At Wit's End

At wit’s end is a series of essays written by Erma Bombeck for her newspaper column in the mid-60’s and collected in this book. The blurb claims that you will laugh out loud at the antics of housewives, husbands, kids and everyone else that Ms. Bombeck covers in this book and you will. The fact that the book was written almost 50 years ago does not matter – the material is timeless and well written. Kids connected by wire to boom-boxes and kids wired to their cell phones are the same over time. Family vacations are still hilarious. But the book isn’t all laughs and I admit that I did cry. There is an essay on the Bombeck son who gathered some of his precious toys and his used toothbrush to send to Viet Nam for the soldiers. It show more was a lesson on children caught in war and the soldiers who were also there. It’s as pertinent today as it was then. The essay on the importance of grandparents using Erma’s irrepressible grandmother was a joy. And the essay on Christmas and how busy it was for a friend who even complained that someone had the gall to have a birthday on Christmas Day – until a small child said this: “I know someone.”

Laugh, cry and enjoy! This book was certainly worth the re-read and I know I enjoyed it more today than when it was first published. show less

At Wit's End is Erma Bombeck's first published book, one that preceded many other volumes, columns, and movies. She was of the same generation as my parents, and a favorite author of my mother, who had several of her books on the shelves as I was growing up. But I'd not read this particular book before today.

For me, Erma's a combination of humorist, social commentator, and reminiscencer (is that a word?). Much of her work might be considered dated, as she describes her life as a mother and housewife from post World War 2 America. However, her humor transcends generations: men and women haven't changed that much, and children are about the same, sans electronics. A younger reader should still see the humor in much of what Bombeck has show more written.

But where Erma shines, in my opinion, is her remembrances of her own grandmother, her children's experiences (first day of school, etc.), and other events that should pull at the heartstrings of any human with a shred of feeling. What, indeed, do we recall about our own mothers, the lack of fingerprints on the refrigerator door, or the homemade cookies hot from the oven?

You don't have to be old enough to remember this author to appreciate her look at life. I'm sorry we lost her so young. Recommended. show less

Originally copyrighted in 1965, this was Bombeck’s first book. She was already a hugely popular syndicated columnist and speaker, focusing her witty observations on the life of a mid-20th century suburban homemaker. The book begins thus: “This isn’t a book. It’s a group therapy session. It is based on six predictable depression cycles that beset a woman during a twelve-month span. These chapters will not tell you how to overcome these depression cycles. They will not tell you how to cope with them. They will have hit home if they, in some small way, help you to laugh your way through while hanging on to your sweet sanity.”

While the scenarios she describes are clearly dated (the family sits around the radio waiting for news of show more a possible school closing due to snow, the milkman still delivers glass bottles of milk), the emotions are universal. I laughed aloud at certain parts (shopping for a bathing suit), I was amused by much of it, and I was touched by a few of her essays (especially her thoughts as her youngest child goes off to school for the first time).

On the whole, however, I was not so in love with the book as I remember being in love with Bombeck’s columns. I am not a mother, but when I was reading her columns in the newspaper the references were fresh and I could think of my own mother (and my childhood), so I “recognized” the situations on a very personal level then.

The book is illustrated by Loretta Vollmuth. Her drawings are a delightful visual interpretation of Bombeck’s observations. show less

Always funny, always personal, mostly believable. Bombeck used her life to help us laugh at ours.

I feel At Wit's End very often. Erma Bombeck and her thoughts on the housewife job. Now my book was published in the late 1960's, before I was born. I enjoyed reading this book and remembering some of the things my mother would say.

Erma writes about what most women think when they are married and have children. I enjoyed the laughs while I read and also remembering my mother.

Saw this book in a second-hand bookstore. I read the back cover and it's quite funny so I bought it. Erma Bombeck is really a funny author. I laughed several times while reading this book. And aside from the humor, there's also some nuggets of wisdom in a particular chapter of the book. But I won't tell what part it is. Just read it. :)) Happy reading!

Humorous views of everyday life by the popular writer.