16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
If you have a sense of humor!, October 12, 2006
This review is from: Yiddish with George and Laura (Hardcover)
The authors of Yiddish with Dick and Jane have written another equally humorous book, Yiddish with George and Laura.
This parody of the presidential family is a laugh a minute from the
first page. "See George. He is our president. He lives in a fancy white house and is a big shmegegge."
For the reader who is not familiar with the Yiddish term shmegegge, they get to look at the glossary in the back of the book. The glossary is the funniest part of the book. Weiner and Davilman define shmegegge as; A buffoon, an idiot, a fool.
"That Joe Lieberman--he's such a shmegegge even the Democrats
won't vote for him." The book follows George, Laura, Jenna and
Barbara to Kennebunk Port, Maine where the Bush family summer
home is located. They are visiting for George's parents' birthday
celebration. When they arrive, they are greeted by Barbara, George
Sr. and all of George's three brothers.
Each page of the story interjects Yiddish as well as current events.
The reader will be amazed by how current this book can be. For
example, the definition of goen is genius. "That Cheney--what a
goen. Severs all his ties with Halliburton and can still make a bundle
from them."
This book is a great gift for anyone with a sense of humor.
Armchair Interviews says: What a "schtick" these authors have!
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13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
My sides hurt from laughing, November 14, 2006
This review is from: Yiddish with George and Laura (Hardcover)
I'm old enough to remember the "Dick and Jane" reading primers and I know just enough Yiddish to understand its usage in the book without going back and forth to the glossary in the back. While I agree that George Bush IS a shmegegge (dope), finding it used this way in a book was just "laughing out loud" funny.
My son and I sat down and read it. He shares most of my political views and enjoyed much of it and it also gave me the opportunity to teach him some of the bits and pieces of Yiddish that I know. I have come to regret not learning more of it in my youth when my father could have taught me.
The one flaw is that words are not translated in the text; you have to keep going to the glossary in the back. That wasn't a problem for me, there weren't too many phrases that I didn't know, but it could keep you from enjoying a book that is otherwise a great read.
If you're in the mood to learn a little Yiddish, and you're a Democrat, this book is for you.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
not worth the money, January 11, 2007
This review is from: Yiddish with George and Laura (Hardcover)
slightly humorous but definitely not worth buying -- scan it at a bookstore before purchase
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