Witty excerpts from his book from one-liners to Macbeth to Walter Mitty.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I first saw it at my swap shop at the local dump and put it back. Next time it was gone. Could have kicked myself. I did it on my Wish List and it was posted shortly after; I got lucky. There was one piece in particular, The Moth, that I really liked. I gave a copy of the story to a local choreographer and hopefully she will do a routine for a show up-coming in April! The book is humorous, well written, and a quick read.
One of America's foremost essayists. He wrote during the first half of the 20th century. Tongue in cheek, laugh at yourself, truly humorous. If you've never read Thurber before this collection is a good way to start. He was also an unique artist and some of his cartoons are included.
Thurber is so funny!
This copy has the pink, white, and green cover with his sketches on it.
This copy has the pink, white, and green cover with his sketches on it.
Mixing stories, sketches, & drawings, this is a wonderful introduction to the work of the gentle "New Yorker" humorist (before the "New Yorker" became "with-it" & foul-mouthed).
A Humorist for His Time--And Ours, November 24, 2001
Reviewer: W. Kaplan "calyndula" (Wynnewood, PA United States)
I grew up with this book. First published in the mid-40s, it lived in the center of a built-in bookcase over my father's desk in the family room, and I was drawn to it time and time again during my childhood.
At first, I was convulsed by Thurber's uniquely hilarious cartoons. His dogs and his women are priceless...drawn in a style that nobody has ever been able to duplicate or capture.
It was only later, as I grew older, that I could appreciate Thurber's written humor. The "Thurber Carnival" (and it is) is a compilation of essays and excerpts from "My World--and Welcome to It," "The Middle Aged Man on the Flying Trapeze," and others. These were Thurber's earlier works that were very much a product of their times, but oh, so funny! Thurber was one of the great commentators on the vagaries of everyday life. Along with Robert Benchly et al., he set the tone for an entire generation. I still have this book, and I absolutely cherish it. It's hard to do Thurber justice in a review. All I can say is--buy this book and wallow in it. You'll be glad you did.
Reviewer: W. Kaplan "calyndula" (Wynnewood, PA United States)
I grew up with this book. First published in the mid-40s, it lived in the center of a built-in bookcase over my father's desk in the family room, and I was drawn to it time and time again during my childhood.
At first, I was convulsed by Thurber's uniquely hilarious cartoons. His dogs and his women are priceless...drawn in a style that nobody has ever been able to duplicate or capture.
It was only later, as I grew older, that I could appreciate Thurber's written humor. The "Thurber Carnival" (and it is) is a compilation of essays and excerpts from "My World--and Welcome to It," "The Middle Aged Man on the Flying Trapeze," and others. These were Thurber's earlier works that were very much a product of their times, but oh, so funny! Thurber was one of the great commentators on the vagaries of everyday life. Along with Robert Benchly et al., he set the tone for an entire generation. I still have this book, and I absolutely cherish it. It's hard to do Thurber justice in a review. All I can say is--buy this book and wallow in it. You'll be glad you did.
Pure James Thurber. Many of his best short stories.
