Product Description

For Annie Spiegelman, motherhood is a full-time job. The hours are long, the pay is lousy, and the recognition is almost nil. Then, during her son's second year, her mother, with whom she has always had a tempestuous relationship, becomes ill. In this wonderfully wry and touching collection of journal entries written to her son, Spiegelman chronicles her insights, insecurities, joy, and confusion about family and parenthood. While her son is going on his second, hell-raising year and her mother's illness is making her increasingly dependent, Annie also deals with the surprising difficulty of becoming a Master Gardener and her changing relationship with her husband. Finally, Growing Seasons is a celebration of family in all its comfort and complexity.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1391455 in Books
• Published on: 2003-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

From Booklist
In journal entries written to her young son, Jack, Spiegelman characterizes the balancing act that is daily life for a thoughtful, caring, contemporary woman. Although her toddler won't be able to read the book for years to come, readers will find the refreshingly zany writing to be compelling as Spiegelman muses on becoming a master gardener, and rides the turbulent yet joyful waves of first-time motherhood. But those observations constitute only a portion of her sharply rendered observations, because Spiegelman is drawn into a crisis that affects her entire extended family. And what an engagingly kooky cast of characters Spiegelman presents as a covey of sisters gets together to deal with their mother's illness. If the book contains an Rx for readers, it is this: Curl up and enjoy copious doses of humor, but be prepared to experience the complexity of emotions surrounding a formidable, unqualifiedly colorful parent, not to mention the commotion a marriage undergoes after a child arrives. Spiegelman is a writer to watch. Alice Joyce
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
"This journal of a comically obsessed gardener chronicles not only plantings, prunings and what 'went bust' but also the emotional divagations of a hip New Yorker transplanted to California."

Customer Reviews

This book is a gem!
I read Annie Spegelman's first book, "Annie's Garden Journal" and have been anxiously awaiting any further literary gifts from her.
It was well worth the wait.
I loved this new book, "Growing Seasons..."- was so moved by her wit and immense sensitivity. I felt very connected to her as I read the book. Now I will reread both of her books and wait for the next. I feel as if I have found a good friend in this writer.

Truly, what a gift.

A fabuous read - didn't want it to end!
The frank outlook on motherhood, daughterhood, sisterhood and gardening was a welcomed fresh approach. I found myself laughing outloud and crying tears of understanding. I would highly recommend this book to both mothers and my childless friends. I was very sorry to let the characters go at the end of the book - I didn't want it to be over!

Spiegelman Book signing at Barnes & Noble
I just went to see the author at Barnes & Noble Booksellers and she was very inspiring. She played Tom Jones music at the start and was such an optimistic person. We laughed a lot, but her message surely came through about all of us trying to be more conscious parents and marriage partners than the role models many of us grew up with. Proceeds from the book are being donated to a group called "Act Against Violence". Annie Spiegelman rules!!