Customer Reviews

Flying by the Seat of My Pants: Flight Attendant Adventures on a Wing and a Prayer

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This was a fun read, a compilation of short, unconnected essays on twenty years of working as a flight attendant. The stories are amusing, but there is something missing to make this book complete as a whole. Pick it up expecting a few minutes of pleasurable reading and laugh-out-loud antics and you won't be disappointed.

One hilarious story was about carrying passengers bags: [p 48] Every day passengers bring bags on board that they are unable to lift into the overhead bins. So they turn to me, and say "Will you life this for me? I don't want to hurt my back." I am tempted to say, "Oh, I _do_ want to hurt my back. Here, let me."

The bag essay continues as Marsha tells the story of the time she took a shoulder bag off an old lady's wheelchair, and it weighed close to 100 pounds. She inquired what was in the bagm and the lady revealed that it was filled with rocks from her daughter's house (near a quarry) that she was carrying home for her garden.

This is a fun, short read, and it reminded me how much flight attendants have to deal with on a daily basis. I'll certainly think twice about taking my irration at an airline out on a flight attendant working in the trenches.

In the 38 brief chapters of Flying by the Seat of My Pants Marsha Marks collects a series of vignettes connected to life as a flight attendant, the author's day job for more than twenty years. Beginning with the unusual circumstances in which she entered the profession, Marks writes about difficult passengers and ditsy fellow workers, her brushes with law enforcement and the secret service, cellulite and on-board fires--in short, the perks and problems of flying for a living. Most of the stories Marks tells are at least cute, but some are moving ("Meeting Erma Bombeck;" "Little Hannah Gray") or downright hilarious--in particular her tale of reciprocal vomiting in "The Most Embarrassing Thing"--and one is both vomit-inducing and funny at the same time ("The Mistaken Beverage"). In the end, like Erma Bombeck herself, Marks's idol and predecessor in the genre of humorous, homely essays, the author comes across as a very pleasant lady. Her book is a quick, diverting read--perfect, in fact, for taking along on your next flight.

Reviewed by Debra Hamel, author of Trying Neaira: The True Story of a Courtesan's Scandalous Life in Ancient Greece

As a young adult, I very much enjoyed this book. It is funny and really puts a smile on your face. You can tell that the author has put a lot into her book and isn't afraid to leave anything out about her experiences! If you are a frequent traveler, have been on an airplane, or considering being a Flight Attendant you must read this book! It was a wonderful read. Highly recommended to all. Enjoy! Thanks for a great book Marsha!

Yes, this book is small and it took me very little time to finish it.

But, it was hilarious and loads of fun. The writing was down to earth and a joy to read. Buy this one. It will give you a lift.

A FEW MONTHS AGO I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR MARTHA MARKS SPEAK IN ATLANTA. SHE IS QUITE A CHARACTER AND HAD ME HOLDING THE SIDE OF MY STOMACH FROM LAUGHING SO MUCH. THIS LITTLE BOOK REFLECTS ALL OF HER WILD ADVENTURES IN THE SKY AND ON THE GROUND. SHE'S THE NEIGHBOR YOU WISHED YOU COULD HAVE WHEN YOU JUST NEEDED SOMEONE TO SIT DOWN AT YOUR KITCHEN TABLE AND MAKE YOU LAUGH. I LOOK FORWARD TO READING HER OTHER BOOKS.

I HAVE BEEN A FLIGHT ATTENDANT FOR 27 YEARS AND I TOTALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK. SAT AT HOME ON A RAINY DAY AND HAD A WONDERFUL DAY UNDER THE COVERS WITH THIS BOOK. FUNNY LITTLE STORIES- LIKE TAKING A DAY OF SHORT HOPS AROUND THE WORLD WITH A FUN CREW! THANKS TO MARSHA FOR A FUN READ!!

This book was excellent, by far one of my most favorite books...It is a great, fun-hearted and hilarious laugh-out-loud kind of book. You won't want to put it down once you start reading it!

I first heard of Marsha and the above book while listening to WROR here in Boston. I read the book yesterday. It was the best and funniest book I have read in a long time. I was laughing out loud and reading bits to anyone who would listen. (I was in a coffee shop at the time.)

Marsha thank you for writing this book. I will recommend it to everyone I know.

Sue

THIS BOOK IS A GREAT READ. LOTS OF FUN AND HUMOUR. PERFECT FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BECOME A FLIGHT ATTENDANT OR IS INTERESTED IN THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT LIFE STYLE. MS. MARKS PERSONABLE QUALITY COMES THROUGH HER WRITING VERY CLEARLY. YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR ON THE FLIGHT WITH HER. ENJOY!!

Marsha Marks has a unique way of capturing the hearts of people through her writing style as a humor and inspirational writer. With adventures like Getting the Job of My Dreams, Passenger Gone Wild to the heart warming story of Little Hannah Gray you'll find yourself smiling, laughing and crying as Marsha shares her flying attendant adventures on a wing and a prayer. A book for any occasion to share with family, friends and those you meet along the way.