Night Lights

by Phyllis Theroux

Essays discuss adoption, childbirth, jealousy, fairness, sports, shopping with children, school, boredom, embarassment, responsibility, games, pets, parties, and teachers

Genres: Essays

192 pages, Paperback

First published February 10, 1987

About the author

Phyllis Theroux is an essayist, columnist, teacher and author. Born in San Francisco, California, she is the critically acclaimed author of numerous books, including "California and Other States of Grace", "Peripheral Visions", "Nightlights: Bedtime Stories for Parents in the Dark", "The Book of Eulogies", "Serefina Under the Circumstances" and "Giovanni’s Light". "The Journal Keeper: A Memoir" was published by Grove Atlantic in March 2010. She is currently conducting journal-keeping seminars during her cross-country book tour for "The Journal Keeper." She lives with her husband, Ragan Phillips in Ashland, Virginia.

Reviews

[Harron68 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one superior book! Written in the mid-80s, the short pieces are mostly taken from her writings in the N.Y. Times, Washington Post and "Parents" magazine. Short on length but long on entertainment and we-got-through-this (and you can too) WISDOM, the tales are heart warming, true to the realities of raising children, and perfect for any reader in need of a boost in parental confidence. How this never became a better known book puzzles me.

[Treasure Island Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

Essays on parenting. Before I bought this book, I read every parenting book I could find. Times have changed, and so have I.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ran across this book on my bookshelf yesterday, and I looked at the book jacket with a bit of nostalgia and gratitude. It was written in 1987, before there was Facebook, iPods, Blackberries, etc. The subtitle to the book is "Bedtime Stories for Parents in the Dark" and that is exactly what it is. It is one women's story about learning to understand children through raising her own three children. The main point she makes is to try very hard to put yourselves in your children's shoes...to remember what it was to be them. I believe it is as relevant today as it was then. It is a very quick read, only 179 pages, and I recommend it highly to all parents or grandparents! I will loan it to any of my friends.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author includes pleasant, humorous and yet insightful essays on her highs and lows as a parent of three children, running from birth through their young adulthood. Each article is short, aptly suited for a parent who has only short bursts of time to read anything, and humorous in a generally uplifting way. Some parts and references will seem dated, especially as relates to girl-boy roles and interests, but the book is nonetheless a fun read.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and wise.

[Machel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! ¤♡ Will write more later. Phyllis Theroux has a voice as a writer that speaks to the soul.

[Jane Sivick Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copyrighted in 1987, but still applicable today. Well written and interesting.