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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
This sounds more like fiction than reality, with a zany but devoted father and all the funny happenings. As for negatives, there was some swearing and using the Lord's name in vain (quite a bit), lying by the father to get discounts, making light of Christianity, not always respecting elders or being kind (though that may be expected of any children--yet it should be corrected). For positives, there is, of course, a general love of children/large families and the mother respectfully submits to her husband whenever possible. And it did get me laughing from time to time, which is not too common for me while reading.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Guys this book is so good, it's so funny I laughed so much and sweet and awesome and it's incredibly rare to read a book about a dad, about a man who loves children and takes good care of them I'm just realizing how I've never really read a book that's entirely about a man being a good dad, not really any other plot or agenda just this genuinely sweet and good person it's refreshing.
I fell in love with the 1950 film with Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy and I was even more delighted by the book! I absolutely adore the genuine, imperfectly perfect, family dynamic that is so beautifully portrayed in this book! It made me laugh out loud and tugged at my heart strings with its very simple, yet beautiful love story.
This is the perfect book to read during a long car ride with your parents on a road trip. As much as I love Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt, the movie was just like the book justice, especially with Frank's (the father's) character.
This book was much more than a cute story about a large family. Frank loved precision and efficiency, and found so many ways to help his family operate in top form. He's super quirky. He was a dad that might embarrass you on occasion, but he lit up a room and was the life of the party.
The best scene is late in the book and has to do with the junior high aged kids finding a love note in a drawer, memorizing it, and singing it in three part harmony the next time their sister's beau comes over. I would highly recommend to anyone!!!
This book was much more than a cute story about a large family. Frank loved precision and efficiency, and found so many ways to help his family operate in top form. He's super quirky. He was a dad that might embarrass you on occasion, but he lit up a room and was the life of the party.
The best scene is late in the book and has to do with the junior high aged kids finding a love note in a drawer, memorizing it, and singing it in three part harmony the next time their sister's beau comes over. I would highly recommend to anyone!!!
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
I grew up in a big family that was raised entirely the wrong way by parents who idolized “the good old days” so this book was excruciatingly familiar, plus worse. Yes there’s something to be said for the closeness of siblings and all the interpersonal relations you learn in a setting like that but there’s so much baggage that comes with that: overprotection, parentification, neglect, anti-socialization, loss of self, and straight up abuse to name a few — all of which I’ve undergone or witnessed.
The dad admirably teaches the kids a myriad of things but still prizes them like trophies and I know from experience how icky that feels. The mom is well-educated in her own right but it’s literally admitted that having a dozen spawn was his idea/quest.
Sure in some ways this family was a lot like any other, dealing with siblings, allowances, makeup, dating and more. But the misogynistic gender roles BS of the times (plus casual racism!) is impossible to ignore.
It’s past time to stop throwing out excuses like “but they loved all their kids,” “but the parents did the best they could,” “well I turned out fine” and actually start talking about how shit was not ok and sometimes traumatic.
The dad admirably teaches the kids a myriad of things but still prizes them like trophies and I know from experience how icky that feels. The mom is well-educated in her own right but it’s literally admitted that having a dozen spawn was his idea/quest.
Sure in some ways this family was a lot like any other, dealing with siblings, allowances, makeup, dating and more. But the misogynistic gender roles BS of the times (plus casual racism!) is impossible to ignore.
It’s past time to stop throwing out excuses like “but they loved all their kids,” “but the parents did the best they could,” “well I turned out fine” and actually start talking about how shit was not ok and sometimes traumatic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Misogyny, Death of parent
Humorous and enjoyable story of the life of a large-family in the early 1900s.