The performance is so easy to listen to, the words are so real and it takes you on an emotional journey. Best book I’ve listened to in a long time!
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- A K.
- 30-12-21
An incredible read...
This is a book that everyone should read/listen to and I would recommend it specifically as an audio book because of the amazing poetry and performance that Hollie gives.
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- Jodie-Louise
- 16-06-21
simply wonderful
heartwarming, funny and beautifully read. I look forward to listening to the other books.
♡
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- Anonymous User
- 12-05-20
Brilliant
Brilliant. I ltened to this during nighttime feeds and it sustained me through the nights.
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- Miss E A Madden
- 17-04-20
A must for first time mums!
Absolutely loved this book, through a lot of laughter and tears. Hollie brought all my thoughts and feelings about being a new mum to life, in a way that I could have never expressed myself. Wonderful.
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- Anonymous User
- 11-03-20
Tears of laughter, sadness & love. Deep&relatable
couldn't wait to listen at night. would put my little one to sleep and put this on sleep timer. I laughed and cried. I shouted and punched the air from being able to relate to something so f***** deeply. the mix of diary entry, story and poetry is amazing. Thank-you Holly.
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- Miriam S.
- 30-10-19
a book for all mothers
a realistic, honest, entertaining glimpse into Hollie's parenthood journey. many of the themes she talks about are so relevant to others. her poetry is accessible, easy, relevant, powerful.
this is a fantastic book for all parents-to-be or those who have already entered parenthood. it talks about real challenges and thoughts and scenarios. lots we don't often talk about.
I love Hollie! and this is just a brilliant book! I have the audiobook and she reads it herself; beautiful!
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- Anne
- 27-04-18
Amazing! Loved it, it could not be better!
Amazing! Loved it, it could not be better! will read it again and again and again.