“A work of real comic genius. . . . A wonderful, funny, warm, honest book, and, to use a much overused word, a classic.” –Michael Korda, author of Country MattersWhen Betty MacDonald married a marine and moved to a small chicken farm on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, she was largely unprepared for the rigors of life in the wild. With no running water, no electricity, a house in need … With no running water, no electricity, a house in need of constant repair, and days that ran from four in the morning to nine at night, the MacDonalds had barely a moment to put their feet up and relax. And then came the children. Yet through every trial and pitfall—through chaos and catastrophe—this indomitable family somehow, mercifully, never lost its sense of humor.
A beloved literary treasure for more than half a century, Betty MacDonald’s The Egg and I is a heartwarming and uproarious account of adventure and survival on an American frontier.
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Racism gets in the way of what would otherwise be a fun read.
A good story from a different era. One will have to over look references to Native Americans to enjoy the book.
Very detailed descriptions and a pretty good read.
Written in an era that did not know the phrase, “politically correct”, this writer is able to paint a realistic picture of what life was like for women helping their husbands chase their American dream in a vast and isolated area with harsh winters. Despite a cantankerous “stove” and no running water or electricity in her home, Betty McDonald brings humor to everything she encounters. This is a heart-warming story of a wife, mother, and sometimes reluctant neighbor.
Read this years ago and I loved it.
Betty Macdonald is the best. I started here and then read everything she wrote.
Loved it
A very entertaining and easy read. Makes you wish you were there to witness it all.
First published in 1940’s..read to me. Rereading now brings back some childhood memories..life in the West..great stories of her childhood.
Laughed out loud, easy read.
Great book! I’d seen the movie but the book tells so much more!
Interesting historically to the era and life back then.
Well, I couldn’t get past her hatred for Indians even after the forward by her children trying to ” explain” it… to bad too,she had quite the life ….
Funny, but very dated.
The original basis for the Ma and Pa Kettle movies — I originally read this in hard copy, but wanted it for my kindle
Still a classic
Funny story. It is an eye opener on mores of the 50’s, the time frame this story takes place.
I read it when I was a child, rereading it over fifty years later it is amazing to recognize how poorly it portrays indigenous people. But years ago it was a funny loving narrative of life in the Pacific Northwest. Hard to get by the negative now.
Have had this book for years and have encouraged others in my family and friends realm to read it. It is about actual people in actual places and gives insight even today.
One of the most humorous books I’ve ever read.
Well written, fast-paced, laugh out loud.