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jimmypat's review
3.0
Not quite as good as Life Among the Savages, but this book was a pleasant diversion. There were a couple moments of sheer hilarity, but most of the time it stayed firmly in the slightly amusing camp.
northerly_heart_reads's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
ryneb's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
vampirehelpdesk's review
5.0
Shirley Jackson is my favorite author, but I’ve based that on her darker work. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed and savored this cozy and chaotic memoir about her family (even if I know the darker details from reading Ruth Franklin’s Jackson biography). I am even more impressed by Jackson’s wit, observations, and deep warmth. A new favorite from my old favorite.
lfar's review against another edition
4.0
Some true laugh-out-louds in here. Though my god, that husband.
kmg365's review against another edition
4.0
The writing is everything in this collection of stories of domestic life in the fifties. In a lesser woman's hands, it could have been cloying, twee garbage. Jackson's magic pen turns stories of a malfunctioning refrigerator or a lost sneaker into art. You never lose sight of the fact that this mother of four, who cooks and cleans and shops and chauffeurs her non-driving husband, would quite possibly chuck the whole thing for a solo apartment in NYC if the opportunity arose. And who could have blamed her?
_vita_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.25
dylankakoulli's review against another edition
5.0
Continuing on from Life Among The Savages, jackson once again transforms the every day humdrum of domesticity, familial nitter-natter and societal expectations (especially when it comes to gender roles), into a riotous, rollicking, rollercoaster of a read (say that five times fast!)
Chaotic yet charming.
Hilarious but heartfelt.
Basically, it’s bloomin’ brilliant !
First five star of 2023 !!!
Chaotic yet charming.
Hilarious but heartfelt.
Basically, it’s bloomin’ brilliant !
First five star of 2023 !!!
christiek's review against another edition
3.0
On the whole, this is enjoyable and interesting enough. Moments are hysterical and the whole thing is well written. I definitely enjoyed experiencing this kind of writing from Jackson in contrast with her strange novels (which I also enjoy). It drags in some places, though, enough to reduce the enjoyment of the overall book. The last chapter, too, feels like a Rockwellian addition to record family life for the preservation of the family and of little interest to people outside the family (and people who like sweet Christmas stories just because it’s Christmas).
Also, it’s interesting to read a first-hand narrative of a woman/mother from another era. I like to think Jackson was playing up the extent to which her husband was in charge of the purse and household decisions (she just seems like such a strong-minded person), but what if she’s not? Ick.
Also, it’s interesting to read a first-hand narrative of a woman/mother from another era. I like to think Jackson was playing up the extent to which her husband was in charge of the purse and household decisions (she just seems like such a strong-minded person), but what if she’s not? Ick.