servemethesky's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.5
It’s funny to read reviews of this calling her a “boring 40s/50s housewife.” Folks seem to miss the subtle, incisive humor and the playfulness and joy of children.
There are lots of funny stories about Shirley’s kids, and jabs at her husband, who was semi useless though still a fixture of their family life.
This made me very glad that I am alive now rather than in the 40s/50s. I also found it interesting that Shirley makes no reference to her own fiction writing; I’m sure it was strategic to make these more relatable to the Good Housekeeping and Mademoiselle readers these were aimed at.
All in all, this was fascinating and fun to read. I can see how the playful, quirky, weirdness of her children comes through in Shirley’s fiction.
There are lots of funny stories about Shirley’s kids, and jabs at her husband, who was semi useless though still a fixture of their family life.
This made me very glad that I am alive now rather than in the 40s/50s. I also found it interesting that Shirley makes no reference to her own fiction writing; I’m sure it was strategic to make these more relatable to the Good Housekeeping and Mademoiselle readers these were aimed at.
All in all, this was fascinating and fun to read. I can see how the playful, quirky, weirdness of her children comes through in Shirley’s fiction.
heyjude1965's review against another edition
4.0
Real and funny. A glimpse of the 1950s (she was smoking while in labor!) from a very talented writer.
becka6131's review
4.0
If I had even a TENTH of Shirley Jackson's dry wit, I would be a formidable woman
akbhatia's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I had no idea this was non-fiction until someone asked me what I was reading and I saw it printed along the bottom of the back page. If it weren’t for the absence of tech , you’d probably also be hard pressed to tell exactly when it was written. To me that is the essence of great writing. Funny and wry to boot.
tflaherty's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
So relatable and readable!