Thursday, August 06, 2009

Notes From A Small Wife




MY WIFE rarely deigns to speak here. She figures I do a swell job of making a fool out of myself without her help. However, she looked over my 15 Books post, and decided that her commentary was necessary. So, without a nyfur the rado, here is MY WIFE.

Although I have read few of MY HUSBAND's choices, they are his opinion. However, I do have to take exception with his ending remarks regarding the Adrian Mole series.

I happen to know he never finished Adrian Mole - The Cappuccino Years and didn't even begin Adrian Mole And Weapons Of Mass Destruction.


[That is a slight exaggeration. I read the first 3 or 4 pages.]

While Cappuccino Years doesn't have one snorting laughter as the original book does, the last book, Mass Destruction, is worth a fun weekend read.

[In defense of my taste, I'll note that MY WIFE enjoyed the sequel to A Christmas Story, also. It was called It Runs In The Family, and I thought it was fair, at best. If you've seen both, you now have a basis on which to judge both her criticism and mine.]

Another note worth mentioning is regarding Adrian Mole, Aged 13-And-3/4 vs. The Thunderbolt Kid by Bryson. While Suldog was a baby boomer boy, and could have written a book very similar to Bryson's (sans the grandmother with a fondness for 'nigger babies' candy) he was never a 13-and-3/4-year-old acne-inflicted British boy. But, neither was Sue Townsend, who wrote Adrian, and who manages to capture Adrian's voice to a T (and the British, I'm told, are very fond of tea.)


Speaking of the British, our first introduction to Bill Bryson came from reading his Notes From A Small Island (our edition actually published in the U.K., but subsequently re-published in the U.S. with changes to make it more comfy for we less-literate Americans.) Travel adventures are Bryson's forte. As wonderful as Thunderbolt Kid is, his entire collection of travel books are worth the read. I should know. I've been reading In A Sunburnt Country for 8 years now.

Never again, with any stuff.

Wifey




If you don't understand why we're married, after reading this, then you never will.

Soon, with... well, you know.


18 comments:

Janet said...

SULDOG's WIFE, you need your own blog. That's absolutely hilarious. I especially enjoyed your 8-year odyssey into the travel book. Seems appropriate somehow.

lime said...

*waves at wifey! all i can say is the two of you are perfectly matched.

oh, and i think "in a sunburned land" was my introduction to bryson. i quite enjoyed it.

Jeni said...

Thanks for the explanations about Suldog's reading adventures. I agree that you need your own blog too. Maybe you could do a Point: Counterpoint type thing?

Brian Miller said...

too fun...my wife did a post on mine a while back...they have a way of setting us straight. lol. you should do it more often suldog's wife...

Michelle H. said...

Ahh... so now the truth comes out and it is just as hilarious. It always ends up being the wives who must jog the menfolk's memories.

I agree with Jeni. The Point:Counterpoint thing would be entertaining to read.

Chris said...

I agree with Janet, I fully expect to see a new blog entitled "SULDOG'S WIFE" any day now.

Never again with any stuff. Great line!

Jazz said...

Never again, with any stuff

Oh, how I love THE WIFE.

Eleonora Baldwin said...

I'm torn. Do I want your wife to have a blog of her own so the Sullivan pleasure and wit can be doubled; or do I want her too keep totally grilling you in her "guest" posts on yours?

Wheatever the choice, I like your wife.

Ciao,
Lola xx

Elizabeth Bradley said...

Interesting to hear from Suldog's "other half", I agree you seem to matched up just fine.

Gennasus said...

Thank YOUR WIFE for giving us a feminine (and therefore correct) view on your latest post.

Adrian Mole was the book I enjoyed the most from your list. I agree that the first was the best, don't think I made it to the Cappuccino Years. Bill Bryson is also a big favourite of mine, although I've struggled with his A Short History Of Nearly Everything. For me, his best was Notes From A Big Country. Best not read whilst drinking.....snorting coffee is so unbecoming.

Buck said...

If you don't understand why we're married...

Heh. You two are perfectly matched, even in the "humor in the written word" space. Dinner must be a hoot at your place. ;-)

Further... I understand VERY well, and have for quite a while. It was that way with TSMP and I for 23 years until... shit happened.

Good on ya and YOUR WIFE, Jim. Many happy returns.

Ananda girl said...

Said it before and I'll say it again. That "MY WIFE" is the perfect wife for you!

BTW, I like your wife! I liked the sequel to A Christmas Story... and I bet, like your wife... I'm gonna like the other Adrian Mole stories.

Very big grins, Suldog! Thanks for sharing your wife! I can see that you are the perfect husband for her as well. Yay!

Judi FitzPatrick said...

Can't comment on the books as I haven't read any of the ones mentioned in this post. I, too, love the "Never again, with any stuff" - such a perfect sign off. Hope YOUR WIFE is back now and again to set the record straight.
Peace, Judi

Marian Dean said...

As you know my hubby makes the occasional visit to blogland, mostly at my begging. But he does refrain from keeping tabs on my daily posts, and is only interested should other bloggers post something I think he will appreciate. So make the most of your dear wifey and her interest in your hobby!
Viva la female!!!
Love Granny

♥ Braja said...

Yep, Mrs Suldog Blog time....
:)))

Elaine Denning said...

I whole-heartedly agree. Get a blog!

Jen said...

Your wife is great! You should have her guest post more often. Not that your words of wisdom are not worth reading. It's just fun to see a different side.
I must read the Bryson book. We lived in London for 5 years. I'm sure I'd get a laugh out of it.

Anonymous said...

I love it! Hilarious that it was a literary reference that finally broke THE WIFE'S deference.