From the early Italian adventurers who played an important role in the European expansion across the Atlantic to the political and business leaders of the 1990s; this book tells a dramatic story. The heart of the story is the mass migration that took place between 1880 and 1924; when a whole culture left its ancient roots to settle in the cities and towns of America.
#105877 in Books Betty Macdonald 2008-06-24Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .65 x 5.31l; .49 #File Name: 0060914289288 pagesEgg and I
Review
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful. Hilarious and crazy story about farm life.By B. WolinskyThere’s a scene in this book where some hens fly up into the apple trees and won’t come down. Frantic about the fate of these domestic homebody birds; the author eventually gives up and says “they made their bed; they’d have to lie in it.†The hens end up as dinner for the weasels; raccoons; hawks; and other creatures indigenous to the farm. She describes her chickens as boneheads who have 365 days to learn to recognize their masters and still screech every time they’re brought their lunch. She can’t figure out why the chickens never have canine loyalty.If you think the chickens are silly; you’ll love their neighbors; the Kettle family. For those of you that loved the “Ma and Pa Kettle†films of the 1950’s; here’s where they started; right here in the Pacific Northwest; the silliest farmers in the USA. MacDonald wrote about them based on her neighbors; the Bishops; who sued the MacDonalds for defamation (and lost) after the movie came out. The Ma and Pa Kettle movies are long since forgotten; but they’re a hilarious bunch in this book.Though this book is comedy; there is a very dark and disturbing chapter; reserved for the Native Americans. Raised on the Hiawatha poem to believe that all natives were noble savages; she’s shocked to discover their level of degeneracy. The men; women; and children are all alcoholics; and kids as young as 12 are drinking moonshine. Old men are having sex with the children in public; and babies are allowed to eat garbage they find on the beach. It’s as though they’ve become worse than the inbred white trash of South Carolina; and though it wasn’t diagnosed then; I bet the children all had fetal alcohol syndrome.I’m not sure how much value this book has today; except maybe to those of us contemplating a career in organic farming. If you’re wondering why I read this book in the first place; the answer is that I looked up the author of the Mrs. Pigglewiggle series and found that she wrote this before she got into children’s books.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. An intriguing and humorous story of a woman's struggle with ...By R. PetersAn intriguing and humorous story of a woman's struggle with life in rural Washington on a chicken farm. Filled with memorable characters and passionate descriptions of the country and life; this book draws you in and keeps you amused. While there are gross generalizations and old stereotypes heartily used; it is the voice of its time and place. Betty shared her life in a natural and unapologetic manner. She was critical not only of others but also herself. This pleasant and rarely mean spirited narration provides a story worth reading. You'll fin yourself laughing in spite of yourself control and shock.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Just like the movieBy MikeyBI thought this was a great book; I was laughing all the way through it. The description of Ma Pa Kettle was right on with what you will see in the movie. And the rest if the characters were pretty close to what I have seen in the movies. This was great; and I will read it again and again.
