The Passion of the Hausfrau

Many years ago, I went to a school in the mountains of western Maine. I have recently been "finding" a number of my classmates thanks to the great time-hole that is FaceBook (find me and/or "Fan" LM). Several have gone on to do interesting things (notably Rainy Orteca). I have just learned (I am a bit slow) that another of clan has a book coming out in June of 2009 (preorder here).

Nicole Chaison has been chronically the trials and tribulations of modern parenting in her triannually self-published magazine, Hausfrau Muthahzine. Back-issues are available. They have resonated such that Random House is rolling out The Passion of the Hausfrau. Says RH:

How can women balance their intellectual (and physical) desires with the realities of motherhood and monogamy? And, no less profound, what’s the best bra to lift sagging, nursed-out breasts? In The Passion of the Hausfrau, Nicole Chaison addresses these universal and eternal questions as the monk-scribes of medieval times might have done: she illuminates her own humorous tale of reflection and self-discovery—including finding that perfect undergarment—with delightful illustrations and instructive asides.

Following the Hausfrau through a comedic take on the classic Hero’s Journey, we find our heroine lost in an intricate maze of hormones, identity issues, exhaustion, and mundane mommy-tasks. We follow her through the wormhole otherwise known as parenthood, concurrent with the renovation of a three-story Victorian with lice infestation; we travel to the center of “the happiest celebration on earth” with the whole dang family; and we cheer as our Hausfrau finally realizes that she not only has a story to tell, but wisdom to last the ages.

A hilarious memoir of the highest aesthetic order, The Passion of the Hausfrau is a delight to the senses and the funny bone; it’s the perfect indulgence for stressed-out, time-restricted mothers (and fathers!).

Best of all, I get a new book to give to my spawning friends (along with Blueberries for Sal and One Morning in Maine). If I end up with a review copy, I'll post about else you'll just have to wait until June...