Did Your Mother Never Teach You How To Catch A Man? by Ruby Mayer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Source: complete digital copy courtesy of publisher
Book blurb
“A Good man can break your heart but a bad man should never have the right.”
When Jasmine’s crappy relationship with a crappy man falls apart, she goes on an adventure. An adventure to Tel Aviv. What follows is a passionate and wonderful journey, filled with food, love, bombs, and Shula.
Ruby Mayer moved to London from the Middle East at six, but returned to Israel in her twenties. There she worked in a war survivors’ charity while learning the 1950s feminist approach to life from her indomitable grandmother. These experiences form the basis of her first book.
My blurb
This is the second book I’m reviewing for thepigeonhole and I am ever so grateful for being given this second chance. Did Your Mother Never Teach You How To Catch A Man? was an absolute delight to read. It was funny. It was sad. It was light-hearted. It was serious. I’ve had a most wonderful journey, thanks to Ruby Mayer & thepigeonhole.
If you’re not familiar with thepigeonhole, they publish books online but in parts (‘staves’). The first stave of this particular read was set in London and described the emptiness of Jasmine’s life. Whilst the reader can sympathise with Jasmine’s frustration, there were many moments of hilarity especially in relation to her parents and two colleagues. I just love her colleagues! They were not what you’d call BFF but they should be, seeing the things they get away with! I truly adore these two and was sorry that they weren’t anywhere else in the book.
As the book’s blurb mentioned, Jasmine went off to Tel Aviv… Stave II. She’s staying with her adorable grandmother, Shulla, who is determined that she should be married as soon as possible. Henceforth, Shulla’s lessons…
‘Number one,’ she says, ‘be beautiful from your insides to your outsides.’ …
‘You need all your fingers to catch a man – it helps.’ …
‘Number two,’ she says with renewed vigour. ‘Write this down! The most important person to be beautiful for is you.’
Jasmine proceeded to discover herself and Tel Aviv in Staves III & IV. There were many laughter and just as much tears were shed.
Did Your Mother Never Teach You How To Catch A Man? was a well balanced read. It was brilliantly written to continually engage in the reader in a variety of ways: humour, heartbreak, grief, love, etc. It felt like a light and fun sort of read but at the same time, I also felt I have learnt so much! I’d highly recommend this to everyone to read!
PS: Shulla is based on author’s real grandmother, check out Q+A with Ruby Mayer for more on Shulla
You can also stalk follow Ruby Mayer on twitter
Thanks to The Pigeonhole for copy of book in exchange of honest review
Tien's Blurb 