Scan barcode
jswolf's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
cutecoil's review against another edition
4.0
The entire book reads like a stand up comedy act. A lot of it was dated, since the book is quite old, but most of it still rings true if you are a parent. The last chapter of the book was my favorite. It wasn't funny at all, but heartbreaking and all too real. Over all, a very enjoyable read!
mindsplinters's review against another edition
3.0
Much more approachable than the last one I read. The humor felt more timeless, the writing flowed more naturally for my brain, and there were unexpected points of bittersweet within the lines. Especially in the last set of essays. I damn near cried at the one describing the gradual role reversal of mother and child.
booksandbraids's review against another edition
Over the past year or so I have had 3 different people tell me to read Erma Bombeck for various reasons. For Christmas, my grandparents got me a couple of the books because they say that my letters remind them of her writing. I have been meaning to read her books since January 2020 but other books kept getting in the way. Finally this lined up perfectly with a BookishFirst Bingo board square, a book with food on the cover, giving me the push to finally commit.
I guess I can sort of see what my grandparents mean when they say my letters remind them of this writing... instead of writing about the woes of motherhood, I am writing about the woes of a full-time job during a pandemic.
A lot of this was outdated, but I was able to appreciate it regardless.
The ending chapter about the parent becoming the child was actually very serious for the most part and sort of sad-- it reminded me of my mother-in-law's experience with her mother.
I guess I can sort of see what my grandparents mean when they say my letters remind them of this writing... instead of writing about the woes of motherhood, I am writing about the woes of a full-time job during a pandemic.
A lot of this was outdated, but I was able to appreciate it regardless.
The ending chapter about the parent becoming the child was actually very serious for the most part and sort of sad-- it reminded me of my mother-in-law's experience with her mother.
debsuvra's review against another edition
4.0
The book is a collection of comic shorts, kind of like a compilation of stand up acts. The beauty of the text is in its fluency and the witty sarcasm that portray the nitty-gritties of life of a mother and housewife in the seventies. The author didn't try to take anything seriously and preach which would have turned it into a do-it-yourself motherhood book, but just shared her remarks on how the family life was treating her. It's a definite fun read, I don't see why a reader won't connect with it.
hlavigne82's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book because I know Bombeck was one of my grandmother’s favorite writers back in the day. Some of the the stuff was cute and other pieces haven’t aged quite so well, but it was fun to read some of the same columns that would have given my grandmother a good laugh. ♥️
adecka3's review against another edition
4.0
Hilarious! Fun! Very much a quick, amusing, and lighthearted read for ANY parent!