Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
375th out of 527 books
—
348 voters
James Thurber: 92 Stories
A massive anthology of short fiction by the ever-popular humorist, parodist, and cartoonist features ninety-two of Thurber's hilarious, offbeat stories about marriage, aging, family, and everyday life.
Hardcover, 522 pages
Published
June 14th 1994
by Random House Value Publishing
(first published 1990)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
191)
As my first encounter with Thurber and his stream-of-consciousness writing, I found many of his tales completely bewildering or simply hysterical. He usually latches onto a small subsection of a larger picture and then dissects it to hell and back until he no longer feels like writing about it (which he states to end several of his stories). At times I did find jokes going far over my head and references to characters from the 1940's and 50's were lost, but the general idea was at least easy to...more
This book was my bedtime reading for several months; it contains stories from several of James Thurber’s short story collections, but oddly does not contain “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”. Even so, Thurber makes wonderful reading, at bedtime or any other time.
I do not know who coined the term “the war between the sexes”, but Thurber’s characters not only believe that there is such a war, but that women are winning. Thurber’s men are diffident, argumentative, and submissive to their women; Thu...more
I do not know who coined the term “the war between the sexes”, but Thurber’s characters not only believe that there is such a war, but that women are winning. Thurber’s men are diffident, argumentative, and submissive to their women; Thu...more
I borrowed this from my mother-in-law and I don't think she's getting it back. Thurber is very much a product of his times (his attitude towards women, for instance, is very 1930s, and also somehow bound up in his attitude towards cars) but most of the jokes are just as funny today -- even, somehow, the ones about contemporary literary theory or self-help books. Maybe the context hasn't changed as much as we think it has over the last 70 years.
This book covers a lot of ground, both fiction and p...more
This book covers a lot of ground, both fiction and p...more
Thurber is one of the most consistently enjoyable writers I've ever come across, and this collection was well worth the time. From the "battle of the sexes" chronicles to the explorations of husbandly daydreaming, from the hilarious "Pet department" Q&A piece to the still-relevant "Let Your Mind Alone!" lampooning of self-help authors, I just loved this book.
And the drawing of the horse peeking from behind the curtains makes me laugh out loud every time I see it.
And the drawing of the horse peeking from behind the curtains makes me laugh out loud every time I see it.
If I had three wishes, I think I would spend one on meeting James Thurber. I just love everything he does. I OD'd a little on this one near the end, trying to finish it quickly, but if you read it in moderation, his little pieces are nearly perfect. The story "One is a Wanderer" shocked me in a good way, dark and sad amid so many laughs.
Thurber makes me laugh out loud. There are some dated references but damn, just funny stuff overall, and with less of the bitter aftertaste of Dorothy Parker. My copy of this book has an amusing introduction by E. B. White. Yep, those fellers just make me laugh.
Oct 28, 2009
Becky
added it
I originally heard of John Thurber from reading "The New Yorker." I was thrilled to be snooping around my parents bookshelves only to find this collection of short stories!! I have really been enjoying them!!
Most of the stories I read were amusing, and I wish I could have finished them all, but I had to return it to its owner before leaving California.
Mar 27, 2008
Amy
marked it as to-read
This auther was recommended in the "comedy" genre in the book Honey for a Woman's Heart.
Great little short stories from a time gone by.
Funny and interesting. Fun to read aloud.
"The Catbird Seat" is Carp-500
A wry wit if ever...
May 13, 2013
Gregory Rudebaugh
marked it as to-read
May 10, 2013
Aaron
marked it as to-read
Apr 29, 2013
Mary catherine
marked it as to-read
Apr 28, 2013
Renee Parisio
is currently reading it
Apr 27, 2013
Kate
added it
Apr 23, 2013
Sanjay
marked it as to-read
Apr 15, 2013
Suzielightning312
marked it as to-read
Apr 14, 2013
Kelsey
marked it as to-read
Mar 26, 2013
Amy C.C. Hsiao
marked it as to-read
Mar 25, 2013
Egle Lõuk
marked it as to-read
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Thurber was born in Columbus, Ohio to Charles L. Thurber and Mary Agnes (Mame) Fisher Thurber. Both of his parents greatly influenced his work. His father, a sporadically employed clerk and minor politician who dreamed of being a lawyer or an actor, is said to have been the inspiration for the small, timid protagonist typical of many of his stories. Thurber described his mother as a "born comedien...more
More about James Thurber...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
I had a Thurber collection once. I gave it away several years ago--an act that I now regret. (Oh well, I guess that means it's out there for...more
Jul 15, 2008 07:49pm