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The Erma Bombeck Collection
Three books of timeless wit and heart from celebrated humorist Erma Bombeck
If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits? is Erma Bombeck’s timelessly witty look at the hidden side of married life.
Motherhood captures one of the toughest jobs on earth with humor and heart.
And The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank is Bombeck’s take on the unforgiving frontier of American suburbia.
If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits? is Erma Bombeck’s timelessly witty look at the hidden side of married life.
Motherhood captures one of the toughest jobs on earth with humor and heart.
And The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank is Bombeck’s take on the unforgiving frontier of American suburbia.
434 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
877 people are currently reading
698 people want to read
About the author
Erma Bombeck
103 books543 followersErma Louise Bombeck, born Erma Fiste, was an American humorist who achieved great popularity for a newspaper column that depicted suburban home life humorously, in the second half of the 20th century.
For 31 years since 1965, Erma Bombeck published 4,000 newspaper articles. Already in the 1970s, her witty columns were read, twice weekly, by thirty million readers of 900 newspapers of USA and Canada. Besides, the majority of her 15 books became instant best sellers.
For 31 years since 1965, Erma Bombeck published 4,000 newspaper articles. Already in the 1970s, her witty columns were read, twice weekly, by thirty million readers of 900 newspapers of USA and Canada. Besides, the majority of her 15 books became instant best sellers.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 24, 2013
I'm not sure how old I was when I stumbled across one of Erma Bombeck's books, The Grass Is Always Greener over the Septic Tank, in a second hand bookstore though I think I was maybe in my mid teens. I hadn't really read anything by a humourist before and I wasn't expecting to find much in a book written by an old (from my perspective), American housewife amusing but I did. In fact I think it was probably the first book that actually made me laugh out loud. After that I kept an eye out for anything else by Erma, at that stage (in the late 1980's) she had published 8 books but they were difficult to find in Australia. Over the years I have managed to collect five of her books, and read 2 others (courtesy the library).
The Erma Bombeck Collection includes two of the books I already own - The Grass Is Always Greener over the Septic Tank, and If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries, What Am I Doing in the Pits? and a third I hadn't managed to get a hold of Motherhood: The Second Oldest Profession.
It's delightful to discover just how timeless Erma Bombeck's sense of humour is. Despite the generation gap and the seismic changes in society, her domestic commentary is still as relevant as it was 40 years ago.
My children regularly ambush me with the need for a costume/cake/working model of a rocket ship the night before it is needed, my husband can never find anything on a shelf in the pantry or fridge without my help and I haven't seen the floor in my teenage daughter's room for years. No matter if you are the mother of toddlers or teenagers, and regardless of whether you are a stay at home mum or work full time, it is easy to relate to Erma's light-hearted diatribes.
Hilarious, heartwarming and at times poignant, this is a wonderful collection of three of Erma Bombeck's best, and a thoroughly entertaining read.
June 27, 2017
I had read a couple of these books many years ago. Reading them again was just as great the second time around. Erma had such a gift of voicing all the things we often think but never say aloud. Miss her!
June 30, 2020
A Simpler Time
So much has changed since Bombeck wrote this book. She would be crucified from the press for the political incorrect chapters. I wonder if she could find anything funny to write about in today's world. I wish we could go back to these times. She was funny then and she's still funny now.
So much has changed since Bombeck wrote this book. She would be crucified from the press for the political incorrect chapters. I wonder if she could find anything funny to write about in today's world. I wish we could go back to these times. She was funny then and she's still funny now.
March 10, 2023
Though there are many references in these books that are dated and may even be foreign to some readers, these books still contain a great deal of truth about being a working mother. There are some really hard-hitting truths and thoughts sprinkled in with the humor. In addition, these are books that -- at one time -- were bathroom reading because they could be read in small chunks over time. And for those of us that grew up during Bombeck's hayday, there is a great deal of nostalgia. I would definitely recommend these books.
January 17, 2021
First, I love Erma Bombeck (R.I.P). I've read each of the books individually and was excited when I found it available in a collection. Fantastic! The insights, wisdom, and humor is still valuable today after all these years of published books. The books are fast paced, gut wrenching funny, and a needed pick me up when you need to just laugh. I highly recommend it.
June 26, 2017
Always Erma
Terms Bombeck will always live on through her humor and her books. I had read these books many years ago and it was nice revisiting her humor and the depiction of the 50's,60's and 70's. I would recommend this trilogy to others. I enjoyed it.
Terms Bombeck will always live on through her humor and her books. I had read these books many years ago and it was nice revisiting her humor and the depiction of the 50's,60's and 70's. I would recommend this trilogy to others. I enjoyed it.
June 6, 2020
It's a little dated, but the humor is still excellent. A light read when you need something to cheer you up.
January 11, 2021
Hilarious and thoughtful. Highly recommend.
January 17, 2022
This is the writer that inspired me to write. Her books are funny and timeless without being mean.
August 11, 2022
I did it for my apush project and it was really funny!
October 14, 2024
Bombeck was a national treasure.
November 23, 2025
I don't know how they chose what to add to this complication.
July 16, 2013
When I got this book from NetGalley, I was excited to read it again. I grew up in a family with five kids, and Erma Bombeck’s clippings were always on our fridge. My mother used to love her, because it was as if she lived in our house, and justified everything my mother always told us. When her books came out, I read them too, and I did agree they were funny. After all, any of these could have been written about the kids in my family.
I wanted to read them again as a mother, to see if things looked differently now from my altered point of view. Ahhh, so different. I was reminded of the Francis books I read and loved as a child (Bread and Jam for Francis particularly), which I thought were such adorable stories. Years later, I realized that my mother was being ironic — trying to prove to her pickiest eater that there’s more to life than bread and jam. This collection of stories achieved a similar feat, proving to me that my mother did truly get the last laugh on us. Erma Bombeck of course, was one of the original bloggers, so we have a debt to her for paving the way. But most of all, she made our ordinary suburban life something to write home about: something to glorify and something to satirize, something to wish for, and some days, something to post on the refrigerator to put all of the guilty parties on notice.
I wanted to read them again as a mother, to see if things looked differently now from my altered point of view. Ahhh, so different. I was reminded of the Francis books I read and loved as a child (Bread and Jam for Francis particularly), which I thought were such adorable stories. Years later, I realized that my mother was being ironic — trying to prove to her pickiest eater that there’s more to life than bread and jam. This collection of stories achieved a similar feat, proving to me that my mother did truly get the last laugh on us. Erma Bombeck of course, was one of the original bloggers, so we have a debt to her for paving the way. But most of all, she made our ordinary suburban life something to write home about: something to glorify and something to satirize, something to wish for, and some days, something to post on the refrigerator to put all of the guilty parties on notice.
July 23, 2013
What a glorious return for three classics. The advice and humor are as fresh and timely as when the books were first released. Erma is still spot-on and helpful today. So pour yourself a cuppa and sit down for a delightful escape! You will laugh and you will cry and you will feel like your best friend is telling you the story of her life! This collection would make an excellent gift for new mothers who need encouragement that they will survive in spite of their family! Enjoy! NetGalley provided an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 2, 2020
A true humorist that knows how to make u laugh at every day life. I've missed you Erma. Lol
March 31, 2014
Huge fun. Absolutely hilarious. Never gets old.
November 14, 2014
Classic! How can you not love the humour and insight of Erma Bombeck?! One oddity: some strange typos where "th" becomes "m". e.g. Ruth was written "Rum" and worth was written "worm". Weird.
February 27, 2015
I remember reading her in high school and college, 40-years ago. Her humor is still good and relevant now as it was then.
October 6, 2016
Funny and true
I've always loved Erma Bombeck. I've probably read every book she's ever written. A very enjoyable book & fun read.
I've always loved Erma Bombeck. I've probably read every book she's ever written. A very enjoyable book & fun read.
March 9, 2021
Everything she writes is wonderful. You just cannot get better humor. I love the way she takes being a woman in every day life and puts in just enough sarcasm to make it so funny yet relatable.
October 28, 2015
The classics of my youth; I read these things through a million times as a kid.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews