The Desperate Diary of a Country Housewife

by Daisy Waugh

If you've ever dreamt of a new life in the country, this highly entertaining and candid account of country living might make you think again…

Fresh air, rolling fields, Cath Kidston tea towels and home-baked cake – isn't that what Martha's new life will be?

Apparently not. Having upped sticks and moved her young family from the gritty city to Paradise, she discovers things aren't quite that easy. Collapsing kitchen ceilings; a plague of slugs; coffee mornings with Stepford mums and garden warfare with the neighbours are just a few of the trials. And with her husband away working in London, Martha just can't stop thinking about the sexy builder who's meant to be turning the house into her dream home…

Genres: Chick Lit, Romance

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Joanna Yeoh]

A really crazy diary, realistic in how it brings out the hysteria felt by Martha as she lives her lonely life in Hammersmith. A very powerful interior monologue written by Waugh, bringing out the flow of Martha's stream-of-consciousness in such a precise manner. Beats Woolf's portrayal of this same genre, in my opinion. Guess the narrative in the form of a diary, is an excellent way to bring out the protaganist's stream-of-consciousness, since it is written from a first-person's point of view.

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, easy read. The humor appeals to me and it rings true (if maybe a little exaggerated) Certainly can empathise with Martha..particularly the school gate scenarios. If you are thinking of moving to the country (which i have done) read this first :)

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

i have both additions i love this so much

[Plum-crazy · Rating 3 out of 5]

While there's nothing new here (think "Secret Diary of a Demented Housewife" etc etc) this is still a fun & entertaining read. Martha & family move from London to Paradise(?!) but as in most tales of this nature, hubby is seldom home leaving Martha to cope with the children, the neighbours, & the builders...& all the problems therein.

A likeable read at the time but with nothing to distinguish it from others of it's ilk.

[Ashley Murray · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very easy to read and fast paced but some really questionable decisions were made with the writing.

[María Alejandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't bother. It's not even funny.

[Mummalovesbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book the storyline reminds you that not all that looks perfect is.
It’s a good example of be careful what you wish for!!
A light hearted good read I’d definitely recommend it.

[Debs · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really not worth reading

[Lynn Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read and quite entertaining

[Jessica Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is such an easy read. Well written, honest and funny

[Kim Innes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was a good read - moving from London to the country. Husband working away

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the Diary😊was such a fun, light and easy reading👌

[Summer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolute drivel! The central character is snobbish, self obsessed and tedious. The premise of the book, everyone who lives in the country is bored and relieves the boredom with affairs. That's it. Don't bother with this ridiculous piece of rubbish!!

[Leah · Rating 1 out of 5]

When Martha and her family move to the country she thinks it'll all be perfectly fine. Trouble is her house is falling to pieces and her husband is away a lot. Not only that but Martha finds herself attracted to the builders working on her house...

At 279 pages and in diary-style it is believable I read this in a day. I enjoyed it in as much as I kept on reading but there was just something that made it unlikeable. It says it all when my favourite parts of the novel were the columns Martha wrote, which were great.

I liked the easy style it was written in but, apart from the writing style and Martha’s columns, it really could have been a lot more than it was. I’d have loved to have gotten to know the other “Stepford” wives more as well as the odd neighbours with the poplar trees.

Also Martha wasn’t the best character I’ve read, in fact she just plain irritated me. Her house is falling down around her ears and she finds out she is pregnant but she just holes herself in the bathroom… surely anyone sane would be going insane at the thought of their house falling apart. Maybe I’m just being picky.

I find it unbelievable that she contemplated cheating on her husband just because he was away a lot. Her morals were completely skewed. I also guessed who Claire’s secret was before Martha clicked on.

I think the whole book could have been much better if we could have gotten different perspectives. However I admit I did read it quickly, I just didn’t enjoy it at all.

The ending seemed rushed too, there could have been a few more chapters exploring Martha and Fin’s relationship – or lack of it – but it all seemed over with quick as anything. It was all a bit “meh”.

One last thing that irritated me was the names Daisy Waugh named Martha’s children, but that’s something that irritates with most authors when they choose the oddest names… Ripley, Dora etc – no offence to anyone with children named Ripley and Dora – it’s just a bugbear of mine.

[Cate Earnshaw · Rating 2 out of 5]

An easy, lazy read. Written in a nice diary-style with added newspaper columns, which made it an easy 'page turner'... Sadly the story wasn't an equal page turner. I read it over a few days not because I was desperate to know what happened, I was just desperate for the diarist to find an end to her misery!

Simply put, the diarist is a mean, hypocritical, worrying, self obsessed not very nice person. She either suffers understandable illness due to a situation in the book (no spoilers here!), or is facing a breakdown. Either way she needed the Dr, I kept wishing please someone take her to the Dr!

I will be donating this book to charity. I rarely get rid of books. I enjoyed the book, else I wouldn't have finished it, but I certainly don't need to read it again. I might see if there is a sequel though, to see what mess she makes next... As despite worrying for her mental health it was quite amusing to look over her shoulder at how she caused her life to fall apart.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the tale of Martha Mole and her family who live in London but follow a dream of a new life in the country… Thinking its going to be perfection with rolling fields, fresh air, home-baked cakes and village life, Martha soon crashes back to earth with a bump...

With likeable characters, you can't help but feel for Martha although at times she can be a bit snobby and sulky.

If you fancy a bit of escapism into someone else's humorous dilemmas then this is for you. It is fairly predictable but makes for an easy read.

[Wendy · Rating 1 out of 5]

See my review at http://talesfromfoxglovecottage.blogs...

"Desperate Diary is the tale of a middle-class London mum who moves her family to the countryside, only to discover that life there isn't the vision of 'Cath Kidston tea towels and home-baked cake' that she had expected. Hilarity (supposedly) ensues. Fairly basic writing, a few slightly amusing moments and not heavy on plot, this is a microwave-meal of a book: it fills a hole, but........"

[Joanne Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this 3 times. It’s my go to need a bit of funny when I’m feeling low. Yes there are more hilarious books than this, but this book came into my life when I was moving from town to the country so it will always be a favourite. It’s a very honest and funny account of how the dream of having a big house in the country can quickly become a nightmare.
Even if you are not planning an escape to the country I would recommend this for its joyous humour and great characters.

[Megan Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

You'll read this quickly and easily. A jolly yarn about her move to the country which doesn't involve running wildly in the fields and baking cakes on a regular basis. In fact it shows extreme boredom with exceptionally dull people! An errant husband and a bored wife find paradise is not for these urbanites ....

[Plum-crazy]

Conned once again by an up-dated cover & the author being listed as "Martha Mole" not Daisy Waugh! Thought it seemed familiar & realised it was once I got to the tennis playing kitchen fitter. As the verdict was ok first time round ( it was over 6 years ago) I carried on reading to the (bitter) end. Well, I say reading, think I glossed over most of it...*yawn*...

[Mandy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and found it funny,I can actually identify with Martha,I have also moved from a big city to the countryside and I am also counting down until I move back! I did not guess who her husband was having an affair with either,I enjoyed Martha's observations and her voice.Really good book.Anyone having day dreams about the wonderful countryside should read it,the giant slugs are real!

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not my usual read, but found it laying in a box whilst clearing out spare room. Anyway, I thought I would give this book a try. It was an ok read and have now passed the book on to my daughter.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book, i found it very funny and most parts of the book i could relate to, i.e, the school gates and coffee mornings,very enjoyable sometimes a bit sarcastic, but i would recommendthis book in fact i already have.

[Nicola Neary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, a great summer read! Recommended to several people whom always thoroughly enjoyed it! Could put it down and an reading it again a year on! Brilliant, witty and keeps you turning the page!

[Erica Fairs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great light-hearted read. Enjoyed this one!

[Just · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick little read that didn't require a lot of thought processes so perfect for long nightshifts!

[Alison Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very easy read. Really hilarious in parts especially if you are a school gate mum, I found myself laughing out loud. It is predictable but without being twee. Light hearted fun.

[Jessica Burgess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well it was an interesting read, i never really read a reality book before so this was a first and i thought it to be very interesting,

[Mummy]

Relentlessly captivating

What's not to love?
Martha's mayhem of a life, is perfectly depicted, and could and probably does happen more frequently than anyone would it could imagine!
I absolutely love her antics, and madcap humour, craziness...and most of all her unrelenting honesty about life! Anyone for tennis? ;)