Auntie Mame

I grew up adoring the movie with Rosalind Russell and to this day can never get enough of watching this fabulous move. So, after years of living my life to the fullest in my limited, financially, way I've picked up the book (and audiobook) with glee and began reading.

There is so much to say about the character of Auntie Mame but I can say that even though my minds-eye always saw Mrs. Russell's performance this character is even funnier than the movie made her out to be. She is wickedly fun and always in "project" mode.

The afterword is not to be missed, written by Michael Tanner - the author's son - about how the author perceived his creation. I would dare say I'm interested in reading the biography Uncle Mame about "Patrick Dennis" as he does sound like Mame is much of him as is 20% an actual Auntie of his.

Do yourself a favor, make yourself your favorite cocktail: make mine a Manhattan with a cherry, and relish in reading this wonderful, crazy, chaotic story about two people who find each other and both end up saving each other.

Delightful and witty book! It's the story of this quirky and lady, living in NYC in the '20s who all of a sudden finds herself raising her nephew. Lots of adventures follow: she's educated, wealthy, full of life and very modern (read: libertarian). Honestly a great read, you end up laughing a lot.

What a rollicking fun book! Auntie Mame is such an all-encompassing character. I read this book over 20 years ago – well, I listened to it in the car going between Champaign Urbana and Evanston Illinois to visit my then boyfriend (now husband), and Kevin and I laughed and enjoyed the book all the way through :-). Over the past 27 or more years, I had forgotten huge amounts of it. The ways she gets involved in everything that the main character does – she gets involved in his education, his attempts to get a wife, his jobs, his travel, is further attempts to get a wife, oh, and it's so full hearted and amusing.
And her character is full and developed an believable! She believes in herself, mostly, and her nephew, and the overall goodness of life and humanity! And when individuals don't meet up with her expectations, just crushed for a while, and then picks up and moves on!
Overall, great fun and a real booster up!