Book Review and Giveaway: Sparkly Green Earrings by Melanie Shankle

We love books from fellow bloggers, 

and this one was released last week to much acclaim and wonderful reviews! 

Synopsis: “There is really no better indicator you’re a mother than acquiring the ability to catch throw-up in a plastic bag, disinfect your hands, and immediately ask your friend to pass the beef jerky as you put on another Taylor Swift song and act as if nothing has happened.”

This is the type of insight Melanie Shankle offers in this quirky memoir of motherhood.

Written in the familiar, stream-of-consciousness style of her blog, Big Mama, Sparkly Green Earrings is a heartwarming and hilarious look at motherhood from someone who is still trying to figure it all out. Filled with personal stories—from the decision to become a mother to the heartbreak of miscarriage and ultimately, to the joy of raising a baby and living to tell about it—Sparkly Green Earrings will make you feel like you’re sitting across the table from your best friend. A must-read for anyone who’s ever had a child or even thought about it.

Excerpt- from the Back cover:

It’s not easy, but someone has to do it.

Okay. Y’all. Here’s the thing about motherhood. Before I had a child of my own, it was super easy. I had a lot of opinions about the right way to discipline, the way my child would dress, and how she would never throw a fit in public or embarrass me at the grocery store. I also believed the entire experience would be sweet and clean and beautiful, like one of those baby lotion commercials. (Bless my heart.)

Then I had Caroline.

And you know what? Real motherhood is different. It’s messier. It’s complicated. And it is . . . So. Much. Better.

It breaks your heart and makes you laugh harder than you ever could have imagined. It’s a little frightening. A lot gut wrenching. And quite possibly the most important thing you will ever do.

That’s what this book is about—my story about those fleeting moments that get swallowed up in the daily routine of car pools and soccer practice but come together in an indescribable way to make you a mama.

If you’re looking for an expert on the subject of motherhood, then I suggest you put this book down immediately. But if you just need to know you’re not the only person who has debated running away to a five-star hotel after spending hours “helping” your child with a school project, this is for you. (You are my people.) If nothing else, I hope it will keep you warm at night knowing someone else shares your brand of crazy.

Melanie (aka Big Mama) 


Review: I wanted to review (and offer the giveaway) today because at it's heart this book IS a love letter from Melanie to her daughter Caroline, and one that every mother will understand. 

I give Melanie props for being honest about her miscarriage and speaking about it, but I think if you spent more than 8 months trying to get pregnant, and having major issues, you might want to skip that chapter, as it might be a touch too glibe for you. However, you will then adore the rest of the book! I knew I would laugh my way through the book with chapters titles:

• the worst summer ever
• that time I didn't sleep for four years
• putting the crazy on display
• like a band of idiots we go down the highway
• the dream of the wheaties box

Melanie of from Texas, so that sorta makes her Southern. Oh hush- I know you Texans shut had an outcry, but there are some differences between Texas and the Deep South, and ya'll know it. This there were a few moments where I saw the differences, and others where I could relate, but not in the same way. And that's ok, as most of Melanie presents IS universal like projectile vomiting and changing your kid and their bed 6 times in one night.She also includes applicable bible verses, which actually makes the book a great idea for women's bible study groups too!

I would definitely put this book in any baby shower basket for a friend or relative having a little girl- as there are many things in it to learn from Melanie's mistakes, like learning NOT to have a large birthday party AND a slumber party later that night for a group of 6 year old girls. You want to sound like your mother- do those and you will!


About the Author:
Melanie Shankle writes daily on her blog, Big Mama. She is a graduate of Texas A&M and loves writing, shopping at Target, checking to see what's on sale at Anthropologie, and trying to find the funny in every situation. She will be emceeing Lifeway’s Dot.Mom Conference in Dallas this month as well!

Most of all, she loves being the mother of Caroline and the wife of her husband, Perry. The three of them live in San Antonio, Texas.


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Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book, free of charge, from Lynch PR, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it