Author:Charlotte Moerman
After a decade of climbing the career ladder collecting business cards, box files and an assortment of baffling acronyms, Charlotte Moerman leaps off into the great unknown of motherhood.
She gamely enters into her new life and soon can't imagine a world before Pampers wipes. But without appraisals or targets to guide her along the way, Charlotte also realises there's an awful lot to learn. Scratching her head over egg-and-soldiers etiquette, the appeal of paper pants, and her instinctive new urge to rock shopping trolleys whether or not there's a passenger on board, Charlotte also surrenders any last hope of achieving household minimalism, what with submarines in the bath, marbles underfoot and a villainous nappy bin that would give Doctor Who a run for his money.
Instructions Not Included follows the joy and the pain of becoming mum to three small boys, from juggling multiple demands and accepting going to the loo as a group activity, to finding 300 ways to describe being knackered. Charlotte's days in paid work soon seem distant. So, frequently, does her Dutch husband. Armed with a sharp wit, an encyclopaedic knowledge of children's literature and a nit comb, Charlotte allows women to celebrate their own uncertainty as she guides them through her experiences of the potential minefield that is motherhood.
Gabor Maté’s connections—between the intensely personal and the global, the spiritual and the medical, the psychological and the political—are bold, wise and deeply moral. He is a healer to be cherished and this exciting book arrives at just the right time
—— Naomi Klein, author of No Logo and The Shock DoctrineHis medical background and lucid writing style make complex biological processes accessible to non-scientific readers.
—— The Gazette (Montreal)Rare and refreshing. . . . Here you will find family stories, an accessible description of brain development and sound information. You will also find hope.
—— The Globe and MailWith unparalleled sympathy for the human condition, Gabor Maté depicts the suffocation of the spirit by addictive urges, and holds up a dark mirror to our society. This is a powerful narrative of the realm of human nature where confused and conflicted emotions underlie our pretensions to rational thought
—— Dr Jaak Panksepp, author of Affective NeuroscienceIn its sheer force, originality and deep scholarship, this book represents a landmark in the theory, treatment and prevention of addictive disorders. No-one seriously interested in this subject can afford not to be aware of what it says about addiction and how we should respond to it
—— Nick Heather PhD, Northumbria University, UKAn insightful, multilayered discussion of the nature of addiction generally, and our society’s epidemic of addictions in particular
—— Globe and MailA cordial, confiding narrator.
—— Sarah Crown , GuardianRemarkably readable wit and flair.
—— Helen Brown , Daily TelegraphAn original and wonderful book.
—— Allison Pearson , The Sunday TelegraphA witty, life-affirming book.
—— Valerie Grove , The OldieThis spirited memoir of her journey into remission weaves together stories of her unconventional, orphan childhood with poignant reflections on motherhood, art, and literature.
—— Lorna Bradbury , World of CruisingGenevieve Fox writes about cancer without cliché. Hers is a feat of endurance, not a journey.
—— Harriet Baker , The Times Literary SupplementSuch vivid detail…. Engaging
—— Natasha Cooper , Literary ReviewBeautifully written and profoundly moving… A powerful, poetic and deeply affecting reminder of precious your life and health are
—— Daily MirrorA gorgeously written account of the 56 days the writer Francesca Segal spent with her critically ill twin girls in ICU after they were born ten weeks prematurely. Part thriller, part love letter to her daughters and the NHS
—— MetroA tender, truthful, heartbreaking meditation on motherhood. There are medical emergencies, worries and Francesca's constant guilt. But there's also love, and gratitude for the support of the NHS and her fellow mothers. Beautiful
—— PsychologiesI can't think of another book I have read recently that has made me laugh and cry so much. It is full of wisdom, and humour.
—— Sathnam SangheraEven if I wasn't a new mother, I would have found Mother Ship absorbing and emotionally charged, but reading it in bursts while my own baby was napping, it was almost unbearably painful – and beautiful too. Almost every chapter brought tears to my eyes as we learned of the twins' hard-won developments. I'm so glad Francesca managed to capture this difficult time – her book is a beacon of hope.
—— Amy Liptrot, author of The OutrunI loved Francesca Segal’s luminous memoir. It captures so much of what it is like to have a baby in special care and to start being a mother not-at-home. It is so good on resilience, friendship and love
—— Samantha EllisMother Ship is a beautiful, poetic book about a different kind of motherhood, or at least a different start to motherhood that you don't hear as much about. It educated me about the shadowy other world of birth, that of severely prem babies... It's an exceptionally well-written memoir
—— Pandora Sykes[Segal] is a natural, fluent writer and, in this book, the reader will feel confident in her hands even as she explores a shattering episode in family life… Segal is brilliant at conveying the tedium and the trials of life in the ICU and beyond. In short, Mother Ship is simply compelling
—— Anne Garvey , Jewish ChronicleHopeful, harrowing…and darkly funny, Mother Ship has you laughing, crying and frantically turning the pages to discover how it all turns out
—— Sarah Hughes , i[Segal’s] words are a powerful, poetic and deeply affecting reminder of how precious are life, health and the everyday
—— Daily ExpressSegal's moving memoir reveals not only what it takes to keep premature babies alive, but also what it means to be human and a mother
—— Vogue, *Summer reads of 2019*Mother Ship is a huge achievement for Segal, who has produced a memoir that promises to linger with you like a literary earworm… an extraordinary testament to the power of human survival
—— Jackie Annesley , Sunday TimesVivid, fearless and inspiring… This is an intimate and electrifying memoir. It is a hymn to the sustaining power of women's friendships, and a loving celebration of the two small girls – and their mother – who defy the odds
—— SheerLuxe, *Summer reads of 2019*A deeply moving, yet also witty and heart-warming account
—— Wendy Bristow , Planet Mindful, *Summer Reads of 2019*[Segal] captures beautifully the complexities and contradictions of the human body
—— Laura Hackett , Times Literary SupplementAn ode to the companionship of the women on the neonatal ward in the darkest, most volatile days, it is moving but never mawkish
—— Phoebe Luckhirst , Evening Standard, *Books of the Year*A song of praise to the beleaguered, indomitable NHS, with writing at such a pitch that it lingered with me all year
—— Olivia Laing , Observer, *Books of the Year*A heart-tugging account… this is one of the year’s most exquisitely written books
—— Claire Allfree , Metro, *Books of the Year*