Customer Reviews

The Egg and I

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

One of the funniest books ever written, The Egg and I is all the more remarkable because it sounds completely contemporary, even though it was written more than 50 years ago and describes events that took place more than 70 years ago. MacDonald had a relentlessly clear eye, a sharp, witty writing style and in her own way was as liberated as was possible for her time (she was divorced and a single mother when such things were considered heinous). And I'd like to say one thing: although she does write disparagingly of some Native Americans living in her area, I think this is more due to a specific dislike of certain people she met rather than a blanket prejudice (early in the book she talks about her love and admiration for the Plains Indians who lived near her childhood home). I think McDonald was a singularly unbiased person, something also unique for a white woman of her era; one only has to read about the close friendships she made with Japanese-American and African-American women in "The Plague and I" (her account of her stay in a tuberculosis sanitarium) to realize this. No misguided PC agenda should deter anyone from reading MacDonald's irreverent and hilarious stories. She was a terrific writer.

For three days I read this book with a grin on my face and laughter in my belly. Towards the end of the book I was actually laughing out loud, with no one around to hear my glee. Betty describes, in wonderful detail, life on a chicken ranch and life with neighbors and various animals. Since I grew up in the country and my parents on a farm, I could relate to her wonderful descriptions of the sunrise and wild animals. I enjoyed it thoroughly and recommend this delightful read to anyone. (And I learned a few things about chickens as well.)

I can remember my mother reading this book fifty years ago, and even though she has long since passed away, to this day I can still hear her laughter while reading this book.

The more years that pass and the more technologically driven we become, the more hilarious "The Egg and I" becomes. Moving from a city to "the boonies" to raise chickens on a chicken farm is quite a challenge, especially in the 1940's which is the setting for this book. No electricity and no indoor plumbing are quite a jump from modern civilization even in that era. Of course, in that day, women were expected to be obedient wives, prepared to follow their husband's wild and sometimes bizarre dreams no matter where they may lead. The author tells it all in a matter of fact way, with a spicy, witty sense of humour. Almost every page will keep the reader laughing out loud. It is easy to see why this book remains popular 61 years after it was first published! Betty MacDonald is no longer with us, but her memory lives on and still continues to bring us joy and laughter through her books. Also recommended is her book, "Onions in the Stew."

It is hard to image anyone NOT liking this book! Even if you don't know a thing about raising chickens or even if you do (I have given this book to two chicken-raising relatives!), this book is hilarious. I mean, I laughed out loud! Quite frankly, it is the best of her books for adults. Maybe that's because I could imagine life for a young, unsuspecting city girl in the untamed Northwest, trying to make a go of a life and a marriage she was clearly unsuited for. Sounds rough, huh? But Betty makes it fun, crazy and adventurous! Yes, it is true the language and depiction of the surrounding Native Americans can be rather off color. In fact her daughters mention this in the introduction of later printed versions of this book. Please try to take it with a grain of salt, for the times were different back then (the story takes place far before it was actually written) and I am sure if Betty were alive today her tone would be much more politically correct and sensitive. For this is not a story of a spoiled, racist girl in the wilderness, but rather the memoirs of a very funny and gifted young woman just trying to follow her mother's advice for a happy marriage by supporting her husband's career choice. I think this book is timeless and a must read no matter what generation you are from.

With wit and humor, MacDonald's autobiographical account of homesteading on a chicken farm on the Olympic Peninsula carries personality plus. To read this book is to discover writing with Voice; her personality shines throughout and the flavor of her accounts, even while relating bitter, difficult situations, leaves the reader with optimism and hope.

Most of the book occurs in the 1930's and early 1940's. MacDonald writes in honest language about her husband, about Maw and Paw Kettle (who later were portrayed in the series of Hollywood films, yes, HERE is where they first appeared), about the Native-American characters Geoduck, Clamface and Sharkey, about Mr. and Mrs. Hicks, about the Moonshiner, about the Fuller Brush Man, about the Bookseller, and so on. She writes about each character with dignity and poise, so that even with their foibles, they still maintain unique qualities that make life--my life after reading this book--so much more rich.

Although Betty McDonald writes with a great deal of wry humor (some might say sarcasm) about her situation on a Washington chicken ranch in the late 1920s and early 1930s, there is a rather sad undercurrent to the story. This is the story of a woman who has been led to believe that her husband is the master and that she must follow blindly where he leads. Though her retrospection includes humorous description, the unraveling of her marriage is obvious thoughout the narrative.
For those who find her description of Native Americans offensive, one must recall the time when this was written. Americans weren't as "enlightened" (now there is sarcasm!!)as we are now. I don't agree with those who find her "snobbish" - Mrs. McDonald was a fish out of water and knew it but couldn't just walk away from it. She cares about her neighbors, the Kettles and the Hicks, but she just doesn't fit in with them.
She is definitely showing us that country life has a definite downside.
Her description of the natural surroundings is vivid and makes you feel the terrain with her.
I would recommend this book to young women today just to show how far they have come since that time.

My husband and I sometimes read a book together, out loud, a chapter each night. This is a good choice for that kind of reading. We both laughed out loud many times. It's fast, breezy and light, a slice of life. Funny and well written. OK, so her veiws of Native Americans were really dated, but I don't think that ruins the book for all time! I'm sorry for those of you who miss out on it, it's not as well known as it should be. A very fun read.

Betty McDonald's books are timeless due to their wit, hilarity, wonderfully descriptive language, and their author's determination to find the positive or "funny" in any catastrophic situation, whether personal--failing marriage, or national--the Great Depression. She brings her environment and experience to life to such a degree that you literally smell, taste, and feel her words. When she's talking about food, you crave it; when she writes about gardening, you get the urge to go plant something, and when she describes the people close to her, you start missing your friends and family. Above all, however, her humor will help you through any crises of your own. It has helped me through quite a few, and I keep returning to her books over a decade after I have discovered them.
As for the author's racially charged remarks towards the pacific native Americans, I would love to encourage everyone to look past them and realize McDonald's limitations in her views given by the period of her life, the culture of that period, and the upbringing she received that stemmed from her socioeconomic and ethnic background. Yes, some of the comments might make today's educated person cringe a bit, but take them as a reminder of how far we have come. Keep in mind that we all have the same limitations of our understanding as she did, but we have the benefit of 60 some odd years of progress.

This is truely a funny book. It of course is the origin of the Ma and Pa Kettle movies, yet much more. I like to pull this one off the shelf every now and again just to be able to chuckle. When you read it, you must remember when it was written and what the racial and political attitudes of the time were, although, it is a good read on that level too, i.e. seeing were our culture has been and where it is today. I did read one or two reviews which compaired this work to some of the authors other work...good grief folks, lighten up..read the thing for what it is..a funny story meant to amuse. When I was a kid, I did not read Micky Mouse and analyze each comic book for political correctness, nor social commentary (although, being a dog lover, I was not always happy how Pluto was presented and treated) nor did I compair the Micky of 1949 to the Micky of 1952. Anyway, digging into a book like this for those reasons is fine I suppose, if you are into such, but for me, I just enjoyed the read and highly recommend it.

This book had me howling with laughter. It's the basis for the 1947 film, "The Egg and I," which stars Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray as the young city couple who take to chicken farming. It was written in 1945, and the portrayals of the neighbors and the locality are the highlights of the book, as the young couple struggles to raise chickens, produce, and a baby, while having to deal with the elements, primative living conditions (no electricity or running water), the stove that has a mind of its own, and the neighbors, including the infamous Kettle family (who later appeared in an entire series of films themselves). It's one of those books that had me laughing on nearly every page!