I Don't Know How She Does It: A Comedy about Failure, a Tragedy about Success

Acomedyaboutfailure,atragedyaboutsuccess,IDon'tKnowHowSheDoesItistheuntoldstoryoftheprofessionalworkingmumatthestartofthe21stcentury.WithoutadoubtthehottestthingsinceBridgetJones'sDiary,butthinkBridgetJones'sgrownup,sophisticated,literarysisterwithtwosmallchildrenandafull-timeCitycareerandyou'reonlypartwaytothegeniusofthisnovel.Avictimoftimefamine,thirty-five-year-oldKatecountssecondslikeotherwomencountcalories.Assherunsbetweenappointments,throughherheadspoolsthecrazytape-loopofeveryhigh-flyingmother'slife:clientreports,bouncycastles,BobTheBuilder,transatlanticphonecalls,dentalappointments,pelvicfloorexercises,flightstoNewYork,sex(tooknackered),andstress-bustingmassagesshealwayshastocancel(toobusy).Factorinacontrollingnanny,achauvinistAustralianboss,along-sufferinghusband,twodemandingchildrenandane-maillover,andyouhaveawomanjugglingsomanyballsthatsomedaysoonsomething'sgoingtohittheground.Pearsonbringshersharpwitandcompassionateintelligencetothishilariousand,attimes,piercinglysadstudyofthehumancostoftryingtoHaveItAll.WomeneverywherearealreadytalkingabouttheKateReddycolumnwhichappearsweeklyintheDailyTelegraph,andrecommendingittotheirsisters,mothers,friendsandeventheirbewilderedpartners.ThisfictionaldebutbyoneofBritain'smostgiftedjournalistsisthesubjectofamoviedealwithMiramaxrumouredtobeforalmost$1millionandhassoldaroundtheworld,sparkingbiddingwarsinSpain,GermanyandJapan.EveryoneisgettingReddyforKate.