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Alphabet Soup: My Life On And Off Screen
A funny, warm and personal memoir that reveals what it's like being a regular busy working mum, who just so happens to have a job on the telly. Australia's best loved morning TV presenter, Mel Doyle, invites you inside her home and her life. Now, for the first time, Mel shares what it is like to juggle a high profile TV career with the full time job of being a Mum.In Alphabet Soup, she has collected together some of her favourite memories and anecdotes from the last ten years. Covering everything from her relationship with Kochie to red carpet exclusives, from baking birthday cakes to doing the school run, this is a delicious slice of Mel's life.And, like the rest of us, Mel has highs and lows and a constant battle to balance it all out.Dip in and enjoy some funny, honest and totally relatable anecdotes from life on and off screen!
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 20, 2021
Absolutely loved this book, brought back many wonderful memories of being a mum to young children, the juggling that mums tend to do and the wonderful network of mums I interacted with. The babysitting group, playdates at the park and those firsts - smiling, talking, walking, all the memories and then the first driving lessons, first car, first serious boyfriend/girlfriend. Like Melissa I had a pigeon pair and enjoyed every moment of their lives.
August 18, 2021
I was disappointed in this one. A little repetitive, no sense of really getter by a good look into the ‘real life’ of Mel. Felt a little preachy? I don’t know - just a bit average for me.
August 7, 2024
I left this book halfway through, I was expecting more than short stories of memories. I respect her and love that this will mean the world to her kids one day, but it wasn't for me.
May 8, 2014
A memoir of short snippets of the life of Melissa Doyle, Alphabet Soup presents to its reader the more personal life of the woman who has touched our hearts through our television for many years.
Alphabet Soup fell onto my desk unannounced at a time when I had a lot to read but with a well known figure on the front cover I was intrigued. I will be honest and say my first thoughts were that of ‘not another book written by a celebrity journalist’. Those who know me and my book preferences will know that books written by journalists are usually steered clear of as I find them to be dry and lifeless. This was not the case when it came to Alphabet Soup by Melissa Doyle.
Melissa Doyle writes with wit, a mothers touch and a sense of expression. I had a giggle and I related. As a working mum Melissa made me feel normal and had me realising that I was not the only woman that felt she needed to possess super human powers to achieve the life she desired. Alphabet Soup shows the ‘human’ side of Melissa Doyle. Love her or hate her you soon realise she is just like every other woman who is trying to balance a career and family life.
At times I did feel some of the memoirs within Alphabet Soup were a little short, wondering what the point or message was, but each was amusing and fulfilling in it’s own right. At no time did I feel Melissa was bragging, gossiping or big noting herself. She writes as the girl next door who has been waking at 3am for many years to bring the happenings around Australia to our television screens. I do wonder how her kids will feel when they hit young adulthood and realise that the things they did as kids has been recorded for the world to read for years to come.
Alphabet Soup is a quick read for the busy woman. Suited as a weekend read or to be read as a memoir a night upon retiring, it is lighthearted and inviting. Alphabet Soup could be said to be a bit like a series of blogs within a book written by a mother that is there to help other mothers feel good about themselves. It is a nice book written by a lovely lady with a heart of gold and a smile that lights up a room. The world needs all the niceness and kindness it can get but I can’t help feeling Melissa Doyle played it a little too nice and safe at times, leaving Alphabet Soup lacking that little something that gives it the pizazz I would have liked to have seen. To me it was just a read. Without her celebrity status the weight of the book would be light and airy and probably be something I would not have continue to read or would have read over many weeks whilst reading something else at the same time.
Overall Alphabet Soup by Melissa Doyle is worth a read if you are a fan of Melissa’s or a working woman who wants to feel as though she is not alone. If you are looking for a book that lacks a lot of deep thought and concentration for a lazy weekend read then Alphabet Soup may suit your needs.
Alphabet Soup fell onto my desk unannounced at a time when I had a lot to read but with a well known figure on the front cover I was intrigued. I will be honest and say my first thoughts were that of ‘not another book written by a celebrity journalist’. Those who know me and my book preferences will know that books written by journalists are usually steered clear of as I find them to be dry and lifeless. This was not the case when it came to Alphabet Soup by Melissa Doyle.
Melissa Doyle writes with wit, a mothers touch and a sense of expression. I had a giggle and I related. As a working mum Melissa made me feel normal and had me realising that I was not the only woman that felt she needed to possess super human powers to achieve the life she desired. Alphabet Soup shows the ‘human’ side of Melissa Doyle. Love her or hate her you soon realise she is just like every other woman who is trying to balance a career and family life.
At times I did feel some of the memoirs within Alphabet Soup were a little short, wondering what the point or message was, but each was amusing and fulfilling in it’s own right. At no time did I feel Melissa was bragging, gossiping or big noting herself. She writes as the girl next door who has been waking at 3am for many years to bring the happenings around Australia to our television screens. I do wonder how her kids will feel when they hit young adulthood and realise that the things they did as kids has been recorded for the world to read for years to come.
Alphabet Soup is a quick read for the busy woman. Suited as a weekend read or to be read as a memoir a night upon retiring, it is lighthearted and inviting. Alphabet Soup could be said to be a bit like a series of blogs within a book written by a mother that is there to help other mothers feel good about themselves. It is a nice book written by a lovely lady with a heart of gold and a smile that lights up a room. The world needs all the niceness and kindness it can get but I can’t help feeling Melissa Doyle played it a little too nice and safe at times, leaving Alphabet Soup lacking that little something that gives it the pizazz I would have liked to have seen. To me it was just a read. Without her celebrity status the weight of the book would be light and airy and probably be something I would not have continue to read or would have read over many weeks whilst reading something else at the same time.
Overall Alphabet Soup by Melissa Doyle is worth a read if you are a fan of Melissa’s or a working woman who wants to feel as though she is not alone. If you are looking for a book that lacks a lot of deep thought and concentration for a lazy weekend read then Alphabet Soup may suit your needs.
May 3, 2014
This book is brilliant, I loved it and I always was a fan of this woman. It is great to read that she is as human as the rest of us, and that she can have a melt down when it does not go well. I could relate to almost all of these stories contained within (the parts on being a glamorous news host and attending fancy functions or travelling with work to cover big news events maybe not)but the parts of being a mum who works and tries to balance it all was very relatable.
Best of all, these were all written in small chapters, so I was able to read this book in small quick reads. Perfect for a busy mum.
Best of all, these were all written in small chapters, so I was able to read this book in small quick reads. Perfect for a busy mum.
November 7, 2016
Beige. Everything about this book was beige.
It took me so long to get through because it just didn't give me anything; it didn't evoke any strong emotions despite me too being a working mother of a young boy and girl who prides herself in running an organised and loving home.
Bland stories and generic "insights." Disappointing as it could have been so much more.
It took me so long to get through because it just didn't give me anything; it didn't evoke any strong emotions despite me too being a working mother of a young boy and girl who prides herself in running an organised and loving home.
Bland stories and generic "insights." Disappointing as it could have been so much more.
November 12, 2014
Loved this book! Such a great read for working mothers. Huge fan of Melissa Doyle's now!
December 25, 2014
An easy read that shows just how down to earth Melissa Doyle really is. A great read, especially for mothers!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews