Why people recommend it
The Egg and I by Betty MacDonald is a humorous and enduring memoir chronicling the author's chaotic experiences running a chicken ranch in the remote mountains of Washington State. On The Book Review, host Gilbert Cruz frequently championed the book, noting that while many readers might know MacDonald today for her beloved Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle children's series, her adult memoir remains a brilliantly funny read. Cruz expressed his high admiration for the book, enthusiastically recommending it to listeners on multiple occasions after revisiting the 1945 publication. Pamela Paul also joined in the praise, highlighting the memoir as a wonderfully fun and amusing quarantine read that was thoughtfully reissued by the University of Washington Press. Additionally, another guest on the podcast mentioned finishing the memoir and enjoying it immensely. The collective enthusiasm from the podcast team underscored the book's timeless appeal, proving that MacDonald's sharp wit, vivid observations of rural hardship, and self-deprecating humor continue to resonate deeply with modern audiences looking for genuine wit and engaging storytelling.
Who recommended it
- Gilbert Cruz Recommended
- Pamela Paul Recommended
Gilbert Cruz — 5 mentions
“this book is Betty McDonald's the plague and I longtime listeners may remember a while back I read the Egg and I if people are familiar with her name it's probably because of the Mrs pigle wiggle books her children's books which are still in circulation”
“this book is Betty McDonald's the plague and I longtime listeners may remember a while back I read the Egg and I”
“so I highly highly recommend Betty McDonald's the plague and I and that is all for me”
“so I'm reading a book that came out in 1945 by uam Betty McDonald called The Egg and I”
“so I'm reading a book that came out in 1945 by uam Betty McDonald called The Egg and I”
Pamela Paul — 2 mentions
“I want to recommend what I think is a really fun quarantine book and very funny I don't know if either of you have read it it's Betty McDonald's Memoir the plague and ey”
“but the book that does is the plague and which was recently reissued by the University of Washington press”
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker — 2
“so I finished the EG and ey by Betty McDonald and I enjoyed it a lot”
“so I finished the EG and ey by Betty McDonald and I enjoyed it a lot”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (5: passing, ad reads, own books)
“she wrote a number of Memoirs and the most famous of them is probably the egg and ie which was turned into movies”
“and I blathered on about Betty McDonald's the plague”
“another book she wrote called the plague which I like draws me in just on subject matter alone”
“I read the Egg and I on your recommendation a few months back and really enjoyed it”
“I read the Egg and I on your recommendation a few months back and really enjoyed it”