The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and Other Pieces

Reasons why I loved this book.

First off, I never watched the movie. And today, I'm still not inclined too. I originally picked up this WISP version, however, with the realization that "this was a book??!". Of course it was. A short story. As many movies seem to be these days.

Anyway. I was taken in. However brief the story. It's easy to see how. The life we dream up for ourselves is almost certainly more pleasing, entertaining, and satisfying than what we have. So Mr. Mitty was guilty of spending the bulk of his time in a dream world that was a lot better than reality. Who can blame him, really? In my dream world, I'd be a hero too!

A quick read with brilliant illustrations. Don't forget about this classic.

It was funny to read this short story while waiting for my mammogram results at the doctor’s office. It’s all about a man lost in his daydreams while in the midst of mundane life events. It was a bit meta to escape into his story in that moment. I’ll admit, in this case I actually love the 2013 movie version more than the 1939 story. It took the original idea and added more depth and adventure.

This is one of my favorite movies so when I learned it is also a short story, I had to read it.

"A henpecked husband copes with the frustrations of his dull life by imagining he is a fearless airplane pilot, a brilliant doctor, and other dashing figures."

I connect with this story so much because I was Walter Mitty growing up. This was a coping mechanism I used to make it through my adolescence and teenage years. And like the movie teaches, once you start engaging in experiences, there is no reason to obsessively daydream.

I have seen both movie adaptations of 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty' but somehow missed the short story that it was based on. I'm glad I took the time to read this, because it painted pictures that not many authors are able to convey in such a short piece of work.

I just re-read this title. I think the first time I read it I was still in school. There is nothing disappointing about it, but if there were it would be that it is "only" a short story. Fortunately Mr Thurber wrote much more!

This short story published in the New York Times in 1938 follows Walter Mitty as he is driving his wife to a hair appointment and running a few errands. During this afternoon out, his mind wanders to adventures, legal cases, sporting events and more. While completely different from the recent movie, the idea is still novel as a story today.

Célèbre écrivain, caricaturiste et humoriste américain, James Thurber est l auteur d'une uvre multiple, aux textes ciselés et aux dessins clairvoyants. Lire Thurber est un malicieux plaisir : cet écrivain et dessinateur qui fut l un des grands talents et l un des piliers du prestigieux New Yorker a un sens considérable du dialogue et de la repartie. L écriture est fluide, nette, souple, et le ton fantaisiste et désinvolte. D une redoutable clairvoyance, le caricaturiste, quand il écrit, fait mouche. La Vie secrète de Walter Mitty en est le parfait exemple : ce recueil de vingt-trois nouvelles et six fables animalières présente des personnages fantasques et naïfs empêtrés dans des situations d une comique absurdité. Tel show more Walter Mitty, le héros d une nouvelle éponyme, qui après avoir roulé en silence jusqu à Waterbury et déposé sa femme chez le coiffeur, part faire quelques courses et se jette dans des divagations toutes plus loufoques les unes que les autres. Devenant tour à tour capitaine de navire, médecin ou tireur d élite, il nous place en témoin privilégié de ses vies secrètes. Le succès de ce grand classique de l humour américain du XXe siècle s est d ailleurs poursuivi au cinéma avec la célèbre adaptation en 1947 de La Vie secrète de Walter Mitty, de Norman McLeod. show less