The banana and the fart stories had me laughing, and the relating of actual life lessons from picking out the perfect card for special occasions to financial advice give the book a soul.
By Alicia Wozniak
“Ah, marriage,” sighed the divorced lady.
Updating my LinkedIn account, I found a message from a man who recently published a book asking me if I’d do a review. I’m a fan of books, and offering my opinion. He wrote it for his grandson, which is adorable and something to cherish. I wish I had books from my grandparents.
Marital Advice to my Grandson, Joel, by Peter Davidson, started off as a blog, offering bits of advice. Encouraging words from fans prompted the book to be written. It’s a charming and funny read, albeit a bit exhausting—old fashion roles of men being clueless around the house, saying “yes, dear” to everything to keep the peace and women being obsessed with shopping and “training” their husbands run through the pages.
The author offers his views on picking out the perfect wedding date, to earning bragging rights, “the look”, paying attention to details, how to interpret body language, chivalry, owning a home, and “thirteen magical words” that help keep love alive, all wrapped up between covers of a book written humorously with love and hope.
This is a grandpa giving his grandson, who is now a young man, advice on how to not ruin his marriage, based on the success of his own union; every time he refers to his wife as “Grandma,” my heart grew a little bit more. Reading the pages, I imagined a parental figure telling these stories repeatedly, each getting funnier as the years roll by, with the younger generations lovingly rolling their eyes at the roles men and women were once siloed into.
I found myself audibly groaning at parts (the “yes dear” thing gets old, husbands have the ability to cook “real meals,” not every woman loves shopping and the line about teaching a woman to swear nearly knocked me off my pilates ball), but the way the author writes is conversational and personal, and maybe meant to be somewhat tongue-in-cheek.
The banana and the fart stories had me laughing, and the relating of actual life lessons from picking out the perfect card for special occasions to financial advice give the book a soul.
I related back to my own marriage and relationships since as I read Marital Advice to my Grandson, Joel. I recalled a former neighbor, who was on his second marriage at the time, stating he wasn’t a very good husband the first time around, and was working towards not repeating what he did wrong.
This book gave me perspective.
I wish Joel and Abby the best. I hope they embrace and learn from life’s lessons, and always remember why they got married.
Photo: book author provided
Editor: Dana Gornall
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Woz can be found on Twitter (though she still doesn't really get it), Instagram and on her blog. She can also be found teaching STRONG by Zumba a few times per week and as often as possible going to yoga, giving up complete control to her teachers.
- Marital Advice to my Grandson, Joel {Book Review} - January 19, 2018
- The Calm Buddha at Bedtime. {Book Review} - November 15, 2017
- Because Everyone Farts (Even the Dalai Lama) - January 4, 2017
