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carriedoodledoo's review against another edition
4.0
This book is the companion to "Life with Mother" by the same author (or perhaps it's the other way around, I'm not exactly certain which was published first). Each chapter is an anecdote about the author's father, and the love is very evident.
pamperedlinny's review against another edition
4.0
I've always enjoyed the film Life With Father and wanted to read the original play.
annalynn912's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
h0wtodisappear's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
howtod1sappear's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
kefletcher's review against another edition
3.0
Fun, funny, good read-aloud. Gruff dad and some antiquated ideas but it's a good period piece.
cmbohn's review against another edition
3.0
The book is written as a memoir by the oldest son, who recalls growing up with an autocratic serious father in New York City in the 1880s. At first, I couldn’t stand Clare, as the dad was called. He was strict, grouchy, authoritarian and humorless. But as I got into the book, I began to pick up on the humor of a man who despite knowing exactly how the world ought to be run, finds that people around him never quite go along with his plans. The humor of the situation began to grow on me and I wound up enjoying the book.
One of the best parts of the book was the setting. I loved reading about the ice delivery, about dining at Delmonico’s, about installing the newfangled telephone. Eventually I decided that dads haven’t changed much in the last 120 years after all.
One of the best parts of the book was the setting. I loved reading about the ice delivery, about dining at Delmonico’s, about installing the newfangled telephone. Eventually I decided that dads haven’t changed much in the last 120 years after all.
krs1st1chase's review against another edition
5.0
Love this book so much! A bunch of short stories about Day's boyhood and his father. Day's father reminds me of a Mr. Darling (Peter Pan) or Mr. Banks (Mary Poppins). Laughing the entire time!
jlmb's review against another edition
3.0
I love the William Powell/Irene Dunne movie "Life with Father" so darn much that it is hard to gauge how much I liked this book, without it's relationship to the classic movie. Maybe I wouldn't have liked Father's bluster as much? Maybe it would have seemed borderline abusive/narcissistic? Who knows, because my pleasure in the book is intertwined with the movie. It's more 3 1/2 stars than 3.
If you haven't seen the movie, I think you should watch it before reading the book. Then, if you like the movie, you can pick up this book of lightly related essays in order to extend your enjoyment of the story. The chapters are fun reads but can be a bit redundant if you read too many at once. Best to read one or two a night.
If you haven't seen the movie, I think you should watch it before reading the book. Then, if you like the movie, you can pick up this book of lightly related essays in order to extend your enjoyment of the story. The chapters are fun reads but can be a bit redundant if you read too many at once. Best to read one or two a night.
yeahdeadslow's review against another edition
4.0
I always read with sick fascination those [true] stories of eccentric, overbearing fathers (The Mitford's Farve, Cheaper by the Dozen's Mr. Gilbreth). Clarence Day Sr. fits very well on that list, no question. Reading those books with "those fathers" always makes me thankful that my father is not so overwhelmingly obsessed with things being just so.
The main reason I read this is because I like the movie. While the book was just as amusing, it did lack one thing: William Powell. (Does this complaint sound familiar? That's because it's the same one I used after reading The Thin Man! I guess you could say I have a thing for him, yes. Strange, really since I don't tend to like mustached men. And actually, Life With Father was the movie that introduced me to him!)
The main reason I read this is because I like the movie. While the book was just as amusing, it did lack one thing: William Powell. (Does this complaint sound familiar? That's because it's the same one I used after reading The Thin Man! I guess you could say I have a thing for him, yes. Strange, really since I don't tend to like mustached men. And actually, Life With Father was the movie that introduced me to him!)