Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade by Patrick Dennis
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.91 You Save: $8.09 (54%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.14 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade
Book Review: Pretty Good
Summary: 4 Stars
I liked it, but it wasn't what I expected. I thought I would be reading a book about an orphan who is forced to live with his cruel, lazy, alcoholic aunt. However, it's much better. The aunt is sweet and wise and loads of fun. I love the little pearls of wisdom scattered throughout. Read this book!Book Review: Fun!
Summary: 4 Stars
a really enjoyable book. lighthearted and easy to read. makes for a perfect vacation book.Book Review: Belly Laughs with Empty Heart
Summary: 3 Stars
"Auntie Mame, An Irreverent Escapade" is not only the title of an often-hilarious pseudo-biography in 1955, but also the name of the alterego of Miss Marion Tanner of Buffalo, NY. When her nephew, Edward Everett Tanner III, under the nome-de-plume of Patrick Dennis, set out to record (with great embellishment!) the eccentric antics of his aunt, he portrayed a woman of considerable wealth, but an empty and wanton lifestyle. That riches do not bring happiness is one of the background themes of this novel, but the fact that Auntie had a good heart does shine through her excessive drinking and often none-too-ladylike ways. One sees her as a shallow, single flapper of the 'Twenties, a woman of reduced (but still plush) means in the Depression trying to keep a job with less than sterling talents, and a suddenly purposeful existence during the WWII years, after the death of her first husband, who in real life was a writer and that lasted for about ten years. After that she married an English engineer, but neither of them died on the Matterhorn, as portrayed in the movie of 1958.That movie starred Rosalind Russell in what became the defining role of her career, and even the title of her autobiography: "Life's A Banquet," was a quote from her character of Auntie Mame as wonderfully essayed in the film of that name. This is one of those cases where the film is greater than the book, primarily for what the producer (Russell's future husband, Freddie Brisson) wisely left OUT of the movie. Ed Tanner as Patrick Dennis is no small ego, and much of his own self-adoration is present in the book, where he does portray himself as a callow youth prone to such characterizations of his manliness as "., I roared!" when speaking of his pronouncements to his Auntie. The episodes in this very episodic novel are sometimes very funny, but one must have a large literary allusion memory to understand all the implied humor, and the attitudes of the author as portrayed by characters Patrick and his Auntie, are very liberal and not to all tastes. I found the book hilarious as a teenager, but as I grew up and adopted morals, I could see the futility of the very monied but purposeless peregrinations of what were often pretentious people. That situation is brought out all the more in the sequel: "Around The World With Auntie Mame" (1958) which the author dedicated to, not his Aunt, but "To the one and only Rosalind Russell."
It is perhaps illuminating to read in Richard Lamparski's 1985 book "Whatever Became Of" that the author's real Aunt was not the beloved character as spoken of in his books. There Mr. Lamparski reveals that she was indeed born in Buffalo, graduated Smith with a Masters in sociology in 1914 and went to New York City. She did live in Greenwich Village in a Bohemian lifestyle, as they would then have put it, but while she and her nephew were friends, the coming of this novel and then the movie did nothing to enhance her fading life. In an interview, Miss Tanner said: "I think by the time Rosalind Russell appeared in the play [and then the movie] he thought SHE was his aunt." The real 'Auntie Mame' says that she and her nephew had a "falling off, not out." Further insight into the unfortunate situation comes from the play's script writer who said in 1983: "By opening night I think Rosalind Russell believed that SHE wrote 'Auntie Mame.'" By 1964, Miss Tanner was long-widowed and destitute and living in a nursing home and never saw her nephew again (he died in 1977). She was not mentioned in the will of his considerable estate. Marion Tanner died in 1985 in New York City at age 95.
It is perhaps best that the book be viewed as a fantasy, for then one can concentrate on the humorous situations, the remarkable characters that dance through its pages, and the wonderful descriptions of places and times that the author leaves you. If you see the movie with Russell (the one with Lucille Ball in 1973 was inept) you will come away with wonderful performances (Russell was nominated for an Academy Award), extravagant sets and memorable visions far beyond the often nasty characterizations in the book. If you read Mr. Tanner (Patrick Dennis') other novels you will find him witty, but never warm; sophisticated but superficial. If this is your cup of tea, this novel and its sequel should fit you to a 'T'!
Book Review: Fluffy Lit.
Summary: 2 Stars
'Auntie Mame,' is truly an irreverent escapade -- a fast, fun, and fluffy read. It also possesses a certain quality of campiness. Auntie Mame is indeed a gay man at heart -- irreverent, campy, sexual, and flighty (of course, this does not apply to ALL gay men). Her character is admirable but not convincing enough to be compelling or important. Some of the plots are completely incredible and too coincidental. For example, the courtship between her and Beau is so quick that you think that the author is doing this for the purpose of pushing the plot forward. The first half of the book is touching and believable. We care for Little Patrick and Nora. The second part of the book seems to be rushed or episodic. It's like Dennis keeps throwing obstacles to Patrick and Mame just to force it more interesting.
The character of Ito is completely OFFENSIVE. Ito is a great example of liberal racism. Why does he have to giggle all the time? He has no function and expressive range whatsoever. He's sexless, submissive, and plain dumb. Even the Irish nanny Nora has a purpose, returning to her homeland.
At most, this book is entertaining without any social or literary value. It's a fun read.
Book Review: Did I read the same book??
Summary: 2 Stars
After reading the above reviews, I wonder if I read the same book as the others. I will agree that the story was, at times, slightly funny. Other than that, I do not feel this book has stood the test of time well. Many of the social references are of course outdated, but the underlying attitudes towards class and gender are much easier to pick up on. The writing and storytelling was nothing spectacular, and the way the main character speaks of and acts towards women is appalling. Auntie Mame, if written differently, could have come across as an intelligent and warm hearted soul. Instead she is portrayed as a flighty rich woman looking for pet projects. I think this book has seen it's day in the sun, and I recommend leaving it on the shelf.