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Despite the engaging writing style, I found this book a bit of a hard slog. Possibly because it was so far away from my experience of the menopause that it seemed like a fairy tale, something I couldn’t relate to at all. Whilst the beginning isn’t particularly happy or uplifting, it is informative and insightful about the impact hormones and midlife can have on women. It sets the stage. As the story develops and the author opens up, with the help of her therapist, we see a much more content and accepting person. It gave me a huge dollop of much-needed perspective: my out-of-proportion worries seemed smaller than they had before. It gave me gratitude. I’d always assumed menopause was about hot flashes and rage but, for me, these were not the most extreme symptoms. I had the terrifying feeling I’d lost my mind completely. I didn’t know what was happening, I felt I was having a catastrophic breakdown. Not only could I not remember details, I couldn’t remember who I was. It felt like I’d left my body and skin and gone somewhere else. I absolutely did not believe for a second that this could be anything to do with hormones. But as soon as I started HRT, I felt so much better. It worked within 24 hours – I was amazed. Raw and real and laugh-out-loud funny. So timely... Quilt on Fire is like a supportive friend reaching out a hand, saying it will be okay Karen Angelico, author of EVERYTHING WE ARE
In her early twenties, Christie Watson was convinced she'd found her soulmate, in a glowing flash of light that turned out to be a tealight setting her quilt on fire. Twenty years later, her bed is burning once again... as she wakes in a perimenopausal sweat, night after night. My guest today is Trixi Symonds, an author and softie designer who has been teaching sewing to children for over 30 years. She is the founder of Sew Your Own Softie on Etsy Australia, and the Global Kids Sewing Party every year in March to inspire adults around the world to sew with kids in their lives.You don't have to be in midlife to appreciate this funny, real, empathetic memoir about the multitudes contained in every woman... You'll feel as if you've found a kindred spirit Red I adore Christie Watson. Quilt on Fire is full of her trademark candour, compassion and humour' Elizabeth Day
A superb chronicle of midlife and the chaos of the perimenopause. Candid, humorous, insightful, deeply empathetic, inspiring and utterly necessary' i Paper Really important but it’s still quite a difficult conversation to have; it’s something new, not something they’re taught in schools but it affects children because it affects their mums and grandmas. Sensational and so necessary. I really needed this book and I definitely won't be the only one. Women everywhere will weep with gratitude Tiffany Atkinson, author of LUMEN A laugh-out-loud, haunting and beautifully crafted manual' Dreda Say Mitchell, author of Say Her Name Considering that Christie Watson is a nurse and an academic this is a surprisingly non-medical ‘guidebook’ to the ‘messy’ perimenopause build-up to menopause. If you are having a particularly bad time emotionally, and struggling with a sense of self (and self-worth) you may find this to be an empathetic and comforting read. I did not connect with it on many points and mostly found it a tiresome slog to read.
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Hilarious, heartfelt and deeply moving, Christie has written a manifesto for all those of us who need to rediscover a life worth loving. A must-read Kate Bowler, author of EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON Quilt on Fire follows this 40-something author into the dark and rarely headlined world of peri menopause; into the mystery of midlife, and the impact this has on women. She has three wonderful books under her belt, including one that she coauthored with one of my past podcast guests, Deborah Fisher. Remember her adorable ceramics? That was Episode # 65. You write well about middle age’s pitfalls and the feel-bad power, for most of us, of social media. How does Christie Watson do it? No-one depicts with greater wisdom and tenderness the unruly, bewildering, mercurial gorgeousness of the human body. I adored this book Rachel Clarke, author of DEAR LIFE
A rallying cry for all those confused by their forties, Watson captures midlife with typical fearlessness, humour and style. Her writer's eye never looks away from the truth but seeks only to illuminate it. Every woman should read this book Sarah Langford, author of IN YOUR DEFENCE I heard Watson speak at the Cambridge Literary Festival and I have a dreadful weakness for buying author’s books at literary events. I think that some women (probably ones who are 40-47) will find this book useful - just as a good, open talk with a friend is useful - but I’m past the stage where I felt like it had anything to offer me. I personally didn’t find it funny, although I’m sure that other women will do. It was far too anecdotal and not nearly factual enough although she does make an attempt to intersperse her MANY personal anecdotes with some psychological and occasionally medical information about this volatile period in a women’s life.
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The first couple of chapters I found to be honest, grey, fearful and a little depressing. There was much discussion about how women change, how nobody talks it, and how nobody told the author about it. Or at least she wasn’t listening if they did. I first heard about Christie Watson from a nurse friend, who pressed me to read her books; somehow I never got round to it and life moved on. When I heard about this one, about midlife (the very stage I’m at!) and peri menopause, I treated myself. Although slightly older than the author, I was pretty sure that there would be stuff I could relate to. spots full! We have room for 100 students. Join us Dec. 6th at 5pm PST for a Complimentary Mystery Holiday Workshop on MadeTV! It's a fun little project! Get ready for a festive adventure with the Quilter on Fire (a.k.a Brandy Maslowski) in this live holiday workshop! Join Brandy for a super fun mini mystery workshop where you’ll create a handy little gift that you can replicate for everyone on your Christmas list. Go to this link and scroll down to Dec. 6th. You'll find her! https://madetvnetwork.com/event-calendar/ At times Christie is so brutally honest that I felt quite uncomfortable reading it and couldn’t imagine that her children would be happy with the level of exposure which she revealed about her personal life. Generous notes from the heat of female experience. Read it with a sigh of relief and gratitude Diana Evans, author of ORDINARY PEOPLE
I adore Christie Watson. Quilt on Fire is full of her trademark candour, compassion and humour Elizabeth Day A frank, funny and inspiring new memoir from Christie Watson about the search for meaning in midlife Christie Watson is deliciously funny and candid about life as a perimenopausal woman in all its (sweaty) glory. A book to gift sisters, mothers and friends i, *Christmas Gift Guide 2022*Misogyny. And there is also a pandemic of ageism in the UK – we do not value the wisdom of older people enough. There are cultures in west Africa where older women are revered as they should be and seen as having superpowers – which I love. The idea is that once you’re over the hump of the perimenopause, where I am now, you gain your superpowers. If that’s my future, I’m really happy about it. This novel follows the 40 something author as she navigates her mid life and the start of perimenopause. The novel highlights how she was unaware of the many changes that happen to women during this age and how it impacted many areas of her life. She also discusses her thoughts on love and relationships both when she was younger and also when she hit midlife.
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