LIFE IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE MAKING OTHER PLANS

by Teresa Bloomingdale ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 23, 1984

After three books about being a mother-of-ten (Up a Family Tree, etc.), this one ""is about the funny things that have happened to me in my other life, as author, writer, lecturer, talk show guest, etc."" Alas, not too many funny things seem to have happened to career-woman Bloomingdale--though there's a bright line here and there. Her brief notes on TV appearances are bland (what to wear, getting to meet Gary Collins in person), except for the makeup man ""dancing around me. . . chanting: 'What a challenge! I love a challenge!' "" There's no amusement in a visit to fabled, surprisingly pleasant N.Y.C.--but a little bit when N.Y. colleagues come to see Bloomingdale in Omaha: they're surprised that ""we never see undressed beef."" Elsewhere, there are answers to all those would-be-writer questions--with some okay info and an occasional laugh. (Q: ""How are royalties paid?"" A. ""Reluctantly."") And, though Bloomingdale can't eke out much humor from expense accounts and business-trips, she's on cozier ground when she slips back into family matters: getting a clan photo taken (""Is there any particular reason why that child is not wearing shoes?""); house-selling woes; and taking a vacation with her husband--but only after cleaning the oven. (""If our plane goes down, or I should drown in the Gulf of Mexico, you can bet Mother will be up here in no time, and she will kill me if she finds out that I died and left the kitchen looking like this."") Pale humorettes, not even in a class with Bombeck's discards--but Bloomingdale has a following.

Pub Date: March 23, 1984

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1984

Categories: NONFICTION