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cazzaman's review against another edition
3.0
I chose this book on its reputation as being humorous. Reading this made me think long and hard about the definition of humour because I found it mostly unfunny.
Is the describing, or setting up, of a slapstick scene or pratfall funny in itself?
Is it the denouement, or your appreciation that this is all going to end badly ... the joke?
I concluded that what I find funny is the use of words in unexpected combinations or situations; Jane Austen being the high priestess of such art. This book offers but few such examples such as the thoughts of a thoroughly evil horse: “… a gelding who had never quite reconciled himself to a lifetime of celibacy …”, I thought hilarious. The Agnes character-transformation form dowdy to vamp, however was a delight.
The edition I read had an Afterword by Matteo Codignola. So it was *camp* humour; explains everything; of course (not).
Is the describing, or setting up, of a slapstick scene or pratfall funny in itself?
Is it the denouement, or your appreciation that this is all going to end badly ... the joke?
I concluded that what I find funny is the use of words in unexpected combinations or situations; Jane Austen being the high priestess of such art. This book offers but few such examples such as the thoughts of a thoroughly evil horse: “… a gelding who had never quite reconciled himself to a lifetime of celibacy …”, I thought hilarious. The Agnes character-transformation form dowdy to vamp, however was a delight.
The edition I read had an Afterword by Matteo Codignola. So it was *camp* humour; explains everything; of course (not).
chiara_roscio's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"Zia Mame" è un'irresistibile romanzo che racconta la vita straordinaria dell'omonima protagonista, una donna incredibile descritta da Patrick, il nipote orfano che si è trovata a dover crescere. La prosa di Dennis è esilarante, irriverente e capace di una comicità che diverte dall'inizio alla fine.
Ogni capitolo tratta di una fase peculiate della vita di zia Mame, coprendo un periodo che va dagli anni Venti ai Cinquanta, durante il quale l'improbabile zia vive le peripezie più disparate.
Mame è schietta, adorabilmente caotica, camaleontica, elegante, innovativa e chi più ne ha più ne metta. Il tipo di personaggio che ti manca quando chiudi il libro, che fa ridere e induce a tifare per lei incondizionatamente. Un personaggio a cui si vuol bene, e che rimane impresso ben oltre l'ultima pagina.
A chiunque serva una risata e uno svago dall'esistenza: leggetelo.
Ogni capitolo tratta di una fase peculiate della vita di zia Mame, coprendo un periodo che va dagli anni Venti ai Cinquanta, durante il quale l'improbabile zia vive le peripezie più disparate.
Mame è schietta, adorabilmente caotica, camaleontica, elegante, innovativa e chi più ne ha più ne metta. Il tipo di personaggio che ti manca quando chiudi il libro, che fa ridere e induce a tifare per lei incondizionatamente. Un personaggio a cui si vuol bene, e che rimane impresso ben oltre l'ultima pagina.
A chiunque serva una risata e uno svago dall'esistenza: leggetelo.
chrisannee's review against another edition
4.0
This book is funny, nostalgic, and downright exciting. I missed the motto of the film ("Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!") in word but it was definitely there in spirit. Dennis has a sly command of the English language that evades most authors. So, one would suppose, that he could do without all the "naughty words" that pop up with a gradual increase through the book. By the time Patrick had registered for college, the situations and vocabulary surpassed the title to an extent that I was not proud of. Also his continual return to the drabbbbbbb Digest article gnaws rather. In my opinion he would have been much better off just omitting that paragraph and starting right in with the next chapter.
So, to summarize: Take a pen to the offensive words, tear out the last 4-5 chapters, and you've got yourself a novel worth reading.
So, to summarize: Take a pen to the offensive words, tear out the last 4-5 chapters, and you've got yourself a novel worth reading.
maartinax's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rstanek's review against another edition
2.0
I had trouble finishing this, because the narrator/nephew turns into such an asshole by the end of the book.
eustachio's review against another edition
3.0
Zia Mame come personaggio non ha età, è vintage e moderna al tempo stesso. Il libro invece si porta bene i suoi anni, ma ciò non toglie che sia un assemblaggio di storielle slegate: tanto piacevoli e leggere quanto prevedibili e facili da dimenticare.
sarcastic_feline's review against another edition
4.0
This book is, by turns, funny (sometimes hilarious) and touching. It's written with both humor and affection, which I think is something often missing in comedic writing these days. Auntie Mame is impulsive, sometimes selfish, and very fond of a bottle and a cigarette. And yet, she cares about people, particularly her nephew. It's definitely worth reading at least once.
rachetuc's review
5.0
Adorato! Ci ho messo un po’ a passare oltre il primo capitolo, anche se estremamente esilarante come tutti gli altri. Leggero, se stato cercando qualcosa da leggere sotto l’ombrellone… Questo è un libro perfetto per l’estate!