Ashley
This book does not provide useful or practical advice. Answers are too vague/don't provide a solid response to the questions/provide conflicting advice. It feels like you're asking someonr a question just to have them shrug and say “Eh, you're doing fine. Ignore your pediatrician, family, friends and keep doing what feels right for you”... but if it felt right, you wouldnt be asking the question to begin with..
Ex.
Question:
“When should I wean?”
Answer:
“If you can wait until he is ready to wean himself, the process will be simpler and more natural.”
After answer, sharing that NO ONE else may agree with you:
“Friends and relatives ask, “What's he doing with a bottle? Can't he drink from a cup yet?” The pediatrician may say, “He doesn't need to nurse or use a bottle anymore.” Others may comment, “He's too big for a bottle.” Negative remarks are directed not just at a child, but at the parents as well.”
Don't listen to them.. or you're messing up:
“If the bottle, breast, or pacifier is taken away from your child too soon, he'll probably look for other ways to satisfy his sucking needs.”
I understand that it can be difficult to find doctors with updated advice, but I would rather the emphasis be on WHY I should or should not do something instead of on ignoring the advice of my doctor in lieu of this book. This book would confuse me more if I hadn't read so many other baby books..
Sorry, last example:
“When will my baby begin to crawl?”“Crawling is an important stage in development, and parents watch with delight as their baby becomes mobile. Although some babies start crawling before they're six months old, most begin between six and ten months, and some never crawl, going from sitting to walking without the middle step. Because children develop at their own pace, each baby will begin to crawl when she's ready. But if your baby has not begun by the time she's nine or ten months old, you may want to talk to your pediatrician about her motor development.”
Ridiculously unhelpful, right? There are a few paragraphs that follow which tell you what your baby does prior to being able to crawl... assuming your baby will crawl..
If shock value is your goal, here is the naming book for you. BE WARNED: Other parents will absolutely judge you before meeting you.
IMO Any name you think up or choose on your own is better than the names in this books. I thought I was liberal in my name choosing, but you really can't beat the names suggested here. This book is truly for those going out of their way to find a term never before used as a name.
Disclaimer: I received this ARC in return for an honest review. A huge thank you to DC Comics and Edelweiss for this ARC.
In Ten Words or Less:
New series introduction to anti-hero (Graphic novels not for me)
Plot:
As this is the start of a new series, we are introduced to Constantine, delve into his past, learn about his relationships, and see how he fits into the world.
I Picked this up Because...:
I adore Constantine, the movie, and wanted to see how Constantine acted on paper. I assumed that my review may be of value to the publisher as I am a reader who is not very familiar with graphic novels.
The Good:
Main Character
I love Constantine's personality. Truly. He's selfish and has a twisted sense of humor (or is it depressed and self-deprecating? Hmm...) Constantine successfully fills the role of anti-hero and I would not have picked this up if it were your typical superhero novel.
The Last Story
The last section of this volume was my favorite. Constantine's need for money brings him to the Internet – offering his demon-removal services to the public. Instead of damning these demons (which one would expect given the rest of the novel), it turns out he is friends or familiar with most and offers a scolding, which we presume solves the problem.
The Bad:
Honestly, I don't know graphic novels well enough to decipher what is good and what is bad. For me, I simply don't like that they provide a looser story compared to the written novels I'm used to. I felt pretty apathetic towards this volume with the exception of the last story.
Overall:
This had a great main character with amusing and quick stories, but require an appreciation for graphic novels.
