Carpool Diem

Funny premise. Annie Flemming, a high powered woman, has always felt that her life was darn near perfect. Her husband and daughter have no problem with her choosing her career and travel over them, the baby-sitter takes up the slack and other things are adjusted for. Annie leaves notes and detail daily plans - what could go wrong. That is until it all comes crashing down. Well, the unthinkable happens and Annie is forced out of her high powered career. When she returns home and sees her life and family for what they are her life starts to spin out of control. Her husband isn't nearly as tough as she thought and her daughter Charlotte doesn't seem to have the same type of drive that mom does. Well, that will soon change if Annie has anything to say about it. So, what does take-no-prisoners Annie do, she applies her know how and becomes a soccer mom. If she can organize and motivate a boardroom how hard could this be. Little did she know that the cut throat atmosphere of the elite level of travel team soccer could do her and her daughter in. Very funny moments, but I did take it a little personally when a comment was made about "if you think soccer is bad, have you ever tried to talk to a hockey mom". If it wasn't so true, it would have been funny. Great book if you do or have ever had kids in highly competitive sports. More than one character will have you spinning down the hall of memories and certain parents and coaches that made you want to scream.

I have always enjoyed Nancy Star's work, but this novel blew me away. My children are grown, they didn't play in a travel league, I didn't think I would really care about soccer mom issues - and I was blown away anyway. This book has a much wider scope than I expected. The "do-ers" out there will easily relate to Annie, and if they are like me, they will be envious of her transformation. The scene with the coach standing on a mound in a thunderstorm evoked King Lear! Bravo!

I loved this story of Annie Flemming, who finds herself washed up in the suburbs and a stranger in her own life. Star is a fabulous writer who brings biting wit, deep insight, and masterful storytelling to the task I couldn't stop turning the pages to find out just how far these soccer-crazed people would go. First-rate satire and a great pleasure to read. Highly recommended for those who have known the competitive suburban scene, or really anyone who wakes up one day and says "how did i get here?"

Nancy Star gives us another of her witty takes on the world. This time it's suburbia and kids' sports, as Annie Fleming brings her change management skills home and tries to apply her corporate standards to her child and her soccer "career." This is a complex project that ends up requiring adaptation from everyone involved in unforeseen ways. Star is as compassionate as she is clever. The newsletters from the coach are unbelievably funny. Great writer, great book.

You don't have to be a soccer mom to enjoy Nancy Star's hilarious satire on the youth soccer scene. The writing is extremely sharp, and her ear for on- and off-field dialogue is pitch perfect. The cover of this book makes it seem like "chick lit," but this should be required reading for every suburban dad who coaches any youth sport, or just watches from the sidelines.