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Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House Paperback – February 11, 2005

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 97 ratings

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The classic tale of leaving the city and building a house in the country, only to find country life isn't so simple. But it is hilarious.
Mr. Blandings, a successful New York advertising executive, and his wife want to escape the confines of their tiny midtown apartment. They design the perfect home in the idyllic country, but soon they are beset by construction troubles, temperamental workmen, skyrocketing bills, threatening lawyers, and difficult neighbors. Mr. Blandings' dream house soon threatens to be the nightmare that undoes him.
This internationally bestselling book by Eric Hodgins is illustrated by William Steig and was made into a film starring Cary Grant and Myrna Loy -- and a later film starring Tom Hanks called
The Money Pit.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"No ordinary jokesmith, Mr. Hodgins is light and expert."
--
The New York Times

"Anyone thinking of buying a home in the country (and who isn't?) should read this book for its practical lessons in real-estate values...the theme of unforeseen costs is sufficiently familiar to everyone to evoke nods of sympathy and smiles of understanding, especially when Mr. Blandings, in a fitting climax, faced a damage suit for intimating that one of his earlier architects had shown poor taste."
--
The Christian Science Monitor

"Mr. Blandings' skinning by real-estate men, architects, contractors, and plumbers should provide the reader with a lot of sadistic satisfaction, if it isn't too uncomfortably reminiscent."
--
The New Yorker

About the Author

William Steig (1907–2003) was a cartoonist, illustrator, and author of award-winning books for children. Most notably Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, for which he received the Caldecott Medal; The Amazing Bone, a Caldecott Honor book; Amos & Boris, a National Book Award Finalist; and Abel’s Island and Doctor De Soto, both Newbery Honor books. Steig is also the creator of Shrek! which inspired the Dreamworks films. Steig also received the Christopher Award, the Irma Simonton Black Award, the William Allen White Children’s Book Award, the America Book Award, and Society of Illustrators Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also the US nominee for both of the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Awards as an illustrator in 1982, and then as an author in 1988. He is survived by his wife, Jeanne Steig, and four children.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster; Reprint edition (February 11, 2005)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0743262328
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0743262323
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 0.704 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 5.51 x 0.6 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 97 ratings

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4.5 out of 5 stars
97 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book humorous and entertaining. They describe it as a delightful read with beautiful prose. Readers appreciate the freshness and intelligence of the writing style.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

10 customers mention "Humor"10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find it funny, entertaining, and witty. The story is full of irony, folly, pride, hope, and laughs.

"...It is written in a manner that is still fresh for todays reader and is wholesome and easy on the mind and intellect...." Read more

"...charmingly rendered, beautiful prose, exceptionally engaging, and very humorous!..." Read more

"...This is a story full of irony, folly, pride, hope, and of course laughs...." Read more

"...It was a bit of a disappointment. Oh, it's clever enough, but it just doesn't have the same zing as the movie version...." Read more

10 customers mention "Readability"9 positive1 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it charming and engaging with beautiful prose. The tone is different from the movie, but they appreciate the horror elements.

"This is a wonderful book, charmingly rendered, beautiful prose, exceptionally engaging, and very humorous!..." Read more

"I usually like the book better than the movie. Not this time. Movie is great. Book not bad." Read more

"...However, the book's tone is sharper and darker, which I enjoyed because of the many horrors in building a house...." Read more

"This was a charming and delightful read." Read more

3 customers mention "Book freshness"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's freshness. They find it wholesome and easy to read, like it was written recently.

"...It is written in a manner that is still fresh for todays reader and is wholesome and easy on the mind and intellect...." Read more

"...The book is like new! I am very pleased with my purchase...." Read more

"Fresh and Fun. You'd Think it was Written Yesterday..." Read more

3 customers mention "Intelligence"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's intelligence. They find it witty, insightful, and easy to read.

"...fresh for todays reader and is wholesome and easy on the mind and intellect...." Read more

"Funny, intelligent and true...." Read more

"...It is witty, urbane and insightful. A must read for any first time home builder." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2006
    How can a book written in postwar 1946 have any relevance today you say? Just try to buy or build a home from scratch and you'll see.Even people who are remodeling a few rooms as I just did can relate to the wonderfully agonizing world of contractors,builders, workman who 'get it wrong',supplies,appliances,change orders,delays and costs which never seem to end up totaling what you were told at the start of the job.I loved and admired the movie which is and always will be a true classic. But I always wanted to read the book as Cary Grant can be seen doing at the very end of the movie.Well I did and boy was it right on the money.I couldn't put it down and can't remember laughing so much as I compared notes and emotions with Mr. Blandings after each chapter.It is interesting to note the changes which were made from book to movie but they don't amount to much as each version has its own merits.It is written in a manner that is still fresh for todays reader and is wholesome and easy on the mind and intellect.Just plain fun with the ring of correctness with regard to building terminology and what problems and stressors the homeowner/builder faces even today.This book should be mandatory reading for all who aspire to home ownership one day.Get it and make it the first book you put on your new library shelf in your new or old home.That is if you can afford it.That new library might turn out to be a closet if your not careful with the plans.
    17 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2024
    I recently saw this story in movie form and loved it. Then I found the book and was so happy to get it to read. If you love old movies and old books, then this is a must have! Highly recommended.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2022
    This is a wonderful book, charmingly rendered, beautiful prose, exceptionally engaging, and very humorous! It is a must read for folks who find themselves over their heads renovating an old house.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2024
    I usually like the book better than the movie. Not this time. Movie is great. Book not bad.
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2021
    I loved the film and was expecting a similar tone in the book. However, the book's tone is sharper and darker, which I enjoyed because of the many horrors in building a house. Several times I laughed so hard that the dogs woke up!
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2011
    I love the writer's habit of lovingly insulting his now-famous characters at every opportunity, without causing the reader to lose respect for them.

    This is a story full of irony, folly, pride, hope, and of course laughs. If you saw the Grant-Loy movie by the same name and enjoyed it, you will also love this book. Likewise, if you somehow got your hands on the book and loved it, you HAVE to see the movie!
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2012
    The movie of the same name is one of our all-time favorites, and I finally got around to reading the book. It was a bit of a disappointment. Oh, it's clever enough, but it just doesn't have the same zing as the movie version. The comedic timing and meaningful looks of the movie just don't come through in the writing in the book. It's like reading a book that was a knee-slapper decades ago, which is pretty much what it is. It's a bummer, but it just doesn't hold up to modern standards of hilarious.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2022
    This was a charming and delightful read.
    One person found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • richard medd
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on June 11, 2016
    very funny, insightful