Customer Reviews

Fables for Our Time and Famous Poems

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

I first read Thurber, Fables for Our Time being my first encounter, about the time I learned to read. Fables sounded suitable for a 7 year old looking for something more than the Bobbsey Twins, so I plunged into a surreal world of misogyny, mayhem, morality and madness, and thoroughly loved it! Upon discovering our family library included some of Thurber's "children's books" (13 Clocks), I began to plumb the depths of one of the great humorists/cartoonists of the 20th century. In more than 50 years, I have not encountered one so readable, enjoyable and wildly, understatedly funny. Perhaps some of the pieces are dated, for who these days can even recognize such poems as Ben Bolt and Barbara Fretchie (?), or Young Lochinvar? That is a loss in today's education, so I charge Amazon customers: introduce your children to Thurber early, when their minds are not cluttered with pop culture and "required reading". Take the time to give them context for very old stories and poems, so they may enjoy them as we did. Let them look at a world that was, at least in one man's wit, and perhaps they won't be so overwhelmed when they begin to understand the world we have left to them.

...makes a man healthy, wealthy and dead."

Quoting one of the fables; I remember reading this book thirty years ago. It is superb. The pictures are excellent too. I can still recall the man leaping down into the lion's pit to get the lady's glove, also the pictures of birds (shrikes, I think). I'll buy this one right away, my daughter will love it.

James Thurber is simply amazing both as a writer and graphic artist. His dry sense of humor is LOL, with philosophical content. His illustrations are whimsical, full of motion, and have the simplicity of Neanderthal cave paintings. An absolutely brilliant Man!

This is James Thurber at his best. It's still GREAT after all these years.

James Thurber has long been one of my favorite writers, but in order to enjoy him you have to look past his sexism. He includes anti-woman sentiments in nearly every book he's ever written... But please don't let this stop you from reading him. If you can get to the point where you just shake your head and think to yourself, "Oh, James, James, James... You misguided man"... Then you can fully enjoy his works.
This collection of fables is dated, I have to admit, but they're still highly entertaining and quite funny. Thurber has a way with words that is unique and entertaining.
Thurber is one of my favorite authors. His writing takes you back into his era without feeling dusty and passe.

I had to read this in English class
and it is horrible
Don't buy it
You are wasting your money