Customer Reviews

Suds in Your Eye

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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In 1956 I bought a used copy of this book in Colorado Springs. It wasn't a wonderful moment in my life and why I bought this little, worn book I cannot say. It might have taken me ninety minutes to read and the effect has held on for the last forty-four years and I expect it to retain its hold forever. Some years after that my Aunt played Mrs. Feeley in San Diego, and did so for several years. I was thrilled and she was amazed that I not only knew the character, but knew it better than she did. Read this book if you can get hold of it and be nourished, amused, amazed ( their brand of inventiveness is strangely missing today ) and wish you could pull up to the table and share a six-pack. Skoal!

Mary Lasswell's 'Suds In Your Eye', is the comic tale of three lonely women, Mrs. Feely, the owner of the junkyard with a wall made of beer bottles, Miss. Tinkham, an unemployed teacher, and Mrs. Rasmussen, A Norwegian women who could make a wonderful meal with the simplest of ingrediants, who are united in the first of what became a very popular series during and after world war II. Miss Tinkham, a very shy spinster, and Mrs. Rasmeussen, who is abandoned by her children, come to room with Mrs. Feely in her Junk Yard called Noahs Ark, in San Diego before the War. They embark on several adventures and really become a family. The book illustrated by the late George Price, is a hilareous romp and is not afraid to be a bit racy for its time. The book had several sequels, including 'Tooner Trolly', was turned into a broadwya play and even inspired Mrs. Lasswell, A navy wife, to create a cookbook as written by Mrs. Rasmussen, 'Mrs, Rasmussen' Book of one Armed Cookery' -the other arm of course would be around a bottle of beer. Stories with the three ladies appeared into the 10980's in the AARP magazine.

I would rate this even higher if they allowed it. This first book in the series introduces you to three loveable, beer-drinking ladies. They believe in helping others and good old down home living. Their love of "class" will have you roaring with laughter. And their caring of others will give you warm fuzzies. Be prepared to want to raise a glass or two as well as go off your diet. The food descriptions are wonderful. And what they can do with a nickel will floor you. Truly an uplift to the spirits.

Mrs. Freeley owns a garden/junkyard where you can find at least "two of everything". Mrs. Rassmussen is cook extrodinare, and can make tasty miracles happen with short supplies. Mrs. Tinkham is a retired music teacher who gave up teaching for ideas. Together, the three Graces of Magpie Alley are a force to be reckoned with! They also have a fondness for beer. In fact, Mrs. Freeley's place is surrounded by a wall made out of beer cans! This is the first in a series of books about the Three Graces and their adventures. Called a "tonic for the times" in 1942, that tonic is equally refreshing today! Charming fun with warm characters.

I have had copies of this whole series for 25 years and still read all every year. This trio, through their love of living and laughter, teaches you more about enjoying life than any other book I know. Pure uplift of spirits occurs as they work together and care about those they come into contact with. Down home atmosphere. They don't need expensive "things" to get the most out of life. You too will want to hoist a few by the time you finish. I wish they were my neighbors. Once you start with this book, you will have to read the rest in the series. They know how to squeeze a nickel, give back change and still be generous. AND THE FOOD DESCRIPTIONS!

These three beer drinking fun loving ladies live life to the fullest. I've enjoyed reading about their escapades for the past thirty years and I never tire of them, especially when I need some cheering up. They are surely the ones who can do it. These books, the entire series, need to be put back in print.

Although it was written during World War II, Suds in Your Eye is a timeless book about three very different independent women. It has remained one of my favorite books because it shows how even in the worst of circumstances people can work together toward a common goal and achieve it. If you want to read a book to lift your spirits, this is the one to read. Full of fun and hilarious situations, the three women overcome obstacles without giving up (perhaps those beers helped too!)

As a child, And mind you, that was not too long ago, my mother read these books to my sister and me. Anytime I needed my spirits uplifted, I would pull out one of my mothers collection. This sreies of books should be put back into print, for the enjoyment for another generation!

My husband and I read the series of books and fell in love with Mrs. Feeley, Mrs. Rasmussen, and Miss Tinkham. These ladies and their adventures warm your heart and just make you feel good. Nothing very intellectual, but lots of fun.

It's possible that you have to be older to appreciate Mary Lasswell's books (I'm 52), but I did first read them in my teens when I found them on the bookshelves of a favorite aunt. What with our country once again in wartime and suffering from an economic recession, the lessons to be learned from "Suds In Your Eye" are again relevant: make do with what you've got, try to enjoy life as best you can, and, most importantly, friends and family are EVERYTHING. The dialogue can still make me laugh after 35 years, and I enjoyed even more than before how finely drawn the characters are. Oh, and speaking of drawings, the George Price cartoons are a hoot.