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The Future Homemakers of America [Paperback]

Laurie Graham
3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
RRP: £11.99
Price: £8.27 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Book Description

22 Aug 2009

Filled with warmth, wit and wisdom, ‘The Future Homemakers of America’ takes us to the heart of female friendship. A novel fans of ‘Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood’ will not be able to resist.

Norfolk,1953. The Fens have never seen anything quite like the girls from USAF Drampton. Overpaid, overfed and over here.

While their men patrol the skies keeping the Soviets at bay, some are content to live the life of the Future Homemakers of America – clipping coupons, cooking chicken pot pie – but other start to stray, looking for a little native excitement beyond the perimeter fence. Out there in the freezing fens they meet Kath Pharaoh, a tough but warm Englishwoman. Bonds are forged, uniting the women in friendship that will survive distant postings, and the passage of forty years.


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Product details

  • Paperback: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Harper Perennial; (Reissue) edition (22 Aug 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0007234074
  • ISBN-13: 978-0007234073
  • Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 2 x 12.9 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 279,274 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Product Description

Review

'She has wit and insight to match Nick Hornby, and the entertainment value of Helen Fielding, as well as depth. Her novel traces the lives of Peggy and five female friends – one British – from the 1950s to the present, against a background of landmark events. It amounts to a picture of the way women's lives have changed, without ever sacrificing the particular to the generalisation.' Nicolette Jones, Independent

‘Superlative. The writing sparkles from first to last’ David Robson, Sunday Telegraph

‘This novel crackles with energy and snappy American dialogue. Laurie Graham conjures up five tough, funny, mouthy women, thrown together at an American airbase in Norfolk. Kath, a typical Brit with a chilly exterior and warm heart, is drawn into their generous circle. Graham has pulled off an absolute triumph; the voice of her sassy narrator, the redoubtable Peggy, never falters as she unfolds 40 years of friendship.’ Georgia Metcalfe, Daily Mail

‘A wonderfully moving comedy.’ Alex Clark, Red

'The Future Homemakers of America is a warm, life-affirming novel that offers its readers pure pleasure.' Katie Owen, The Times

'This is an absorbing, funny, lively and sometimes moving story.' Sunday Times

‘Laugh-out-loud funny; intelligent; moving; has more delicious roll-off-the-tongue one-liners than Seinfeld. One of those books you buy six copies of to send to all your old friends.’ Julie Morrice, Scotsman

About the Author

Laurie Graham is the author of eight novels. ‘The Ten O’Clock Horses’ was shortlisted for the Encore Award and dramatized for Radio 4, as was ‘Perfect Meringues’. Laurie is a former Daily Telegraph columist and contributing editor to She magazine, and wrote the bestselling ‘Parents’ Survival Guide’. In addition to her novels, she writes original dramas and adaptations for BBC Radio. Her ten-episode dramatization of ‘Little Women’ was broadcasted on Woman’s Hour.


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Customer Reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
3.9 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Humour all the way but not without sadness. 22 Oct 2007
Format:Paperback
Six women, Peggy, Lois, Betty, Audrey, Gayle, Kath and their life long friendship that spans forty years. As the narrator Peggy starts this witty tale, the five American women are all married to members of the 96th squadron, based at USAF Drampton in East Anglia. It is February 1952 and after the death of King George VI, the women decide to pay homage by going to watch the funeral train pass nearby. It is on this occasion that they first meet up with local women, Kath, who at this time has never even been to the beach or travelled further than Norwich!
Over the years it is Peggy that holds the friendship together after they move on from the Drampton posting. In later years she is in fact told by her business partner Grice `But your best thing is being a good friend'
Love, laughter, triumphs and tragedies but blended in with all this is a fascinating account of social change in the USA and the UK over the same period. Highly recommended, even more so if you grew up in that era as I did. Be warned though this will make you laugh and cry.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!!! 11 July 2004
By monica
Format:Paperback
I really enjoyed the wit and humor of Laurie Graham. I flew through this book in no time and really connected with the characters. It is a tribute to our older generation and the history and fun that lies in their stories. I am recommending it as a read that makes you laugh and cry. Pure enjoyment!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Bloody perfect 17 Aug 2006
Format:Paperback
I found this book in a house we were renting, started reading, and had to pinch it because I couldn't bear not to finish it.I just thought it was a treat. The cast of characters were individually delineated with huge skill and interacted with all the friction necessary to make the plot romp onwards. I found it touching, funny, and accomplished. In fact, when I finished reading it I couldn't understand why Laurie Graham wasn't a household name. I think she's a star and I loved this book.
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