The Bright Side of Disaster by Katherine Center
Let’s be completely 100% honest. I wasn’t sure if The Bright Side of Disaster by Katherine Center was going to be my kind of book. Katherine Center was nice enough to send me a copy and when I opened the package in the mail, I thought “Oooh, I do like this cover.” And then I saw the book at Target and I got myself more excited to start in on it. And as I started I was pleasantly surprised to find myself enjoying it. Part of me is still not sure if that’s purely because I felt like I could completely relate to so much of what the main character was going through as a new mother. But the other part of me does know that I enjoyed this solid, fast-paced, and enjoyable story.
In The Bright Side of Disaster, Jenny Harris and her live-in fiance Dean are expecting their first child together and a wedding soon after. Everything seems to be going along perfectly until “it” happens. Dean decides he wants out. And he wants out now. And of course, Jenny goes into labor and delivers a beautiful baby girl the very next day. Dean isn’t the least bit curious and still doesn’t come back. Jenny is now unexpectadly and at the last minute thrown into the world of being a single mom.
This is where I thought it got good. You can tell that Katherine Center is a mom herself. She so perfectly described how hard it is to be a new mom. The lack of sleep, zombie like movements, showers become non-existent, breastfeeding, pumping, trying to make new mommy friends, walks through the zoo. If you’re a mom, you know exactly what I mean. I thought that Jenny’s character as a new mother was right on.
I have to admit though, that there were plenty of times that I wanted to slap Jenny upside the head. For starters when it comes time to name the new baby, she decides upon Maxie. “Oh no,” I thought to myself. “This poor, poor (albeit fictional character) will get teased her whole life! What a awful name! Don’t do it!” The mother-in-law in the story obviously thought the same thing when she said, “That’s an awful name. The kids at school are going to call her Maxi Pad.” Glad to know that we were on the same wave length there although I did have to endure reading the name Maxie for the rest of the story.
And Jenny’s character also portrayed that once you have a child that your life is over. No more going out. No more doing anything fun ever again. I wanted to slap her again. And then again, when it took hours to put the baby down for the night because at every slight whimper she picked her up again to nurse. But that’s just me inserting my own parenting practices into the book and wishing that she would do things my way.
But let’s not get carried away here. The Bright Side of Disaster is more than just a “mommy” book. It does have a love story in there and Jenny has to make some tough decisions especially when Dean comes crawling back. The book was a fun, quick read that I found myself enjoying. I do have a disclaimer though, and those of you who follow my blog regularly probably can guess what that is. There was a decent amount of foul language and I honestly think the book would have been better without it. Completely unnecessary.
And we are in for a lovely treat! Katherine Center was gracious enough to sit down for an author interview! It’s a great one if I do say so myself! Check in for that interview tomorrow (or next post depending upon whenever you read this). You don’t want to miss it! Especially when the characters were eating a yummy Mexican lime tomato soup and Katherine shares the recipe with us. It sounds so delicious! I’m making it at the first hint of cool weather (I just don’t do hot soups in 100 degree weather).
Visit Katherine Center’s website. And of course stay tuned for the author interview!
Hey you! Yes. You! I've noticed that you've stopped by to visit a few times! But I don't know who you are. Why don't you take a moment and introduce yourself. Don't be scared. I try not to bite. I know you're a lurker but I'd love to hear your thoughts about what's been bringing you here. And if you haven't done so already, don't forget to never miss a post by subscribing to my feed or receiving updates by email. Thanks for visiting!
Category: Adult, Book Reviews, Fiction
Tags: A-D Author, A-D Title, female author, Fiction, published 2008, review copy
Enjoy this post? Then subscribe to receive updates in your favorite reader or by email.
Maw Books has an affiliate relationship with several bookstores, including Indiebound, Powell's, and Amazon . When you buy a product (not just books - any product), via one of my links, Maw Books earns income from the sale and as always, it's much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog. There is no cost to you.
I am most definitely going to have to read this book. I love the cover and am far enough away from new-momdom (almost 4 years) that I can read it and be thankful.
Thanks for the great review and I look forward to the interview!
on July 13th, 2008 at 6:39 amWhat a great review. I love your “I wanted to slap her” references. I probably won’t be adding this to my TBR list, but that’s part of what reviews are all about!
on July 13th, 2008 at 6:53 amThanks for the book review, Natasha!
on July 13th, 2008 at 8:41 amOh, I really enjoyed this book…and I used it as a give-away on my blog a couple of months ago. It sounds like I liked it better than you did
Here is my review if you’re interested.
on July 13th, 2008 at 10:04 amI kind of like the ‘wanting to slap the main character up the head’ feeling. It really gives it a human feel, well sometimes. Sometimes people are just plain idiots. I’m not a huge fan of foul language in a book, unless it is necessary to portray a character. I know when we were reading Huck Finn in High School there was a huge uproar about the use of the ‘N’ word. But to me, the story wouldn’t have been the same without it. It was part of the characters.
I do agree though, some writers nowdays just seem to find any spot to squeeze in foul language.
I’m writing this giggling because my daughters and I were reading a book the other day and one of the main characters said “You are being so stupid.” This caused both my children to gasp and say “oh no mommy, we don’t use THAT word…it’s not nice.” I fear the way things are going they will have a heart attack when they read some of these novels filled with profanity when they are older. Oh well…at least THEY will know right from wrong!!!
on July 13th, 2008 at 11:31 amWow I went off on a tangent…sorry my mind is cloudy today!!!
on July 13th, 2008 at 11:32 amHi! I’ve tagged you for a meme.
on July 13th, 2008 at 2:25 pmYou know, this is so different from my normal type read, but it really does sound like it might be enjoyable. Thanks for the review, Natasha! Despite that fact that we call our little boy Maxie all the time.
on July 13th, 2008 at 3:32 pmSounds different but all so true about the mom part. I feel the same way about naming a baby Maxie,what could she be thinking by giving a baby a name like that . I do wonder if she takes Dean back? Count me in to win
on July 13th, 2008 at 3:35 pm[...] Comments Peggy Gorman on The Bright Side of Disaster by Katherine CenterDebi on The Bright Side of Disaster by Katherine CenterNatasha on The Bright Side of Disaster by [...]
on July 13th, 2008 at 3:38 pmJennifer – Ah, I’m right in the middle of mommy-hood.
Katherine – You’re welcome!
Wendy – Maybe it does sound like I didn’t like it as much as I did. But I really did. Your review was much more eloquent than mine.
Jenn M. – Hey tangents are perfectly acceptable around here!
Debi – This was different for me as well. I did like it. And Maxie? Oh please don’t let it stick when he starts school?
Peggy – You’ll have to read it to find out. I’m not giving this one away, though. Sorry.
on July 13th, 2008 at 5:20 pmThat sounds like a great book! The conflict has to be realistic for a book like that to work, and it sounds like that is definitely the case.
on July 13th, 2008 at 7:32 pmLol Maxie… I didn’t think it was so bad until you said that
on July 14th, 2008 at 7:55 pmThis made me think of all the out there names I have heard as a teacher. Here is a short list of the ones who come to mind;
1. Brick (of course he had red-hair as well)
2. JoJo (Is he destined to become a clown)
3. Damion (You are just asking for problems)
4. Berry (c’mon…seriously)
5. Blayse (Pronounced Blaze…a name for a horse)
6. Daria (maybe I watched to much Beavis nd Butthead in HS)
7. Braxton (just makes me think of contractions)
I’m sure if I sat here I’d think of more….but Maxie is pretty bad too.
Hey… you gave me authority to go off on a tangent!
on July 14th, 2008 at 10:21 pm[...] over the summer, I was reading Katherine Center’s book The Bright Side of Disaster (my review and author interview) and her main character made Mexican Tomato Lime soup for dinner. Well, of [...]
on November 9th, 2008 at 11:02 pm[...] all started when I was reading Katherine Center’s book The Bright Side of Disaster and her main character was eating a Mexican tomato lime soup, and I really, really wanted to try [...]
on December 5th, 2008 at 12:51 am