Zibby OwensRezensionen

**2.5 Stars**

I was excited to read this book as I have followed Zibby for quite some time. In the grande scheme of things, I think the story had a really great premiss, and great characters. However, the timeline that the book was set on (essentially a week matching with the deadline that Pippa is given), and because of the impending timeline the story moved very quickly. Pippa, while relatable in some ways, made choices that felt frustrating to me as a reader, so that made it difficult to connect closely to the main voice of the character. I wanted it to slow down and develop the plot a bit more, but overall, I enjoyed it.

A little too contrived for me. It kind of left me blank. 2024 read.½

I really hate to admit that I almost got tired of this book before I reached the end....yes, the author works hard to keep all the characters active.....but I kept thinking I had reached THE end, only to find another chapter!! Maybe a little bit too much preaching about the wonders of family, etc. Almost as if everything turns out to be a little TOOOO right...but then again, it's a novel and open to complete freedom on the part of the author. I'm afraid that I would have been.....disgusted....to buy a BLANK book...even with all the hype for the reason for its existence. Definitely a different take on some clever....and unusual problems that arose with being this particular writer, Pippa.½

Pippa can't seem to get that sophomore novel on the page and the pressure is getting to her. As well, she is trying to be the best mother and a supportive wife and keep things running in their household (since her husband is too busy with his art to be involved). Much of the book feels a bit tongue in cheek and I really enjoyed the comeuppance that occurs in the final parts of the novel. There is a very meta message going on with the actual book that Pippa sells - a completely blank book as her next novel. Overall a fun read.

Thanks to Amazon Prime and Little A Publishing for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

This was a light, fun, entertaining read – a “mom-com.” I enjoyed the humor, the plot, the characters, and the “behind-the-scenes” peek into the world of publishing – not only the difficulties authors face to come up with book ideas, but also the marketing strategies, competitiveness, and the juggling of novel writing with life and family.

Another distinctive aspect I enjoyed was the Jewish cultural references. Reminded me of Sara Goodman Confino’s novels, especially “Don’t Forget to Write” or Lynda Cohen Loigman’s “The Matchmaker’s Gift.”

This is not “Literature,” and it doesn’t pretend to be. Sometimes delightful and feel-good chick-lit just hits the spot. If you’re looking for an engaging story featuring books and writing while navigating motherhood, marriage, and friendships – this is the book for you.

Very interesting story of the author’s life.
Whirlwind energy.

Owens has produced an interesting book about her life and the various losses that have defined her life. I thought for the most part she was very candid however, there is a period of time where she never talks about her 1st husband Andrew Right. While she has every right to decide who and what she talks about in her book, a note saying I was married for 11 years it didn't work and I'm not going to write about our life together would have been nice.Her life is definitely unlike anyone I know which affords her the lifestyle she has, in some cases makes it hard to sympathize with some of her struggles. Overall though a good readable book.

I continued my streak of reading moving memoirs with Zibby Owens' Bookends. Zibby is the host of the popular podcast Moms Don't Have Time To Read and she has become a big book influencer with a regular gig recommending books on Good Morning America. She talks about being painfully shy as a child, losing herself in reading and writing, her weight and self-esteem issues, things many women can relate to (even if most of us can't relate to her wealthy upbringing on the Upper East Side on New York City, a privilege she readily acknowledges.) Owens dealt with so much loss in life, losing her best friend in the North Tower on 9/11, her grandfather, her stepbrother, and a best friend from high school all in rapid succession. She also lost her mother-in-law and grandmother-in-law tragically at the beginning of COVID. What I most admire about Owens is her ability to pick herself up and move forward. She sees opportunity where many see obstacles, and has created a wonderful career uplifting authors and readers, and now herself. Her love affair with husband number two Kyle is a sweet surprise, and I liked how she protects the privacy of her children. Bookends is inspiring and honest, and her extensive Reading List at the end of the book is a treasure trove for readers like myself.

This was an Amazon First Reads pick and it wasn't what I expected. Love, yes. Loss, yes. Literature? More a listing of books she read at various times in her life. I guess I was expecting a bit more about things she learned in those pieces of literature, not just a list.

The blurb says Zibby Owens is well known. I hadn't heard of her prior to this book.

The first couple chapters read quickly for me and then the last part of the book dragged.

We’ve all been through a lot during quarantine and the pandemic. One of the things that has suffered is my attention span when reading. The perfect solution to this problem has been short stories and essays, small digestible bits of insight that don’t take a lot of time yet satisfy the mind. This book compiled by @zibbyowens is the perfect literary meal during these times when we’re all struggling. I found stories I could relate to wholeheartedly and stories that were 180 degrees in the opposite direction but gave me a new perspective on so many things. It’s not just a book about motherhood and reading. It’s about life, love, grief, and triumph. It’s about the human spirit overcoming any obstacle. It’s inspiring and a must read for those of us who are short on time, patience, and faith in each other. Sit down. Load up your plate. Renew yourself with these essays. It looks like we have time to read after all. #ZibbyOwens #MomsDontHaveTime #NextGreatRead #ReadingChallenge2022

In this collection, bite-size essays (2-3 pages each) are divided according to topic: "Moms don't have time to..." read, work out, eat, have sex, breathe. Magazine-style pull quotes decorate the essays (unnecessarily, as they are not long pieces). Most authors are women, but a few are men; a few authors, including the editor, have multiple pieces in the collection. Relatable for now, perhaps something of a time capsule; undemanding reading.

Quotes/notes

Tiffany Shlain and "tech Shabbat" (28-30)

I'm reading in two ways. One that lets me escape...[and] books about fear, about death, about grief, and about being present and bearing witness to all of it. (Eilene Zimmerman, 36-37)

It's often said that women feel invisible when they get older, and that can be painful. But on the flip side, getting older can free you from worrying about what other people think. (Karen Dukess, 48)

Being comfortable in your body is a gift, of course, but it's also a gift for others. When you spend time around people who actually like themselves, you can't help but be tempted to accept yourself more, too. (Courtney Maum, 69)

The Haven's Kitchen Cooking School by Alison Cayne (106)

Planning days into the future helps me to reclaim pockets of time in the present. (Lauren Braun Costello, author of The Competent Cook and Notes on Cooking, 109)

Hunger makes you love everything you eat, and then poverty stamps it with shame. (Rene Denfield, 111)

Before having a child....I didn't appreciate how significantly my life would change - and how little my husband's would. (Karma Brown, 147)

It's becoming clear we humans cling to things as a way of holding on to the past, fearing memories will disappear if we let go of the objects that trigger them. (Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg, 180)

You never stop being a parent, but the trick is to know when your child has stopped being a child. (Janice Kaplan, 200)

I've always known.
Since the nurse told my father
A long time ago
pulled him aside and told my father
apparently had great difficulty getting it out
when she told my father
that my mother's last words were
I can't leave my children.
(John Kenney, 208)

...deep down, some part of me dreaded the [Mother's Day] gifts. I knew they were compensatory. (Maya Shanbhag Lang, 213)½

I have not listened to Zibby's podcast but I do want to now after reading this book. This book is broken out into the following sections: Moms Don't Have Time To Read, Moms Don't Have Time To Work Out, Moms Don't Have Time To Eat, Moms Don't Have Time To Have Sex, and Moms Don't Have Time To Breathe.

While, this book says "Moms" in the title, it also features some male authors as well. Each story is only a couple of pages long. Yet, they were still long enough for the authors to share their stories. The stories did bring me closer knowing that we are all in this pandemic together. No matter where we all live or our backgrounds.

After reading this book, I have a long list of authors that I now want to pick up copies of their books to read. This book kind of read like the Chicken Soup for the Soul books.