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55th out of 85 books
—
24 voters
At Wit's End
by
Erma Bombeck
"America's irrepressible doyenne of domestic satire."
THE BOSTON GLOBE
Madcap, bittersweet humor in classic Erma Bombeck-style. You'll laugh until it hurts and love it! "Any mother with half a skull knows that when Daddy's little boy becomes Mommy's little boy, the kid is so wet, he's treading water. What do you mean you're a participle in the school play and you need a cost...more
THE BOSTON GLOBE
Madcap, bittersweet humor in classic Erma Bombeck-style. You'll laugh until it hurts and love it! "Any mother with half a skull knows that when Daddy's little boy becomes Mommy's little boy, the kid is so wet, he's treading water. What do you mean you're a participle in the school play and you need a cost...more
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
May 12th 1986
by Fawcett
(first published 1967)
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Originally copyrighted in 1965, this was Bombeck’s first book. She was already a hugely popular syndicated columnist and speaker, focusing her witty observations on the life of a mid-20th century suburban homemaker. The book begins thus: “This isn’t a book. It’s a group therapy session. It is based on six predictable depression cycles that beset a woman during a twelve-month span. These chapters will not tell you how to overcome these depression cycles. They will not tell you how to cope with th...more
My first Kindle library book! The checkout procedure was incredibly easy. I'm so glad this is now an option!
As for the book itself, I was somewhat disappointed. I imagine that when it was written it was groundbreaking and hilarious. It's still somewhat funny, but the large number of snarky bloggers that Bombeck has inspired--whether they know it or not--are more current and, I think, funnier. Since I have limited reading time, I decided not to finish this.
As for the book itself, I was somewhat disappointed. I imagine that when it was written it was groundbreaking and hilarious. It's still somewhat funny, but the large number of snarky bloggers that Bombeck has inspired--whether they know it or not--are more current and, I think, funnier. Since I have limited reading time, I decided not to finish this.
I enjoy Erma Bombeck's humor. I love her sincerity, her wit, and the way in which she candidly tells about the ups and downs of her life. This story feels a bit out of date, but then again, it was first published in 1967. It's not my favorite of her books, but I still appreciate her wisdom. It was certainly a good, light book to break up a string of heavy stories.
interesting quotes:
"Another challenge for a mother who must make a decision not to measure her own children's happiness with another m...more
interesting quotes:
"Another challenge for a mother who must make a decision not to measure her own children's happiness with another m...more
I don't think I have laughed this hard at a book since I don't even know when. I was laughing in research period and probably all the rest of the kids thought I was dying. Ah, the emotions I convey wihile readig in Research...Last week I was outright crying during Between Shades of Gray. ANYWAY. This book was seriously the funniest thing ever. Get it. Read it. Buy it. Read it whenever you are having a bad day or whenever people around you are starting to get the impression that you are normal. A...more
I love Erma's books! While other kids were sneakily reading the latest issue of Batman or Archie & Veronica comic books between the pages of their schoolbooks during class I was trying not to get caught laughing too loudly at the pages of the latest book by humorist author Erma Bombeck. Its safe to say that I grew up with her books and her name, and stories, just like V.C. Andrews', another author I grew up reading, brings back a lot of good reading memories. Erma, and her writing, will be d...more
I love Erma Bombeck. Her stories sparkle with and insight and are perfect for reading aloud. Not only that, but she is laugh-out-loud funny! In this particular book, I enjoyed her struggles with the car that was a piece of junk that only understood German (how a car can understand human language is beyond me).
One thing I love about Erma's books is that I feel that I know the Bombecks personally. It's like I'm over at their house with the kids. Erma is everybody's mom- frazzled, cynical at times...more
One thing I love about Erma's books is that I feel that I know the Bombecks personally. It's like I'm over at their house with the kids. Erma is everybody's mom- frazzled, cynical at times...more
It took me a while to finish this book. I first started it with excitement after just finding out about Erma Bombeck and her writings on motherhood. I did enjoy several parts of the book, but found some other parts extremely boring. So the inconsistency slowed down my reading. I really liked the end though, where she explained why she wrote this book. How she thought she couldn't do it, how other people told her she had to do it. She made those remarks on motherhood 50 years ago and they're stil...more
Erma Bombeck, a typical Ohio housewife and mother, first made a name for herself as a humour writer in the 1960's. In this, her first book, she guides us through the typical depression cycles that plague the modern housewife (and cover every day of the year). She rallies gamely to the challenges of husbands, children, housework, birth control and awkward social situations, and treats them with resignation and humour. Her wit and wisdom are just as warm, relevant and enjoyable today as they were...more
Loved it!
First book I've read of Erma's but rest assured I will be reading more! Lots of laugh out loud moments. Even though she is writing of being a housewife and mother decades ago a lot of still rings true today. She writes with wit and warmth. Can't wait to read the next one :-)
First book I've read of Erma's but rest assured I will be reading more! Lots of laugh out loud moments. Even though she is writing of being a housewife and mother decades ago a lot of still rings true today. She writes with wit and warmth. Can't wait to read the next one :-)
I sometimes felt like this woman knew more about me than my husband does. She spoke about motherhood and housewifery with a knowledge that I totally got--and it made me smile, as well as tear up a bit. I definitely suggest this book to anyone who is or knows a housewife. :)
i was laughing aloud quite a few times and with tears too a few times....
but i do not think it was as good as what am i doing in the pits....
but i do not think it was as good as what am i doing in the pits....
There were a lot of references that were specific to Bombeck's era, so the humor was lost on me. But there were plenty of other parts I found funny!
Bombeck is very funny with the telling of everyday life and the stupid stuss we all see and hear every day.
Truthfully, I read most of her books when I was in my teens, and I loved every one of them. The woman was truly an inspiration.
I gave up. This book wasn't anything close to as funny as others I've read of hers. Part of the problem was the format. Her jokes and stories ran right into each other but they weren't connected so it felt vet discombobulated.
This helped too.
It's really amazing how well Erma Bombeck's humor holds up almost 50 years later.
Funny and Witty, but DEPRESSING. Can only read a few pages at a time. Gave up on page 110.
I read this to help with my mother/housewife character in my 60s novel. I definitely got some good ideas, or at least my memory of how it was is refreshed. Some of it was even funny. I recall my mother had it pretty easy then, washing on Mon., ironing on Tues, bathrooms on Wed., floors on Thursdays, and grocery shopping on Fridays when I do it ALL on the weekend to get ready for the work week as a high school teacher. Except ironing--who has time to iron?
Saw this book in a second-hand bookstore. I read the back cover and it's quite funny so I bought it.
Erma Bombeck is really a funny author. I laughed several times while reading this book. And aside from the humor, there's also some nuggets of wisdom in a particular chapter of the book. But I won't tell what part it is. Just read it. :)) Happy reading!
Erma Bombeck is really a funny author. I laughed several times while reading this book. And aside from the humor, there's also some nuggets of wisdom in a particular chapter of the book. But I won't tell what part it is. Just read it. :)) Happy reading!
Nothing has changed in 44 years--being a wife and mother is still the same!
I feel At Wit's End very often. Erma Bombeck and her thoughts on the housewife job. Now my book was published in the late 1960's, before I was born. I enjoyed reading this book and remembering some of the things my mother would say.
Erma writes about what most women think when they are married and have children. I enjoyed the laughs while I read and also remembering my mother.
Erma writes about what most women think when they are married and have children. I enjoyed the laughs while I read and also remembering my mother.
I really like Karen Fowler's expression form at many points... where an inner voice opens an odd inflection on a scene element that mihgt otherwise remain merely pedestrian. However... for some reason the whole story just did not really take with me and I ended with a ho hum feel even though the prose made me smile.
Erma is hilarious. Her voice is unique and never feels forced. True some of the references are out of date, but her writing will always be relevant.
This is the first Bombeck I've ever read, and I instantly loved her. She's a humorist who kind of is the thorn in the side of feminists of her era. Some of the humor HAS dated a little, but humor always does--doesn't it? Worth trying if you want a diversion.
Weakest of the EB books I've read. Still fairly cute though.
Funny but seems targeted at housewives in the 60s/70s so had some trouble relating.
Mar 25, 2009
Sherri
added it
Erma is tops!
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Erma Louise Bombeck, born Erma Fiste, was an American humorist who achieved great popularity for a newspaper column that depicted suburban home life humorously, in the second half of the 20th century.
For 31 years since 1965, Erma Bombeck published 4,000 newspaper articles. Already in the 1970s, her witty columns were read, twice weekly, by thirty million readers of 900 newspapers of USA and Canada...more
More about Erma Bombeck...
For 31 years since 1965, Erma Bombeck published 4,000 newspaper articles. Already in the 1970s, her witty columns were read, twice weekly, by thirty million readers of 900 newspapers of USA and Canada...more
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