Warner Books
288 pages

 

Reviewed by CPA Mom

"Toddlers, Julia remembered hearing someone say, were like big tyrants of tiny countries. Demanding, insatiably needy, and all ego and id, her son was still by far the best boss she'd ever had."
 
As any mother of a toddler can tell you, Laura Zigman's description of toddlerhood is all too apt. But have you ever imagined if your job outside the home entailed working for an adult with the same tyrannical outlook? That's what the protagonist of Piece of Work had in store for her when she went back to work.
 
From inside cover: "Julia Einstein knew that being a stay-at-home mom had a lot in common with her former job as a celebrity publicist—endless, irrational demands, little to no appreciation, and constant hustle. But it isn't until her husband is laid off from his job and she's forced to go back to work and resurrect screen legend Mary Ford's career that Julia realizes how very much she prefers an actual child to a formerly famous client."
 
Let me just say right off the bat, I.LOVED.THIS.BOOK. Seriously. Friends know I am an avid reader (have been since my very first sentence "Give me my book."). I am also a speed reader so I am constantly on the look for new-to-me authors who write funny, entertaining, relatable books. Books that make me laugh, or make me cry. Books that GET what it is to be me or show me a window into a world that entirely unlike me. Books like this one.
 
Unlike me, the main character, Julia, left her career in the city, and has happily stayed at home with her son for the last three years. In contrast, if I had to stay home with my kids, I probably would have been committed to an institution by now. But I still understood this character's motivation - the love for her son eclipsed all she had previously held dear (independence, size 6 wardrobe, power, importance, career). The passages where she longed to be with her son instead of working, really resonated with me. I GOT Julia.

 

The passages where her client-from-hell, Mary Ford, was described? Made me laugh.my.ass.off. Maybe it's just me, but I kept picturing Lauren Bacall while reading this book. And Julia's interaction with her Jewish parents and Catholic husband, ("Despite his Acquired Situational Judaism, he was still such a good Catholic, so susceptible to guilt and shame.") left me clutching my sides in hysteria.
 
Bonus? Laura thanks her blogging buddies on the acknowledgement page AND names characters in the book after them. Awesome friend!
 
Laura Zigman, you rock. I can't wait to read the rest of your books. And your blog.