Why people recommend it
Betty MacDonald’s memoir The Plague and I recounts the author’s harrowing yet humorous experiences recovering from tuberculosis in a Washington state sanitarium. The book received enthusiastic praise and recommendations on The Book Review podcast. Gilbert Cruz strongly recommended the memoir, reminding long-time listeners of her previous work The Egg and I and noting that readers might also recognize her name from the enduring Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle children's book series. Cruz reiterated his high praise for the book at the conclusion of the episode. Pamela Paul similarly recommended the memoir on another episode, describing it as an exceptionally fun and humorous quarantine read that had recently been reissued by the University of Washington Press. Paul later shared a listener letter on the podcast from someone who had immediately downloaded the book after hearing it mentioned, prompting an enthusiastic response about its engaging qualities. Across these different podcast appearances, the hosts emphasized the enduring appeal, wit, and resilience found in MacDonald’s autobiographical writing, positioning it as a comforting and entertaining classic that remains deeply relevant and enjoyable for contemporary audiences looking for humorous historical memoirs.
Who recommended it
- Pamela Paul Recommended
- Gilbert Cruz Recommended
Pamela Paul — 3 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”
“so when you said you had moved on to the plague and I I immediately downloaded it on my Kindle”
Gilbert Cruz — 2 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”
“so I highly highly recommend Betty McDonald's the plague and I and that is all for me”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“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”