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Bread for the Living
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1981
14 people want to read
About the author
Mary Lasswell
24 books8 followersAmerican author of humorous novels about life in Southern California, Texas, Mexico, and Newark, New Jersey under the name Mary Lasswell. She was born in Scotland to American parents and grew up in Brownsville, Texas.
Her first book, Suds in Your Eye (1942), published by Houghton Mifflin, was described as "a crazy, funny story" about three impoverished but high-spirited and beer-loving elderly women. It was adapted into a Broadway Play by Jack Kirkland in 1944.
Laswell followed with five other books about the same three women, Mrs. Feeley, Mrs. Rasmussen, and Miss Tinkham, plus their handyman, only known as "Old-Timer". These included High Time (1944), One on the House (1949), Wait for the Wagon (1951), Tooner Schooner (1953), and Let's Go for Broke (1962), all with illustrations by famed New Yorker artist George Price. Their home base for most of the series was called "Noah's Ark", and was a junkyard in San Diego, but the third and fourth books were set during travels. These books consistently featured certain themes: the main characters faced financial disaster, were usually forced to take innovative measures to ensure a homeplace, rescued other people with problems, and acted as matchmakers.
Lasswell was also an editorial writer for the Houston Chronicle in the 1960's.
She was married to Dr. Dudley Winn Smith, a surgeon.
She died at the Solvang Lutheran Home in Solvang, California of Alzheimer's disease.
Her first book, Suds in Your Eye (1942), published by Houghton Mifflin, was described as "a crazy, funny story" about three impoverished but high-spirited and beer-loving elderly women. It was adapted into a Broadway Play by Jack Kirkland in 1944.
Laswell followed with five other books about the same three women, Mrs. Feeley, Mrs. Rasmussen, and Miss Tinkham, plus their handyman, only known as "Old-Timer". These included High Time (1944), One on the House (1949), Wait for the Wagon (1951), Tooner Schooner (1953), and Let's Go for Broke (1962), all with illustrations by famed New Yorker artist George Price. Their home base for most of the series was called "Noah's Ark", and was a junkyard in San Diego, but the third and fourth books were set during travels. These books consistently featured certain themes: the main characters faced financial disaster, were usually forced to take innovative measures to ensure a homeplace, rescued other people with problems, and acted as matchmakers.
Lasswell was also an editorial writer for the Houston Chronicle in the 1960's.
She was married to Dr. Dudley Winn Smith, a surgeon.
She died at the Solvang Lutheran Home in Solvang, California of Alzheimer's disease.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
September 26, 2024
Turn of the 20th century picture of a Tex-Mex ‘princess’ finding her singing voice on the border of Texas, Mexico and womanhood.
The characters are well developed - gritty and at times slick with sweat, they can also be found at the height of poise and refinement.
If you’re one for enjoying architecture of place, you’ll find yourself walking with the characters down dusty lanes in the heat of a southern summer with the fragrance of nearby blooming trees and music to enjoy.
The characters are well developed - gritty and at times slick with sweat, they can also be found at the height of poise and refinement.
If you’re one for enjoying architecture of place, you’ll find yourself walking with the characters down dusty lanes in the heat of a southern summer with the fragrance of nearby blooming trees and music to enjoy.
Displaying 1 of 1 review