When I was much younger, like in elementary school, I remember reading "Life is a Bowl of Cherries" and thinking it was the funniest thing. I have always had fond thoughts of Erma Bombeck’s writing ever since. So, when I found a couple of her books at a library sale it was mostly nostalgia that had me picking them up.

In this particular tome, which seems to be one of the ones from later in her career, she takes a more serious and slightly depressing look at the interaction between children and their parents. There were certainly some parts that made me laugh, but generally it seemed as though she had perhaps taken stories sent by other frustrated mothers to her and adlibbed them into different sections for her book. In particular the part entitled, "The First Day of School for "The Baby"" will stick out to me for being so true and so sad. Although this particular book didn't really have much of the lighter humor I had been hoping for, it was a quick and interesting read, if slightly out-dated by the times. Not one I'll hold on to and read again, but certainly not something that will put me off of reading more of her books in the future. ( )