Review of The First Time Father
-
Phoenix Bea Edwards
- Posts: 9
- Joined: 30 Sep 2022, 08:55
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 13
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-phoenix-bea-edwards.html
- Latest Review: The First Time Father by Thomas Alfie
Review of The First Time Father
[Following is a volunteer review of "The First Time Father" by Thomas Alfie.]
The First Time Father by Alfie Thomas is an invaluable guide for to-be fathers, especially those who feel like a fish out of water. It brilliantly illustrates the physical, mental, and social changes that new parents experience during the various stages of pregnancy. Not only does it take you on a heartfelt journey from discovering the pregnancy to raising the baby, it also delivers key details that will guide you through the odyssey.
This book is a mix of factual and story-like narration, which makes it both educational and interesting. To elaborate, Alfie has carefully divided the book into 3 parts. The first focuses on the pregnancy from beginning to end and how the father can support their partner who is nurturing a child in their womb. The second talks about the tricks and skills a father can implement to bond with the baby, and includes various lists of items a new dad and a baby might need. Finally, the third part spotlights the time when the child is growing up, and how you can psychologically and financially take care of yourself and your growing family.
What I loved the most about this book was the author’s informal, frank writing style, littered with slang that has become a common part of our lives. He addresses the reader directly in a tone that is warm, not harsh and punishing. Further, he frequently uses humour and satire to keep the reader totally immersed in the pages. A great example of this would be, “...like leaving the basement door open in 5-degree weather and freezing the entire bottom floor of the house while simultaneously leaving us susceptible to a home invasion.” Even though most of the details are written in a straightforward, crisp manner, Alfie often uses metaphors, such as “She’s sailing the ship, but you are the entire crew,” allowing the reader to think of things from a new perspective, to ease up, and then concentrate on what is being told. They do not let you get bored and keep you interested even when it is not a ‘storybook.’
Furthermore, the book is categorised exceptionally. Making use of multiple subheadings, the author has classified the book into multiple small sections and lists, such as month-by-month descriptions, necessary lingoes and baby items, which make it easier to understand and more practical if the reader wishes to go back for a reference during a re-read. At times, the author has also provided credibility to this piece by using trusted references, like citing the American Psychological Association (APA) when talking about prenatal yoga for the mother.
Additionally, Alfie, with an air of sincerity, opens up about his own struggles and mistakes during his partner’s first pregnancy. He talks about how he made mistakes and how he changed the little things in his life to make his partner and their baby as comfortable as he could. This endeared me to the book even more, for he did not even attempt to give a superficial description about how he knew everything about everything. He was honest and understood that most of his readers would be nerve-wrecked first time fathers who would most likely not have any idea about the journey that they were about to undertake.
This is a book packed with important information, relatable mistakes, humorous pregnancy jokes, and familiar tones. These nuances add texture and flavour to a description that otherwise might have been boring. Thus, I would rate this book 4 out of 4 stars and 5 out of 5 stars, for the impeccable editing seen through almost no technical grammatical errors was a cherry on top. Lastly, I would recommend this book to all first time fathers and mothers, so that they can learn how to support and care for each other through the enlightening path of pregnancy. However, it only deals with normal labour, so some parts of the book may not be applicable to mothers who have had other types of births, such as a C-section.
******
The First Time Father
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The First Time Father by Alfie Thomas is an invaluable guide for to-be fathers, especially those who feel like a fish out of water. It brilliantly illustrates the physical, mental, and social changes that new parents experience during the various stages of pregnancy. Not only does it take you on a heartfelt journey from discovering the pregnancy to raising the baby, it also delivers key details that will guide you through the odyssey.
This book is a mix of factual and story-like narration, which makes it both educational and interesting. To elaborate, Alfie has carefully divided the book into 3 parts. The first focuses on the pregnancy from beginning to end and how the father can support their partner who is nurturing a child in their womb. The second talks about the tricks and skills a father can implement to bond with the baby, and includes various lists of items a new dad and a baby might need. Finally, the third part spotlights the time when the child is growing up, and how you can psychologically and financially take care of yourself and your growing family.
What I loved the most about this book was the author’s informal, frank writing style, littered with slang that has become a common part of our lives. He addresses the reader directly in a tone that is warm, not harsh and punishing. Further, he frequently uses humour and satire to keep the reader totally immersed in the pages. A great example of this would be, “...like leaving the basement door open in 5-degree weather and freezing the entire bottom floor of the house while simultaneously leaving us susceptible to a home invasion.” Even though most of the details are written in a straightforward, crisp manner, Alfie often uses metaphors, such as “She’s sailing the ship, but you are the entire crew,” allowing the reader to think of things from a new perspective, to ease up, and then concentrate on what is being told. They do not let you get bored and keep you interested even when it is not a ‘storybook.’
Furthermore, the book is categorised exceptionally. Making use of multiple subheadings, the author has classified the book into multiple small sections and lists, such as month-by-month descriptions, necessary lingoes and baby items, which make it easier to understand and more practical if the reader wishes to go back for a reference during a re-read. At times, the author has also provided credibility to this piece by using trusted references, like citing the American Psychological Association (APA) when talking about prenatal yoga for the mother.
Additionally, Alfie, with an air of sincerity, opens up about his own struggles and mistakes during his partner’s first pregnancy. He talks about how he made mistakes and how he changed the little things in his life to make his partner and their baby as comfortable as he could. This endeared me to the book even more, for he did not even attempt to give a superficial description about how he knew everything about everything. He was honest and understood that most of his readers would be nerve-wrecked first time fathers who would most likely not have any idea about the journey that they were about to undertake.
This is a book packed with important information, relatable mistakes, humorous pregnancy jokes, and familiar tones. These nuances add texture and flavour to a description that otherwise might have been boring. Thus, I would rate this book 4 out of 4 stars and 5 out of 5 stars, for the impeccable editing seen through almost no technical grammatical errors was a cherry on top. Lastly, I would recommend this book to all first time fathers and mothers, so that they can learn how to support and care for each other through the enlightening path of pregnancy. However, it only deals with normal labour, so some parts of the book may not be applicable to mothers who have had other types of births, such as a C-section.
******
The First Time Father
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The First Time Father by Thomas Alfie
