Ironing John : The Househusband's Tale

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

A British actor more often at liberty than onstage and a failed restaurateur, and married to a highly successful writer, Leith decided to let his wife win the bread while he became a househusband, what he refers to as a Houseworm. He began the job with few illusions about the huge amount of work involved but quickly learned he had badly underestimated how busy he was going to be, because his wife (the Househead) had been able to do all manner of tasks simultaneously. He also learned that, just as male groups often shut out females, the converse is equally true: he was definitely cold-shouldered by the moms in his child's play group. And he had to endure jibes from other males when he reacted coldly to their badinage and was asked if it was the wrong time of the month for him. But even cooking for a family partly carnivorous, partly vegetarian didn't faze him, and he developed a feeling of kinship for housewives. One minor objection: a glossary of British terms would have been helpful for those without access to the OED. (Feb.)

Library Journal

What happens when an "out-of-work actor, father of a toddler, married to an equally out-of-work and extremely pregnant journalist" living in a cottage in Surrey (England) becomes a househusband while his family grows in size and his wife goes on to become a successful biographer? The story Leith tells is pure diversion. It will neither lower the deficit nor influence the United Nations, but it will improve the disposition. Leith records in a cheerful prose the absurdities and exasperations that are as familiar as orange juice and cereal for breakfast to anyone who has kept house. Because he maintains the light touch throughout, he manages to raise smiles where others attempting the same thing might raise frowns. A few references to things British might not be familiar to American readers, but that's no cause for concern. Enjoy!-A.J. Anderson, GSLIS, Simmons Coll., Boston