Review: THE THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 2, 2013
My main motivation for wanting to read this book was the absolutely breathtaking cover. Yes, I'm shallow like that. Many times I've been persuaded to read a book solely based on the beauty of its cover. The synopsis also had me curious, and now that I've finished it, I can tell you that the title suits the story perfectly and appropriately. I couldn't have given it a better title had I been offered a million dollars.Juliette is a character I loved and loathed all at the same time. She had her strengths and weaknesses, but because the story is told from her point of view, her voice is obviously the strongest and most important. What I loved about her was how her character developed and how she ended up being a completely different person at the end of the story than the person she was at the start. I have to admit, though, that I quite liked the career-driven Juliette we meet early in the book, as I could in some ways relate to her. I couldn't identify much with the person she is in 1961, as I for the life of me can't imagine what it must be like to be a housewife / stay-at-home mom, especially in a time before modern conveniences. I don't think I would be able to adapt so well to the sixties or seventies if I had to go back to the past for nine months. She coped remarkably well.Imagine going to hospital to give birth and your husband is told to go home until he receives a phone call from the hospital informing him how the birth went. No, no, no. That won't fly with me. I can't fathom giving birth without my husband by my side. If anything, Hindsight made me look at my life, take stock of my blessings and thank the heavens that I'm alive in the twenty-first century with pre-packaged frozen dinners, cell phones, disposable diapers, top loader washing machines and gender equality. The author brings the sixties back to life in this humorous and often touching novel of self-discovery and finding the true meaning of family, friends, and forgiveness. Although Juliette's self-doubt irritated me at times, she is quite a complex character who throws herself into her career to avoid having to deal with the pain of loss and disappointment. Her life changes drastically when she wakes up in 1961, is told that she has no career, but has extended family and a best friend for whom she'd give her life. Her work ("women's work" her husband tells her) is now inside the house as opposed to working outside the house to supplement their income. And here is where the laughs start as Juliette knows nothing about being a housewife and blunders her way through burnt toast, cloth diapers, laundry, ironing and running a household.Hindsight is a wonderfully light but meaningful read similar to some of Sophie Kinsella's books. I think a lot of women will be able to relate to Juliette in one way or another as she discovers that home is really where the heart is. Questioning her motivations for her career choice, battling her personal demons and accepting her imperfections, is a journey the reader is made a part of. A host of lovable characters accompanies Juliette on this journey in which she learns to find a healthy balance between her career and her family. The ending was a little too convenient for my taste, but overall this is a really terrific book and I can't wait to read more from this author!I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.