Like I always say "Never Judge a Book by Its Movie." Welcome back. Mame is flamboyant and exuberant, hosting frequent parties with a variety of guests and free-spirited friends including the frequently-drunk actress Vera Charles; Acacius Page, who runs a nudist school; and Lindsay Woolsey, a book publisher. Mame is an unconventional individualist socialite from the roaring 20's. I complained to my mother about the absence of entertainment, and she snorted mightily: "How can *anyone* be bored in this house full of books? Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published But the humor goes too often into hyperbole. Back in print at last! I discovered this book while strolling through the shelves at the library looking for my book club book by Dickens. Mame was an eccentric woman who loved life and parties. I've always been a fan of the Rosalind Russell film, Auntie Mame, and after recently watching the dreadfully sub-par Mame, starring Lucille Ball, I decided it was finally time to read the book and discover madcap Mame's true story for myself. Also, the author himself had a fascinating life. The Rosalind Russel version of the movie is one of my all time favorite movies. On a scale of 1 to 10, this book is a solid 12!!! it is based on his life with her. I loved the 1953 film of Auntie Mame and I really wanted to love this book. Mame was an eccentric woman who loved life and parties. I can't say I wish I had an Auntie Mame, but I kind of wish my children had one! "I reread and study Auntie Mame like a hilarious, glamorous bible where, among other wise lessons, one learns that true sophistication and innocence are two halves of the same glittering coin." I can see why his books fell out of favor. Mame Dennis — irrepressible, adoring, easily distracted, utterly down-to-earth — is the guardian any sensible child would love to have. This device helps make the book an extraordinarily fast read - as soon as one escapade is finished, you want to dive right into the next. 04. An Irreverent Escapade. This book had me in complete stiches with its wit and charm. This book continues in the same vein -- over the top, madcap adventures. We’d love your help. $10.50 : $2.25: Audio CD, Audiobook, CD, Unabridged "Please retry" $11.60 . See all formats and editions Hide other formats and editions. Her helter-skelter charm was, after all, notorious . Download for print-disabled 03. Auntie Mame is a witty, hilarious and charming skewering of all that was conventional and pretentious in American life from the 1920's until the 1950's. Sparklingly witty, irreverently satirical, this 1955 novel manages to remain timelessly relevant in its cutting send-up of conformity, conservatism, and cupidity. There is an attempt to redeem her toward the end, through an elaborate ruse that actually makes no sense, but after that she's right back to her old emotionally manipulative tricks. Free with your Audible trial: Hardcover "Please retry" $15.50 . Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Auntie Mame; Young Patrick Dennis, orphaned at the age of 9, is sent to live with his only living relative: his father's sister Mame, a free-spirited bachelorette in New York City. Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis, 9780141194127, available at Book Depository with free delivery worldwide. They showed it in two parts and I couldn't WAIT for the next afternoon to see the second part! It was at times very predictable, over-the-top, and so dated, that I found myself wishing I was reading the author's true biography, which sounded much more interesting (popular author, bisexual man, husband and father, and then a butler?). It was OUT of print!!! Sign up to our newsletter using your email. Auntie Mame sure is one quirky, crazy character, but I loved her and this book! I've seen the movie of Auntie Mame countless times, struggled through the dreadful movie musical version Mame, and read the original novel by Patrick Dennis. How had I never heard of this book before? I had to be around 10 when I first saw the movie. Read at age 10(?) 'Auntie Mame and I learned to love one another in as brief and painless a period as possible. I wasn't as drawn to her and did not fall in love with her character. Madcap is not my favorite genre and madcap this is. Patrick Dennis, orphaned in 1928 when his father Edwin dies unexpectedly, is placed in the care of his aunt Mame Dennis in Manhattan. Read this book! . Patrick Dennis Booklist Patrick Dennis Message Board. Strangley enough after reading this book I want to go through ALL my other ratings and lower them by one! Mame is one of the iconic figures of American literature and the novel was one of the best-selling books of the twentieth century. Written in 1955, this is an absolutely hilarious story about a young boy who's adopted by his wealthy, slightly insane aunt. it is based on his life with her. Eventhough it was published in the 50s it was so hard for me to realise that fact. we see Patrick grow up, go through various girlfriends. I was a bit surprised because I do not think that Mame comes off 'bigger than life' or totally irresistable in the book. To help us recommend your next book, tell us what you enjoy reading. A bisexual, he had a wife and family, but also pursued relationships with men on the side. I've always loved the movie starring Rosalind Russell and the musical starring Lucille Ball. It reminded me of all these current chic-lit books out there that their style of writing and storytelling are what people are calling fresh and invigorating. View all online retailers. It was made into a play, a Broadway and a Hollywood musical, and a fabulous movie starring Rosalind Russell. Dennis has the ability to create wonderfully vivid scenes in his writing. I've always been a fan of the Rosalind Russell film, Auntie Mame, and after recently watching the dreadfully sub-par Mame, starring Lucille Ball, I decided it was finally time to read the book and discover madcap Mame's true story for myself. Mame quickly becomes fond of Patrick, and aims to give him as broad a view of life as possible. I long ago, after seeing the movie for the first time, that I was going to do everything possible to be like the Auntie Mame in the movie - charismatic, outgoing, crazy. Ugh... this is probably more of a 2.5 star sort of deal. Interesting chapter in here when Mame and Patrick go to the Soviet Union and end up in a commune. The Rosalind Russell film is a gem, but the book takes everything wonderful about the film and multiplies it about ten times over. Amazon Price New from Used from Kindle Edition "Please retry" £5.49 — — Hardcover "Please retry" — £122.95: £33.50: Paperback "Please retry" £7.99 . 0767908198 9780767908191 cccc. See all formats and editions Hide other formats and editions. " Auntie Mame is the American Alice in Wonderland. Price New from Used from Kindle "Please retry" $12.99 — — Audible Audiobook, Unabridged "Please retry" $0.00 . Adventures ensue. This book is absolutely hilarious, hands-down one of the funniest, most charming books I've ever read. Also, there is something ver. I was a bit surprised because I do not think that Mame comes off 'bigger than life' or totally irresistable in the book. lost him but still inherited the money. However, Patrick's father has designated an executor to his will to protect the boy from absorbing too much of Mame's rather unconventional perspective. I probably read the book when I was about 15 and loved it. Refresh and try again. Wildly successful when it was first published in 1955, Patrick Dennis’ Auntie Mame sold over two million copies and stayed put on the New York Times bestseller list for 112 weeks. Auntie Mame July 2, 1994, Ballantine Books Mass Market Paperback in English 0345376501 9780345376503 zzzz. I had to be around 10 when I first saw the movie. This was a completely fantastic book from start to finish. This book by Patrick Dennis is about his Auntie Mame. However, I didn't feel like the book lived up to the great expectations created by so many of the reviews. Auntie Mame was first published almost fifty years ago, and although clearly describing times 75 long past (the book sees Mame through the twenties, the Depression and the War,) it is still charming, witty and absolutely hilarious. When shy young heir Patrick is orphaned at the age of ten, the only family he has is his wealthy and eccentric aunt, a New York socialite named Mame. I guess it started out with entries to the Readers digest. I get that part of the misogyny of the character was one more way to use hyperbole for the sake of humor but I don't find sexism funny. Patrick's story of growing up with Auntie Mame fills in a missing chapter from the first book -- the tale of their trip to Europe. by Broadway Books. some of the stories were new to me. Wildly successful when it was first published in 1955, Patrick Dennis'. A lot of the chapters ended up in the stage version and movie. Rosalind Russell will always be Auntie Mame to me. [The last scene in the book depicts Patrick, now married and respectable, being persuaded by Mame to let his seven year old son join her on a trip to India: although the book's chronology would indicate that she was by this point in her seventies, she had not changed a bit. Little Me book. Auntie Mame. I stumbled on the reprint edition when it came out in 2001 at my local Barnes & Noble, and the cover caught my eye (yes, I did judge this book by its cover, and I'm so glad that I did, since it caused a love affair with Mame that has lasted for twelve years now). But as the episodes wore on -- there is no plot here, just a series of episodes spanning a couple of decades of the narrator's life -- the tales got repetitive, the misogyny grew very tiresome. I have always loved the movie Auntie Mame with Rosalind Russell and I have the soundtrack from the musical with Angela Landsbury. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. in English - 1st Broadway Books trade pbk. I read that the inspiration for Mame was Dennis' real aunt but that not long after the book was published, he had a falling out with her and they never spoke to each other again. . ' I will definitely be reading more by him. Exaggeration is of course a great tool of humorous writing but when it's overused it becomes overkill and no longer funny. So I grabbed it read the cover front & back thought it sounded good. I can only say that with a few(!) Seen one way, including these books seems a pathetic attempt to build my public shelf. See all formats and editions Hide other formats and editions. Until someone tells me to “shut up”, I am going to continue to add the odd personal blast from the past as seems useful to do so. It was made into a play, a Broadway and a Hollywood musical, and a fabulous movie starring Rosalind Russell. It became a Broadway play and movie starring Rosalind Russell and a musical (Mame) starring Angela Lansbury. I wasn't as drawn to her and did not fall in love with her character. Here, read this," and she handed me "Auntie Mame.". I recently got into a screaming match on an airplane over the topic of Mame's relevance today. But as the episodes wore on -- there is no plot here, just a series of episodes spanning a couple of decades of the narrator's life -- the tales got repetitive, the misogyny grew very tiresome, the narrator became more and more shallow and unlikable, and Auntie Mame became more of an air-headed narcissist control freak than the delightful bohemian she was in the beginning. Wildly successful when it was first published in 1955, Patrick Dennis' Auntie Mame sold over two million copies and stayed put on the New York Times bestseller list for 112 weeks. Book 1 of 1 in the Auntie Mame Series. Exaggeration is of course a great tool of humorous writing but when it's overused it becomes overkill and no longer funny. However, I didn't feel like the book lived up to the great expectations created by so many of the reviews. Also, there is something very misogynistic about the nephew character. You had better believe nothing can be less true that with this book. 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