Theodora's Baby

Theodora #3

by Penny Culliford

'I'm not sure I'm cut out for parenthood. It's not in my plan. All right, I haven't actually got a plan, but if I had one, this wouldn't be in it. I don't even like babies---nasty, small, noisy, smelly things that take over your life. But this is a different baby. This is not just a baby; this is our baby ...' Newlywed Theodora discovers a slight oversight she and Kevin made on their honeymoon. Now she's gained an important new subject for her famous diary---but at such a cost! 'Tom opened the oven door and got out the most enormous chocolate pudding and placed it on the table in front of me. 'Especially for you, dear sister,' said Ariadne. I swallowed hard a few times then took off for the bathroom. Ariadne looked at Tom and said, 'I told you so.'' What? Theodora sick (literally) of chocolate? How will she survive without her favorite food group? with typical irrepressible humour that finds much to laugh at about marital bliss, faith, friendships, and the foibles of pregnancy. But will she be reunited with her lost love? Never fear---Theodora and chocolate can't be separated forever.

Genres: Chick Lit, Christian Fiction, Humor

320 pages, Paperback

First published December 27, 2005

Reviews

[Edmund Chattoe-Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

By Odin, Zeus and Kali this is insipid. The basis of the "Great Bores of Today" feature in Private Eye is that nobody ever says or thinks anything that is not a predictable cliche and so it is here. About the best thing you can say about this is that some of the jokes are quite good (though the best, a book called "I'm Going to be Assertive Now, If That's OK With You" is in the taster for another book in the series!) That said, I suspect the jokes are off the Internet and have little to do with the "plot". Given that it is a book about having a baby, it is ludicrously coy. With massive plausibility, the "heroine" claims that her husband has vetoed any mention of sex in her diary and with even greater plausibility she follows his wishes. This means that they apparently conceive a baby by "cuddling" (I suppose there is a precedent in the author's faith). Initially I worried that the author might try to convince us that she spent the whole pregnancy floating on a peppermint scented cloud (she first realises she is pregnant by fainting - about the most sexless way to do so - and not, for example, by wearing the toilet seat as a halo.) But eventually she gives in and admits that she _does_ have a body occupied by a baby. There being not being much to learn from the characters or the plot one falls back on scrutinising the psychology of the author and the results are interesting. The two most unpleasant incidents in the book (or at best two out of three) involve over zealous Christians. You said it mate! But the author will never realise that to people who can't blame their self-righteousness on God, a lot of Christianity (even the wet "nicey" kind) comes across as equally over zealous. The husband and wife, Theodora and Kevin (really?) are constantly cheesing each other off because each assumes that they know what is best for the other. Theodora also gets cheesed off when others do this to her. Sound familiar to anyone on the receiving end of smug Christians? Personally I think that a deity which minds whether you have sex two days before you get married rather than two days after but doesn't mind if you bring a human being into the world because you are too busy pillocking about with almond wedding favours to sort out contraception isn't worth much. But then I don't have my opinions validated by "Sir" so feel free to disagree. The plot also doesn't really deserve the label. In the same way that you can sometimes hear future sub plots being set up plonkingly in The Archers ("Quick, Eddie, put the pigs in the church hall. What can possibly go wrong?") so things seem to happen here just so someone can be forgiven or "understood" later. I still can't quite believe that a huge plot bomb happens in the last two pages without, as far as I can see, the slightest set up in the rest of the book. (Quick, I need to set up a possible sequel.) Hasn't the author read any books good enough for the plot and characters take on a logic of their own? If there is anything to you at all (even Bridget Jones manages some p*ss and vinegar sometimes and she is disablingly neurotic), read The Screwtape Letters by C. S., conclusive proof that religious writing can be intelligent, fun and thought provoking even to non-Christians. Christianity doesn't have to be warm but damp like this.

[Rebekkila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Newlywed Theodora discover a slight oversight she and Kevin made on their honeymoon. Now she's gained and important new subject for her famous diary-but at such a cost!What? Theodora - sick (literally) of chocolate? How will she ever survive without her favorite food group? Answer: With typical irrepressible humour that finds much to laugh at about marital bliss, faith, friendships and the foibles of pregnancy.But she will she ever be reunited with her lost love? Never fear - Theodora and chocolate can't be separated forever.
Another cute book. I find these books to be so light hearted and funny. I will be on the look out for more books in this series. I am giving this to Lansingreader to read and release.

[Chelsea V · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theodora doesn't want chocolate? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

[Lisa]

Theodora series / book three

[Sheeroh · Rating 4 out of 5]

hilarious, again!

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great finale to the trilogy - what will happen next - will there be more books to laugh my way through? - I hope so!!

[Sue Jellum · Rating 1 out of 5]

very silly story about a newly married woman having a baby. predictable misunderstandings, no real strong points

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is my favorite of the three.