book data
455 ratings, 3.69 average rating, 91 reviews
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published
June 23rd 1997
by Ballantine Books
binding
Paperback, 240 pages
isbn
0345419073
(isbn13: 9780345419071)
description
She has as much business keeping a stray dog as she would walking across Egypt–which not so incidentally is the title of her favorite hymn. She&...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 549)
Read in February, 2008
I really liked this book, but I didn't love it. The main character is Mattie, a woman who thinks she's "slowing down", and despite her prejudices and some totally irrational habits, she sincerely believes that she can affect her community for the better, one meal at a time. She's very human, and her naivite as well as her hypocrisy is enlightening.
Reading this reminded me of a lot of people I know, a lot of faults which I have, and the humor and good grace that gets me through it
Reading this reminded me of a lot of people I know, a lot of faults which I have, and the humor and good grace that gets me through it
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This is a story of an older woman, getting on in years but still able to live independantly. One day she has an unfortunate incident with one of her favorite chairs which leaves her stuck in a rather awkward position. While waiting for a repair man to come to her rescue, she recalls a sermon given recently at her church. It was concerning "the least of these" type of people. This is a heart warming tale about standing up for what you belive and caring for others. I really enjoyed
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Re-read Egypt again yesterday as I looked through favorite books having to do with food and eating; Edgerton's descriptions of the men in Mattie's life in thrall to her good, old-fashioned, simple Southern cooking - apple pie, pound cake, tomatoes and other vegetables from her garden, and so on - are so convincing as to make it possible to believe that Wesley is actually gonna behave himself, stop smoking, even to go to church, after he moves in.
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Read in January, 2001
This book contains my favorite description ever. I won't give it away, but the scene has to do with dirty dishes, a soap opera, and chair seats being recovered.
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Read in September, 2008
Walking Across Egypt was this month's selection for our little neighborhood book group. We've tackled Mister Pip, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, The Story of Lucy Gault among others. So it was time for a break -- hence this book. And what a book it is.
Mattie is the main character here, and she lives in rural North Carolina by herself, although her two children come every so often to visit. At 78, she does fine for herself, although in her words, s...more
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Read in September, 2008
So far I like it...much better than Fred Chappell's I Am One of You Forever, which is also southern fiction. This humor is more subtle, and less slapsticky (is that a word?). We'll see by the end...
What a funny little book. It was definitely worth the read, and the author painted a vivid & hilarious portrait of a traditional old southern woman trying to live a proper life. What was exception about this book, as compared to other comedic books of southern life (Fred Chappell's books, ...more
What a funny little book. It was definitely worth the read, and the author painted a vivid & hilarious portrait of a traditional old southern woman trying to live a proper life. What was exception about this book, as compared to other comedic books of southern life (Fred Chappell's books, ...more
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Read in August, 2008
recommended to Jennifer by:
Sheppard Memorial Libraryrecommends it for: anyone who likes rich character development and is interested in culture in the South
I read this because it is our library's 'one book, one community' choice for this year. The author is local, and it is set in eastern North Carolina. It is sweet and funny, and I like the development of the characters. They're multi-faceted and interesting. I feel like it helped me understand the culture and viewpoints of the religious people I am surrounded by here. I find myself very curious as to the author's religious beliefs and his purpose in writing this book. He shows how important...more
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<b>Favorite Quotes<b>
She walked into the kitchen, turned on the light and saw through the window that the eastern sky as dark red. It was her favorite time of the day. She stepped out onto the back step. It was cool. She also liked it when it was cold and she could stand there taking in the cold morning while the sky was red, and time stopped stood still, and rested for a minute. People thought that time never stood still, except in Joshua when the sun stood still; but she knew t...more
She walked into the kitchen, turned on the light and saw through the window that the eastern sky as dark red. It was her favorite time of the day. She stepped out onto the back step. It was cool. She also liked it when it was cold and she could stand there taking in the cold morning while the sky was red, and time stopped stood still, and rested for a minute. People thought that time never stood still, except in Joshua when the sun stood still; but she knew t...more
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Read in August, 2008
recommended to Gloria by:
Book club.recommends it for: Everyone
This is certainly a very fun book, but makes you think about all the issues facing us today. Mattie is truly a wonderful person, but (as well all do) has her faults. She does truly make the best food, though. Would love to be at her house for Sunday dinner....it would be a hoot because you just don't know who is going to show up at her table.
Clyde Edgerton will be visiting us in Cabarrus County in the next month, and I cannot wait to meet him. Hopefully, he will be as comical as all his ...more
Clyde Edgerton will be visiting us in Cabarrus County in the next month, and I cannot wait to meet him. Hopefully, he will be as comical as all his ...more
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Wonderful characters. Small town North Carolina. Colloquial. White trash with heart. Laugh out loud dialog and events. Snowball effect action. Matriarch is protagonist. Older widow, a lot smarter then she let's on, feeds everyone in her comfy country kitchen, from the local dog-catcher to a juvenile hall escapee. Delicious butter beans, biscuits, iced tea and country food are endlessly available in her kitchen, as all lives get jumbled together and changed in some way due to Mattie Riggsbee's he...more
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Wonderful and funny. I just discovered Clyde Edgerton. Walking Across Egypt was written 20 years ago.It is a "southern" novel published by Algonquin. It is an easy quick read with lots of dialogue and humour. Main character is a 78 year old independent God loving Christian woman who gets involved with a 16 year who escapes from prison and wants to help him.She wants to fix his teeth, cut his hair, and bring him to Jesus. Mattie's neighbors are all small town southerners who are always...more
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Read in February, 2008
Perhaps my expectations were too high to start out with, but I was disappointed in this book. I decided to read it because I had seen the movie. I think that the movie was an improvement on the book. The movie was inspirational and quite moving. Perhaps the movie was more believable as far as the final outcome because a relationship had been formed in the movie in a way that it wasn't in the book, not to mention the respect that Wesley had formed for "grandma". This, I think was a...more
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Read in January, 1997
recommended to Kim by:
Mother
One of the funniest books I've ever read. At one point, I had to put the book down and regain my composure, and now, years later, just thinking about that particular scene in the book, I still get the giggles. But it's not all fun and games. The story deals with some real-life difficulties in a straightforward, unblinking way and warms your heart even while you are laughing.
The characters are real and believable. I'm from the south, and I swear I've met some of them. And I've never even bee...more
The characters are real and believable. I'm from the south, and I swear I've met some of them. And I've never even bee...more
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I was immediately drawn to the character of Mattie in this book! I think I related to her sense of duty, but also her strength of character and desire to live life in her own independent way. I laughed til I cried at the mess she created for herself when she gave in to her guilty pleasure of watching her soap opera before doing her dishes (how deplorable!)and then her worry over someone finding her out! Her relationship with Wesley is priceless!
Read in September, 2008
The beginning was one of the funniest starts to any novel I've read, but once the story progressed and things got more serious, the outbursts of laughter became merely sporadic. Still, Edgerton accurately captures Southern life in a manner that says a lot about the culture without losing control. I'm interested to hear what folks who didn't grow up in the South have to say about it. Should be a fun discussion with my library's Book Club!
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Read in July, 2008
What a hoot! Loved this book about an aging southern woman negotiating the trials of age and community. Laughed out loud reading about her escapades with a stray dog, the dogcather, two gun toting neighbors, a daughter and son who aren't producing grandchildren, chairs without seats, and an escaped juvenile deliquent. All this and a good hot meal! Great read for any book club!
WAE is an entertaining quick read as we discover the wisdom, wit and fine cooking skills of a 78 year old compassionate widow. She's an outspoken Christian who leans on the Lord, sings His praises, but like all of us, sometimes pinballs right into the pit of a disaster, although in her case they are hilarious moments that kept me laughing! I'm going to read Raney next.
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Read in January, 2002
The story of a spunky 78 year old woman who treats every ailment and person with good food. She tries always to do the right thing. Becomes involved with a delinquent teenage boy and tries to change him. Fun to read. Takes place in North Carolina. Some gentle madcap adventures of an ordinary independent older woman whom her adult children think is getting senile.
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Read in February, 2008
Just a sweet book - another laugh out loud author. I have also read "Raney" and "The Floatplane Notebooks" by him.
TFN will make you cry, Roar.
But the other two are funny and sweet, with just a smidge of sadness, not bad.
Set in the South, small towns, and the characters overlap from book to book.
This was my third time reading this title.
TFN will make you cry, Roar.
But the other two are funny and sweet, with just a smidge of sadness, not bad.
Set in the South, small towns, and the characters overlap from book to book.
This was my third time reading this title.
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Read in August, 2008
The main theme was good, but there was a fair amount of swearing - some of the bad ones, too. So, if you want to avoid swear words, I'd advise against this book. But, if you can read around the bad words, it has a good message and is fun to read. We read it for Book Group, otherwise I may not have read this book.
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to-read (on 60 people's shelves)
fiction (on 18 people's shelves)
currently-reading (on 15 people's shelves)
currently-reading (on 15 people's shelves)
southern-lit (on 5 people's shelves)
southern-lit (on 5 people's shelves)
general-fiction (on 3 people's shelves)
general-fiction (on 3 people's shelves)
reminder-list (on 2 people's shelves)
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