Life is Hard Soften It with Laughter

by Marlene Ratledge Buchanan

How has your day been? Tough? Great? Mediocre? Stop and read awhile.Life is hard- Soften It with Laughter is designed to look at life and find a giggle. Don’t stop at a giggle….laugh out loud at some of my life’s misadventures and mishaps, ranging from bleached out possums to losing dead bodies to dealing with the bureaucracy of business, there is something here for everyone. I’m sure that police officer is still shaking his head at his misfortune of dealing with me in a full-blown spider dance/fit. That spider was the size of a dinner platter and he was looking at me like I could be his next meal for years. Pets? Mine are flying monkeys in the form of felines. As a retired high school art teacher and counselor, I’ve had plenty of experiences with the adolescent hormones to the horrormones of menopause and cancer. I have a tried and true prescription on how to deal with both. It involves a pillow, tissue, and lots of chocolate.Sit and read a spell. There is something here for everyone. I hope this book of essays will give you a giggle if not a guffaw. Life is hard. We need to do whatever we can to make is softer. Come laugh with me.

193 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 10, 2019

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever just wanted to pick up a book and enjoy the read - maybe even get a chuckle or two? I found myself laughing out loud as I read this book. Marlene has a great sense of humor and uses it as she tells the stories of her life. There are times when you will get wrapped up in a story that is serious, but I guarantee Marlene finds a way to make you smile even through serious situations. As I read the book, I would chuckle just thinking of similar things that my family may have done, or that I did as I was growing up and getting older. I was sitting reading on my patio and a neighbor came over; I read a story to her and her daughter and they both left laughing and smiling. This would be a splendid book to give as a gift to brighten someone’s day. Please do yourself favor—get this book and enjoy the read.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s not often I read a book that makes me laugh out loud and tear up in the same chapter, but Life Is Hard – Soften It with Laughter did exactly that. Marlene Ratledge Buchanan writes with the kind of honesty that pulls you in right from the start. Her humor feels effortless the kind that comes from someone who’s lived through the storms and still finds sunshine on the other side.

What really stood out to me was how personal and relatable her stories are. She talks about things we all deal with raising kids (including a special-needs child), marriage, aging parents, health scares, menopause, and all those unpredictable curveballs life throws at us but she does it with such warmth and wit that you can’t help but smile. Even when she shares her battles with cancer, there’s this underlying sense of strength and humor that makes you admire her even more.

I especially loved her down-to-earth, Southern storytelling voice. It’s like sitting across from a dear friend who knows how to make you laugh even when everything’s falling apart. There were moments that made me chuckle (her stories about cats had me in stitches) and others that made me stop and reflect. The balance between humor and heartfelt lessons is just perfect.

This isn’t just a humor book, it’s a reminder that laughter really is one of the best survival tools we have. Marlene’s wisdom, honesty, and resilience shine through every page. It’s the kind of book I’ll be recommending to friends who need a lift or anyone walking through a hard season.

Life is hard, but Marlene proves that with laughter, love, and a touch of Southern sass, we can soften it just enough to keep going. Absolutely wonderful read.

[Susan Hancock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Not my usual type of read, but these essays are so delicious, and the warmth and humour of the author’s voice really made it for me. Something about the mixture of happy and sad, laugh-out-loud funny and heart-grabbing poignancy is irresistible. Perhaps the title says it all: Life is Hard: Soften it With Laughter!

[Indie Author Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marlene Ratledge Buchanan brings the humor of her newspaper column to this collection of stories. She has the ability to look at difficult times with both humor and grace. Grab some tea, this book, and find a comfy chair. This book will make a great escape from the daily troubles of life.