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Britmums bookclub book review: The Playground Mafia

image from Britmums bookclub
This book by Clare Christian and Elisabeth Kent is one that sounded like it had the potential to be a really funny read. Unfortunately it wasn't quite my cup of tea. 

It openly revolves around the stereotypes of the playground mums and dads and I did find myself smiling at various points as I recognised the traits of some of the mums described in myself or some of the people I encounter at the school gates.

As a book as a whole it is basically a list of these various stereotypes like Sporty Mum, Chav mum, Helicopter mum, Wannabe wag mum, Midlife crisis dad and the list goes on.

It sets out to be a fun lighthearted read and is relatively short as a book. But it didn't engage or inspire me to keep reading. In fact if it wasnt for the fact that I had agreed to review the book I don't think I would have finished it.

I suppose I had hoped for it to be something more. Having read The secret life of a slummy mummy by Fiona Neill a few years ago, I recognised many of the playground stereotypes in that book but thought that they were brilliantly interwoven as characters within a proper novel with a context, story and plot behind it.

If this book had done the same, taken a handful of the stereotypes, given them names and given us an insight into their personalities and life stories then I think it could have been a hit. I think it's a great concept but just missed a trick when it came to executing the idea.

As it was it would be perfect as a joke gift or a naff secret santa present but sadly not much else.

This book was sent to me as part of the Britmums book club. All opinions are my own. 

7 comments:

  1. Sorry you didn't like it. I found it funny but agree it isn't like a novel. In fact I have even read a novel of the same title, and it didn't live up to that

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    1. there were definitely parts of it that made me giggle but it was just my least favourite style of book out of all the bookclub reads so far.

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  2. Brilliant review Rebecca, so important I feel for us to be honest and I also feel a book such as this would probably not keep my interest. xx

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    1. I agree with you so much on this one Rebecca. You expressed what I was trying to say very well.

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    2. Thanks Rachael and Kate for your comments. x

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  3. I'd have enjoyed it more if it was half the size. I can see what you mean about it missing a trick, by not fleshing out the characters and concentrating on fewer. A different kind of book, but I guess this one is more about dipping in and not reading cover to cover.

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    1. yes that is exactly it - i would rather get to know a few characters and read a proper novel i think but at least i know that is what i prefer and i would not have known that if i had not read it.

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