Go the F*** to Sleep

I read the reviews when it came out and meant to buy it but forgot. Thanks for the reminder.
It's not OF COURSE meant for children.

I don't like to hear children in the playground use the word and I don't much care to hear youths in the street using it as every other word but as a book title I have the choice to read it or not so it doesn't bother me.

jangly, I agree, but it will sell the book, and we are having some quite heated discussion about it.

I think it is a shame to use the word "fuck" as a swear word. I mean, most people at times, very much enjoy doing it. Its an essential part of most people's lives,and it ensures continuation of the race. Why do we de-base a perfectly good anglo saxon word for doing something so nice? I just don't get it really.

But since we have de-based it and it offends most people, then its best avoided. And its ridiculous to write a whole book of silly rhymes with the word in each of them

Yesterday's Times 2 supplement had a very good article about this book - apparently the film rights have been sold to Fox in the USA and they are working on a toned down version for children.
Having read one of the rhymes it did make me smile and take me back to trying to get the little dears off to sleep....when you're exhausted and they want to chat!

Well said, twobabes. what you said in your last line is bang on. Those who think they are taking the moral high ground on this have just failed to grasp the essence of the thing altogether.

Have read an on-line version of this and I think it's brilliant.

It took me straight back to the early days of motherhood and the exhaustion and sheer desperation of having a baby who would not sleep.My daughter sent it to me - she's going through the same with her little ones and thought it was spot on..

As for the WORD, it's not one I choose to use in conversation but in this context it's absolutely perfect. "Go the gosh to sleep" just doesn't do it for me!

This book was not written for children, but for their poor parents - isn't that obvious? It does, however, need a functioning sense of humour in the reader.

baggythecrust ...

crimson it appears to be a book of four line rhymes, each with the f word in. I think its meant to make parents feel better about how they feel when their baby won't sleep.

supernana, you're super! I think it shows great strength to step back. Unfortunately, or otherwise (depending on viewpoint), I so strongly believe in freedom of speech, even about things that are disliked, that I can't keep my big mouth shut! Hey ho. Thank you for your kindness.

I thought it was a self help sort of book? [badly needed in my family]. If it's poetry I'll give it a miss, and it sounds as if the f word was just to get a bit of publicity.

baggythecrust I most certainly did not ask GG to put in the asterisks. My message to you was because I'm taking a step back and retreating to the quiet corner as opposed to having "my say" regarding matters that seem to cause a bit of a hoo-ha [with other GN]. I'm certain that we haven't come to blows on any matter and I apologise if my point has been misunderstood. I think that you are a lovely Gransnetter.

Geraldine - I think the asteriks are good. They imply that you don't really want to actually say the word.

From the write-up in the paper it sounds as if it just a collection of pathetic little rhymes all with the f-word in them. Can't see the point. The rhymes quoted didn't make me laugh, and they were the sort of thing any non-poet could easily trot out.

"Not funny and not clever" literally applies, I reckon.

Oh dear, some people object to Hi as well. I'm doomed!

Hi supernana, I liked your story about the Saab in the 'don't you just?' thread. I was shocked that it happened in Cornwall. Sorry, I hadn't noticed that you'd refrained from commenting on this thread. Was it you who asked GG to put the asterisks? As I said, that's fine by me. As I also said, somewhere, that I don't use swear words much because some people are upset by them and because I don't often feel the need. I don't understand quite what the problem is with their use when no offence is intended, but that's no reason to fall out with anyone and I have no intention of doing so. Do have a glass of wine from my virtual bottle.
Cheers, baggy.

baggythecrust Are you impressed with the way I'm refraining from commenting on this particular issue? I hate falling out with people - find it difficult to sleep etc. Maybe I'm a wimp! Seems to me that I'm better off toddling to the quiet corner to enjoy some virtual getawayfromitall...

GG, glad I didn't have to make that decision. Fine by me but really rather funny because it's still perfectly obvious what the word is so what, exactly, do people think they are avoiding? How are they avoiding more by seeing three asterisks representing three letters when they know what the letters are?

You don't have to answer.

Chickened out of asking for it in Waterstones today......

I would agree with Jackyann. Of course the use of F***K has almost passed into the common language, but I try to explain to my grandsons (in particular the eight year old), that it is not nice to use such word. Therefore I cannot think any case when its use would be justifiable. It would be a case do as I say not as I do....For me this word has in fact little meaning (I am French), but I know that it is offensive to many others therefore don't use it. As a rule

Sounds like an ideal present for my daughter. Thanks I would not have heard about it without gransnet.

It has occurred to me that those people in the 'don't understand' brigade whom I referred to in my previous post, may regard such words as we are talking about as intrinsically violent. I understand that view even though I don't agree with it. I feel the same about actual physical violence in films or written descriptions of it and I avoid both.

crimson, I can't think of a better title just at present but will allow my brain to work on it. The fact that the current title has provoked a storm of polarised views is proof that it is, in fact, perfect for the job. Those who see the humour that I'm sure the author intended, understand instantly what is meant and remember the exact feeling that the situation causes. Those who only see the particular arrangement of four letters and don't stop to think about meaning or intentions or humour are losing out by being narrow-minded. They don't seem to understand (or to want to understand) that everyone, including those of us who laugh at stuff like this, hates abusive language, but that this usage cannot be defined as abusive by any stretch of the imagination. They've just plonked it into their index verborum prohibitorum with a don't look, don't ask, don't question, don't find out, don't learn attitude.

What would everyone suggest as an alternative title to sum up what the author is trying to get across in one sentence? How do you get across how it feels when you're desperatley tired yourself and your children just won't sleep? I think tiredness is my main memory of being a young mother, and I remember giving my daughter phenergan one night and feeling awful about doing to [everyone told me it was good for getting them to sleep in moments of desperation]. Don't think it worked, and, I understand that it can have the opposite effect [affect?] with some children and make them hyperactive!