Thursday 20 June 2013
At
some point in a woman's life she says to herself, 'If that man doesn't get out
from under my feet I am actually going to kill him!" What? No? Oh is that
just me? I don't believe you! Well anyway, I digress. Carol E Wyer has written
a wonderfully fun little book called How Not To Murder your Grumpy.
This
very brightly coloured book is a must to the woman who has a man at home who is
driving them insane. Especially useful to the woman who has one of those hard
to manage retired grumpy! This very funny book lists in alphabetical order some
activities for your grumpy to keep him out of the house and away from the
rolling pin that you keep ready to hit him over the head with.
How
Not to Murder Your Grumpy is such a fantastically funny guide that provides you
with ideas for hobbies to keep your grumpy busy. I'd especially like to see my
grumpy take part in Zorbing or Extreme Ironing! Those of you who have read any of Carol E Wyer's previous books will know just what a funny lady she is and this book does not disappoint. I recommend you read it with a glass of wine in one hand and a small tribe of your girlfriends cackling along with you!
I made some suggestions outlined in the book to my very own grumpy (the not retired species) and he raised a very grumpy looking eyebrow at me and shuffled off to complain about some teenager with pink hair who had just walked passed the house. Oh I so can't wait until he retires...........not! My only saving grace is that he will hopefully spend his retirement on the golf course!
So, if you want a bit of a giggle then you need this book. Of course, once you have finished reading it you can always throw it at your grumpy when he refuses to leave the house! I read the book in one sitting, having a bit of a laugh as I went along. I loved it. Well done to Carol E Wyer for giving us more laughs.
There
is some fab swag to win as part of the book tour! Just use the Rafflecopter
link!
You
can also take part in the How Not to Murder Your Grumpy high jinks going on
over at the Events Page. Total madness. You will love it!
The Blurb!
Is
your Grumpy Old Man getting under your feet? Is he wrestling with retirement?
Are you wondering if you should bundle him up and entrust him to basket-weaving
classes? Then this book could be the answer to your prayers. This light hearted
guide is packed full of lively ideas, anecdotes and quips. Not only does it set
out to provide laughs, but offers over 700 ideas and ways to keep a Grumpy Old
Man occupied.
From
collecting airline sick bags to zorbing, you will be sure to find an absorbing
pastime for your beloved curmudgeon. There are examples of those who have faced
extraordinary challenges in older age, fascinating facts to interest a
reluctant partner and innovative ideas drizzled, of course, with a large dollop
of humour.
Written
tongue-in-cheek, this book succeeds in proving that getting older doesn't mean
the end of life or having fun. It provides amusing answers to the question,
"How on Earth will my husband fill in his time in his retirement?" It
offers suggestions on what might, or most certainly might not, amuse him. Ideal
for trivia buffs, those approaching retirement, (or just at a loose end) and
frustrated women who have an irritable male on their hands, this book will
lighten any mood and may even prevent the odd murder.
The
following is an excerpt from a recent article published in Men’s Health on NBC
News
The
look: A scowling face, a wagging finger, and a shaking head. The targets: The
economy. Teenagers. Windmills.
Some
informally dub it “grumpy old man complex.” British author Carol Wyer labels it
“irritable male syndrome,” a spike in the outward crankiness of guys of a
certain age.
“Women
have friends and we talk about our problems and we take medication and all that
kind of stuff. But for men, it’s something they suppress. It’s a male thing ,”
says Wyer, author of the upcoming humor book “How Not To Murder Your Grumpy."
Feeling
that they no longer are useful, especially, if a man has held an important
position in employment prior to retirement, "can result in severe
depression at worst and general grumpiness at best,” Wyer said.
Wyer's
husband of 25 years, John, turned 60 this year and became very grumpy just
after his birthday, she says. "I have spoken to other women in the same
position who have said exactly the same: Husbands, even those who have looked
forward to a big birthday, have become morose soon after,” Wyer says.
John
Wyer, who owned his own business and misses "the cut and thrust" of
his work, has self-diagnosed his own occasionally gloomy anger as something of
a byproduct of Western society’s collective view toward — and value of — people
who are 60 or beyond.
“One
of the things that really took hold of me was the fact that I was approaching a
ripe old age, let’s say, and I felt society can cast you off as a little bit of
a no-hoper. I just feel that isn’t right. I feel people in increasing years
have a lot to offer. And they shouldn’t cast off to one side. And I suppose my
grumpiness is a little bit of a protest against sliding down that particular
route,” he said.
“You
think, well, gosh, there’s got to be to be something a little more than this.
Being grumpy is just my way of getting through it and laughing at myself.”
Want
to know a bit about the lovely Carol? Oh ok then.............
About the Author:
After completing a
degree in French and English, Carol E Wyer became a language teacher. She
actually began her working life abroad, in Casablanca, Morocco, where she
taught English as a Foreign Language in an American Language school. It was
soon discovered that she could speak French rather well, and she became a
translator and teacher to large organisations and companies such as ‘Regie de
Tabac’, Morocco’s largest cigarette company, and the Mediterranean Shipping
Company.
After a few years she
was ‘head-hunted ‘to run the English as a Foreign Language department of a
private school in the UK. (Imagine Hogwarts without the wizardry.)
Carol taught English up
to, and including‘A’ Level, along with English as a Foreign Language. She also
qualified to teach pupils with Dyslexia and became Head of English for Special
Needs.
In 1988, Carol set up
her own language company called Language 2000 Ltd and worked in schools and for
companies. She taught a variety of languages, including basic Japanese, to all
ages and translated documents.
A recurrence of spinal
difficulties that began when she was a teenager, forced her to give up teaching
and choose a new direction. In order to deal with her health problems, Carol
attended a fitness course (Premier), took the qualifications to become a
fitness instructor and became a personal trainer. That led her to become a
trainer for others, particularly for older people who, like herself, had
undergone major surgery.
Thanks to older age,
Carol now no longer trains people, but she is currently writing a series of
novels, articles and books which takes a humorous look at getting older. It is
her hope that they will educate through laughter and help others appreciate
life.
Carol has written
several short stories over the years, including humorous books for children
which served to teach them French. She was not able to fulfil her desire to be
a full-time author until two years ago when her son flew from the nest, leaving
his bedroom which Carol turned into her office.
Since
then, she has written two novels, Mini Skirts and Laughter
Lines and Surfing
in Stilettos, both of which have
enjoyed media attention and success, becoming best sellers and winning awards.
Carol
writes regularly for author websites and she has recently become a contributing
author on a help guide entitled Tutorials and Tools for
Prospering in a Digital Age.
Carol’s
links:
Thank you so much. I am so overjoyed I am going to let Grumpy have extra raisins in his Muesli and I'll even let him read the back of the cereal box as a special treat today, without complaining.
Your generous praise has fluffed me up beautifully. I would love to see you and some girlfriends laughing over the book, deciding which dastardly activity you were going to sign your grumpy old men up for.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review and for being part of this tour. Never have grumpy old men been so much fun. :)
Oh JB, what a fab interview.
Brought my one and only smile today :) Thank you
Thank you for being a part of the tour.
Shaz
x
If you want a laugh, you need a grumpy. Great interview, Carol.
Oh, no! Does he read the back of the cereal box out loud! Urrrgh! FAB review, Carol. Well done you! Thanks for sharing, JB! :) xx
Hey guys. Thanks for a comments. Always a pleasure being part of these fab tours. I loved the book and loved the laughs it brought! x