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Categories: Science fiction Fantasy Mystery Romance Business Classic Sports Young adult Humor Memoirs See all categories... |
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Categories: Science fiction Fantasy Mystery Romance Business Classic Sports Young adult Humor Memoirs See all categories... |
Another gem in the For Better or For Worse series. This time out, the kids are immensely older with Mike freelancing as a journalist in Toronto, engaged to Deanna; Elizabeth is at Nipissing U; April is about 8 and still the 'imp' in the family along with the two dogs Edgar and Dixie and a rabbit has joined the family, too; and Elly's dad, recently widowed has moved in. Elly and John embark on being business owners, Lilliput Toys and Hobbies is now theirs! Elly worked there but the owner wanted to sell the family business, John and the kids encouraged Elly, and presto, the Pattersons are in biz. So, the fun chaos that is the For Better or for Worse drawn scripted strips carries on in fine form with bullying battles at school for April, writer's muse for Mike and wedding plans, and a new love interest for Elizabeth. Elly's dad is a bit forgetful at times but is a stellar influence on April and her musical bent; a tender cartoon has them in a duet--harmonica and guitar--at Christmas time, the best gifts are ones you don't buy thinks John...indeed. The store purchase resonated with me and took me back to when my husband and I bought a flower shop in 1985--the best 20 years spent, ever--and a couple of Elly's days had me laughing, the angst of opening the store door to biz each day. Another couple of hilarious strips feature the coming of email with Elly needing to get on board; when April bugs her mom (who has just got in from the store) when's dinner, Elly replies, check your email.Lynn Johnston has always pulled experiences from real life and breathed life into her characters echoing those. We are all the better for enjoying and following the episodes of the Patterson family, all these years.
