The Egg and I

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Summary: A comfor ,re-read book. One of the best
Review: I agrre with another reviewer - as a compiulsive reader this is one of the best. Her other books seem to be available here in England, but not in the US. It totally dispells the myth that Ameriacans have no sense of humour. The Plauge and I, Anybody can do Anything far, far funnier than anything that is published today. We all need more Betty Macdonalds in our lives

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Summary: "The Theatah!--The Dahnce!"
Review: That's just one of the hilarious chapters in this treasure of a book. To explain the prejudice toward Native Americans, she simply had a fixed idea of what Indians would be like. When she met real Indians, they were totally different. I refuse to believe people would dislike this wonderful book simply because the Indians she met weren't shining specimens of their race. Anyhow, this book kept me laughing throughout. Never would you believe a pressure cooker could be so funny. Canning, chickens, bears, carrying water, more chickens, and Stove are all out to get Betty. Can she conquer them? Read "The Egg and I" to find out!

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Summary: Good Clean Fun
Review: The Egg and I was one of the first so-called adult books I read years ago.(like maybe forty). As I was living on a farm in Saskatchewan I could certainly relate to the isolation, the crazy neighbours, and the chickens. I can still read it periodically and laugh out loud. I just read a review about the non-politically correct attitudes in it, but I think we have to remember this was written in different times. We cannot apply ninties morality to earlier times. If you want a fun time read this, and then go crazy looking for the rest of the books in the series. I have them all; I also have a book written by Betty's sister Mary. I agree with the reviewer who suggested these should all be brought back into print. The world would be a better place if we could laugh at the vississitudes of life rather than the current fad of sexual and scatalogical humour.

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Summary: Left A Bad Taste In My Mouth
Review: I started McDonald's "The Egg And I" joyfully, until she launches into one of the most virulent attacks on Native Americans I have ever read by a contemporary author. The rest of the book was spoiled for me. I realise it was written in the 40's but it turned me off,totally. I agree with reviewer from The Netherlands.

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Summary: Simply The Best Book Ever Written!
Review: Well, okay, that's subjective, but as one who has been a compulsive reader for nearly 50 years, and gone through literally thousands of books, I still feel that THE EGG AND I is, quite simply, the best book ever written by an American, or possibly by anyone! It's an autobiography that gives a great sense of its time and place; it's full of breathtakingly evocative images; it's warm and kind and friendly and, perhaps most importantly, sheer fall-off-your-chair-howling-with-laughter funny. I've read it over and over, and whenever I know of someone who's down or has serious problems, I always send a copy of this book. There is just nothing else like it (though if you love this one, you'll also like MacDonald's other books).

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Summary: I read it 35 yrs ago...a hoot then, a fond recollection now
Review: The E&I is (specifically) a woman's view of changing life and becoming a "farmer" of the time. I remember how important it was to get the Sears & Roebuck and the Montgomery Ward Catalogs.....For all who are looking to make a change of life, this is an instruction manual, peppered with good humor and a "good sport" perspective. A good read....Enjoy! Learn! Remember this book for a long time, (like me)!

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Summary: Very enjoyable tale.
Review: I really enjoyed reading this book. The descriptions were wonderful and humorous. I was also struck by the differences (for better or worse) in social ideals. "Indians" were slammed without qualms, abortion was just something some folks did, and it never occured to the main character to leave her rather uncaring, self-centered and distant husband.

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Summary: A breath of fresh air.
Review: One of the things I enjoyed about this book was the way the author was free in the 1940's to express her reactions to the cultural differences of her neighbors. No political correctness here. It may well be the fault of the anglo that the Native American (Indians, as Betty calls them) of the area live the way they do, but Betty doesn't waste time analyzing their plight. She calls it as she sees it. A drunk is a drunk is a drunk. I particularly loved the passage where she described the reason her husband can befriend men with deplorable behavior. She is a very astute observer of the difference between the sexes.

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Summary: Lovely, descriptive, funny and heart-warming farm life story
Review: Betty MacDonald tells her story of living on a chicken farm in the remote back hills of the Olympic mountains, warmly and humorously. She has a wonderfully poetic way of describing everything from the green, lush vegetation of the state of Washington to a simple cup of hot coffee with thick, fresh cream. It is a delightful book which will likely urge its readers to seek out her other books about life before and after the chicken farm!

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Summary: Betty Rocks!
Review: There isn't a soul who has read one of her books who hasn't laughed out loud at Betty MacDonald -- and I defy you to find someone who hasn't read their treasured MacDonald books over and over. Betty's dogged determination to fit in with "we of the mountains" and to follow her mother's advice to support her husband's work will cheer and delight readers from 10 to 99. I'm ALWAYS looking for a copy of "The Plague and I" and "Anybody Can Do Anything", so please get in touch if you have one available!