Pushing 40 : A For Better or for Worse Collection [Paperback]

Lynn Johnston (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1988 | Series: For Better or for Worse Collections

For nearly ten years, the Patterson clan has charmed moms, dads, brothers and sisters with the lighthearted and engaging chronicle of their family in the cartoon "For Better or For Worse." Pushing 40 provides new dimensions of Johnston's lively and entertaining portrayal of family life.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing; Original edition (January 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0836218078
• ISBN-13: 978-0836218077
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 8.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #335,538 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lynn Johnston lives in Corbeil, Ontario, Canada. She was the first woman to win the National Cartoonists Society's Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year in 1985. In the summer of 2008, she was inducted into the "Giants of the North," the Canadian Cartoonists Hall of Fame.
www.fborfw.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Of the 20+ FBOFW collections, this is my favorite, February 16, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Pushing 40 : A For Better or for Worse Collection (Paperback)

"Pushing 40" was the eighth For Better or For Worse collection, and is made up of strips from approximately mid-1987 through mid-1988. While the present-day strip is the first thing I read when I turn to the comics page in the morning, I personally prefer the more humorous style Lynn Johnston employed in these early strips.

There are so many great moments in this collection, like Michael using green food coloring on his face for Halloween, then having to go to school the next day with a green face because the food coloring won't wash off, the wedding of Elly's brother Phil (This was, unfortunately, pretty much the end of Phil as a regular in the strip), John's misadventure with a dumpster while on his way to the aforementioned wedding, Michael showing Elizabeth how she can get more money from the tooth fairy (Run for your life, Lizzie!), John salivating over a sports car (and trying to convince Elly that it's practical), Michael and Gordon's experiment involving a spider and a microwave oven (Elly rescues the spider, sort of), and the remodeling of the Patterson family kitchen.

This collection also features my personal favorite FBOFW storyline: Michael, Gordon, Brian and one other boy are up in a tree, with a perfect view of Lawrence's stepsister's bedroom. They wrestle with their consciences until (to their utter disappointment) the shade goes down. Michael says, "Come on! Let's get outa here before somebody sees us!!," and starts to climb down the tree. Lawrence's stepsister is standing at the base of the tree, glaring up at him. Scrambling back up the tree, Michael asks his friends if any of them know the Lord's Prayer. Contemplating their punishments, one of the boys remarks, "It would all be worth it, guys...if only we'd SEEN something!" Absolutely priceless!

This collection also has its serious side, as when it explores our own mortality, with the death of an elderly family friend, Mrs. Baird (The Pattersons acquired Farley from Mrs. Baird approximately one year into the strip.) It's a touching and poignant sequence.

5.0 out of 5 stars Lynn Johnston book, June 7, 2010

By 

Wayne Green (mid America USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pushing 40 : A For Better or for Worse Collection (Paperback)

If you are a Lynn Johnston fan, and can relate to the subject of the book, you should love this one.