Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade

I wish she were my Auntie!!!

I stumbled upon this book when I was in Jr. H.S., a long time ago. Geez, I wished that she were my Auntie! What a marvelous, heart-warming, heart-string pulling tale of an orphan and his zany, NYC society Aunt that'll take you from the Great Depression all around the world and back home in fits of laughter and tears. I've heard that Patrick Dennis based his story on his real Aunt. Angela Lansbury stole my heart on Broadway (my 16th birthday present) and I need a fix of Rosalind Russell's movie version every now and again, but there is no replacing the original story. Put this on your shelf and in your heart.

a great read!

If you enjoyed the films or musical you will love the novel. The amazing characters will seem larger then the pages they are on. Its also a quick read and lots of fun.

excellent book, a great read to re-visit time and time again

Fabulous, funny, irrevrent, entertaining, stylish the story never gets old and never boring.

The book resembles more the the 1948 classic Auntie Mame rather than the 1974 Lucille Ball remake. But it is different from both. One thing is certain, it is a fascinating, easy and funny read. Greatly enjoyed it!

This classic is written from the point of view of Patrick, Mame's nephew and it starts with the sudden death of Patrick father's when he was ten year old to the introduction of Patrick's seven year old son to a much older auntie Mame for a reprise..

In between they conspire to get Patrick educated, Mame suffers the depression of 1929 and after not being able to maintain any employment she marries a very rich southerner.

She goes to Georgia with Patrick to meet her new in laws and almost dies when she rides Lighting Rod, a mad horse from an old flame of her husband Beau.

Beau dies and Mame goes to Europe to mourn her loss for two years. Then she meets a literary circle and decides to write her memoirs.

No book is produced but her editor elopes with her secretary Agnes. Agnes comes back pregnant and Mame takes her to Patrick college to have her deliver her baby aided by Patrick. In the end the baby is born after much conniving and the help of Patrick's headmaster who falls in love with Agnes.

In college Patrick gets a mistress, a cocktail waitress by the name of Bubbles, and Mame cultivates Patrick's roommates, especially Alex, to whom she attaches romantically. Mame and Patrick save each other when at the junior prom Bubbles is found naked with half of the football team, and Mame hides in Patrick's room to escape being caught with Alex.

Patrick finishes college and falls for a well to do girl name ]Gloria. Mame comes to his rescue this time as she goes for a visit to her parents and uncovers their bigotry.

Wounded after this, Patrick joins the army until 1942 when he returns after an injury. He helps Mame care for six terrible children which almost killed them both.

The final chapters deal with the shenanigans that Mame go through to get Patrick married.

The book ends with Patrick seven year old child being introduce to a much older Mame and history will repeat itself.

Patrick and Mame save each other from lovers.

The book resembles more the the 1948 classic Auntie Mame rather than the 1974 Lucille Ball remake. But it is different from both. One thing is certain, it is a fascinating, easy and funny read. Greatly enjoyed it!

loved the book loved the movies

this book was so enjoyable. i was a fast read. very entertaining and fun. anytime reading. relax and enjy the ride.

Not Just A Delightful Novel

I first read 'Auntie Mame' when I was in 8th grade (mid 1960's) and it changed my life! It is not only a delightful novel, it's a great social survey of the first half of the 20th Century - all the buzz words are sprinkled into the narrative, along with the flavor of each period in the first half century. After I read it three or four times, I pulled out a pad (not foolscap) and wrote down all the names and references I didn't understand. It enriched my appreciation of American cultural and social history. I'd love to give it as a gift - in an annotated edition!

Fun!

I defy anyone to read this book and not burst into giggles, snickers, chuckles, snorts or guffaws! Actually, the entire book can be summed up in just one word: fun! The story is obviously very well-known, thanks, not only to the popoularity of the book in its hayday, but to the Broadway adaptation and movies as well. I will quickly summarize the book, though, for those, like me, who had never had any experience with the book, play or movie. Patrick Dennis was 10 years old when his father died suddenly. His mother had died long before. According to his father's will, he is sent to live with his wildly eccentric Auntie Mame, with a few restrictions -He is to be raised in the Episcopal faith, and sent to a conservative school. Auntie Mame's upbringing of Patrick is to be supervised by his stodgy trustee, to ensure that Mame's eccentricity is reigned in if necessary. Auntie Mame is one of the most delightfully funny characters I've ever read. Eccentric doesn't begin to explain her. A drama queen to the nth degree. Mame lives life on the grandest scale possible with more flair and panache than an entire chorus line, all the while dragging her nephew Patrick into her elaborate, kooky schemes. The story is told in a series of vignettes, as insprired by the Reader's Digest's feature 'The Most Unforgettable Character.' Auntie Mame certainly is unforgettable! I adored this book, and would now like to see the movies and play for comparison. This book would leave a smile on the face of the most hardened grouch.

Funny, time to read or re-read

Anutie Mame is funny and very clever. If you haven't ever read it you should read it now. If you have read it re-read it anyway.

Brilliant!

This book is hilarious! Its also brilliant social commentary. Patrick Dennis was a genius. Highly recommended. Watch the movie too.....its just as funny!

Funnier Than Any Movie Version!

Like 'Forest Gump' and 'Addy Pray' (aka Papermoon) this is an episodic semi-satirical trip, this time with a wealthy anything but old spinster aunt. Visit Auntie Mame in the raw- before she was cleaned up for the stage, neutered for the movie, and sent to a nunnery for a musical version before becoming said old spinster aunt in the movie musical. The additional episodes that didn't make it into the Lawrence/Lee/Russell play are worth the price of the book. Mame's affair with a college student, an amourous 16 year old war orphan with the hots for Auntie, and Patrick's attraction to 3 hypnotic sisters didn't make it to the stage. You will also find out what became of Agnes Gooch. Why was Uncle Beau standing behind a horse before being kicked in the head and died? Read, read, read!

What fun!

One of the best stories ever written! An elegantly bawdy romp!!

Auntie Mame

I thought this was a very good book. It is filled with exciting things. I recommend this book and after you read the book I recommend watching the movie too (make sure you get the original movie with Rosalind Russell) :)

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