Mr. Hobbs' Vacation

by Edward Streeter, Dorothea Warren Fox (Illustrator)

Mr. Hobbs wants to spend a quiet holiday at the beach, but his wife has invited all their family to stay with them. Made into the movie "Mr. Hobbs' Takes a Vacation" starring Jimmy Stewart, Maureen O'Hara and Fabian.

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Novels

248 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1954

About the author

Edward Streeter was an American novelist and journalist.

Reviews

[Kathryn]

Four Stars for the 1/2 I've read so far...

"Left to his own devices [choosing a vacation destination] Mr. Hobbs might have chosen places which would have surprised even those who knew him best. Like many successful and outwardly hard-headed businessmen he was a romantic at heart. [...] Had the question been put to him he would have voted for faraway places--places where the natives wore strange and colorful costumes, if any--and unscalable, snowclad peaks cast purple shadows over jungles and sand-swept deserts. [...] Mrs. Hobbs' idea of earthly bliss, on the other hand, was to reassemble her rapidly expanding, and even more rapidly disintegrating, family. [...] She had already visualized a big, rambling summer cottage somewhere on the New England coast..."

I'm "stalling" on this because I had a week or so where I couldn't read much and during that time it feels like we have moved from summer to autumn and I'm craving something more fitting to the season. But this book is really a delight, full of humor and insight and 1950s "vintage" charm. I'm surprised it has so few reviews here and hope that fans humorous stories, with keen observations into people's personalities. Streeter is perhaps better known for writing Father of the Bride, so if you're familiar with that story (probably from the movie(s), like me) you know about what we've got here: a grumpy-around-the-edges father with a kind heart and romantic soul trying to navigate the ups and downs and hubub of family life: in this case, a summer vacation to a beach house (East coast) during which much of his desired R&R time is taken up with domestic issues such as running errands for his wife, taking out the garbage (he spends a lot of time on this, actually--it is one of the quieter moments, out there at the garbage pit), and dealing with the squabbles of his grown children and their babies. It's so well-written and I look forward to returning to it next summer (or maybe this winter when I need to dream of a seaside summer). I could see fans of P.G. Wodehouse perhaps enjoying this one.

[Terry Enright]

I wanted to read this book because it is the basis for one of my favorite old-time movies. The movie with Jimmy Stewart,however, is much better. But Mr Streeter should be recognized for the premise.

[Samantha Glasser]

This is a clever breezy book about a family’s summer vacation from the perspective of the patriarch. He goes fishing, birdwatching, they attend parties and throw them, and they relax. Mr. Hobbs is often bossed around by his wife and children to do the manly activities like working the water pump and burning the trash.

“‘Every time you try to tear off a paper towel the roll falls into the sink. Look.’ Mrs. Hobbs pulled a paper towel and, as predicted, the roll disengaged itself and fell into the dishpan with a splash. ‘See.’
Mr. Hobbs made the requested memoranda. ‘If you knew it was going to fall in the water that was a silly thing to do,’ he said.”

“Kate lay stretched out on the forward deck, engrossed in her ceaseless struggle to be more sunburned than any other girl in America.”

“It was a gala weekend for all except the lobsters for whom it was a dismal massacre.”

The film version starring Jimmy Stewart is less relaxing but equally entertaining.

My copy comes from a VA hospital.

[Joe Vess]

Hilarious. Different than but just as good as the movie. A bit dated in a few ways, but no less funny for it.

[Stasia]

I'm not sure why I didn't seem to enjoy this one as much... Maybe I found it a little too true to life? 😂

However, Mr. Streeter's books have really given me an appreciation for fathers and what they put up with, especially with grown children.

[Heatherterrybell]

This was old Fashioned, well written fun. Loved the perspective. Can’t wait to read father of the bride next.

[Vonda Kenner]

I enjoyed the book even more the movie!

[Craig Schlossin]

Short, fun read. Very funny.

[Lu Anne]

Reads at the lovely slow pace as a vacation at the beach.

[Christine Mathieu]

I enjoyed it, but as so many times the movie is a lot better than the novel.
It's one of my favorite James Stewart movies.

[Robert]

Inoffensive midcentury family comedy, dated only in detail and still entirely relatable.
It reads like a Gilbreth or Hodgins, and you should definitely look up all of those as well.

[Brianna]

A pleasant, light read that was surprisingly well-written. I haven't read anything else by Mr Streeter but I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and hope to find the rest of his books at the library.

[Melissa Hedges- Rankin]

‪Found in our inherited library, outdated in some ways, but touches on many heartwarming and comical dynamics found in every family during a vacation.  ‬