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49th out of 77 books
—
22 voters
How to Die of Embarrassment Every Day
by
Ann Hodgman
Ann Hodgman is a funny lady. In this book, she explains how she got that way. But the book only goes up through sixth grade.
After that, her life became so embarrassing that writing it down would have caused the pages to burst into flames....more
After that, her life became so embarrassing that writing it down would have caused the pages to burst into flames....more
Hardcover, 224 pages
Published
May 10th 2011
by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
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Ann Hodgman offers readers a nostalgic buffet of memories, divided into categories which recount her life experiences growing up in post WWII America. She tells what school was like, parties, playing with friends and her hopes and dreams. There's no story line to speak of, just a collection of memories, nostalgia and vintage pictures of people, toys and books. The author also adds experiences of her mother as a child, things about her husband, and even some current "funny" experiences she's seen...more
Great memoir of the author's life through 6th grade and I especially enjoyed it as she was born the same year as I was and was raised in Rochester, Ny, as I was. I especially enjoyed her memories of the high diving board at Perkin's Swim Club as I have those same memories from taking swim lessons there also....who knows, we could have been in the same swim class! I only gave it three stars because while I enjoyed it, I am not sure kids,the intended audience, will enjoy it as much. The title is m...more
An entertaining account of Hodgman's childhood in the 50s and 60s, unusually told to a child audience. However, I don't know how much of this will actually intrigue children, even though it is written in a breezy, funny tone that never, ever condescends. At moments she seems to ramble a bit, sticking in anecdotes that don't really relate to each other, but most of the time she ties everything together. And no matter what age the reader is, there will be sympathetic moments. A fun read with a gre...more
A wry memoir by an author that most children have never heard of might be a hard sell. But Ann Hodgman provides a humorous look at her childhood through sixth grade, and no matter what age the reader is, there will be sympathetic moments.
Casual and chatty, in the introduction, Hodgman states, “This isn’t a regular book. You don’t have to read the chapters in order. As a matter of fact, they’re not even exactly chapters. Some of them are so short that they’re really more like paragraphs, or what...more
Casual and chatty, in the introduction, Hodgman states, “This isn’t a regular book. You don’t have to read the chapters in order. As a matter of fact, they’re not even exactly chapters. Some of them are so short that they’re really more like paragraphs, or what...more
It's hard for me to do this book justice in a review because I loved it so much personally. I do wonder how it's going to go over with kids in my library once I return it and put it out on the shelf. It has a great cover, which looks similar to a lot of novels for this age group, which I think gives it a huge advantage, but a memoir about an author kids have never heard of might be a hard sell. But if they pick it up and read a few pages, I think kids will find themselves zipping through to the...more
I'm giving this memoir 3.5 stars. Ann Hodgman grew up in the 60s & we have a lot in common. We both grew up in NY and were middle sibs. Maybe that's why I was a bit dissatisfied...for some reason I wanted it to more closely mirror my experiences. I know that's not being fair, but I'm not sure if kids will like this one. Maybe my Dear Dumb Diaries girls will appreciate it???
This is supposed to be for children. However I think they would require way to much explanation and wouldn't get the stories without their parents sitting and reading it to them. An older child probably 12 or 13 would have a better chance of grasping the ideas. I enjoyed it as an adult and could relate to Ann on many occasions.
This would be great to use with upper elementary and middle school students, good read-aloud potential, good inspiration for writing projects. Ann's embarrassing childhood memories are things most people would relate to; I know the stories made me remember some cringe-worthy moments from my own past.
Kinda funny though probably not to most kids (its target audience). Reminds me of Knucklehead by Jon Sciescka, except Knucklehead had ample grossout humor (which never goes out of style). I think older adults who grew up in this era would like it. Like my mom...or your mom.
A funny memoir from right here in Rochester. She's friends with my sister's sister-in-law, but I don't know if they knew each other in their early years. It was fun wondering if any of the friends whose names she changed could have been someone I know now.
This is one of those books that makes me laugh every time I read it. This book was seriously one of the greatest ones I've ever read. I mean, who wouldn't laugh at the time the author broke a swimming pool, or watched a terrible Superman TV episode, or sang a song a little off. Plus all the names she gives her teachers-hilarious! Anyway, it's a really funny book and I would definitely recommend it to someone.
Frank, chatty snippets of childhood reminiscence.
May 09, 2013
Jenn
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Ann Hodgman (born 1956) is an American author of more than forty children's books as well as several cookbooks and humor books and many magazine articles.
Ann was raised in Rochester, New York and graduated from Harvard College, where she was a staff member on the Harvard Lampoon and the Harvard Advocate. She was the food columnist for the magazines Spy and Eating Well. Her essay "No Wonder They Ca...more
More about Ann Hodgman...
Ann was raised in Rochester, New York and graduated from Harvard College, where she was a staff member on the Harvard Lampoon and the Harvard Advocate. She was the food columnist for the magazines Spy and Eating Well. Her essay "No Wonder They Ca...more
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