Sing Me a Bawdy Song

by Noema Ayers

After serving in the 'Great War' Casey Bretten returns to college and graduates with honors. He begins a new vocation as the manager of an Automobile Service and Repair business in Toledo, Ohio near... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0595009611
• ISBN13: 9780595009619
• Release Date: July 2000
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Length: 408 Pages
• Weight: 1.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

A Family's Journey Through the Depression

Sing Me a Bawdy Song is a compelling story of the growth of a family and their journey through the Depression and the World War Two years. It paints an evocative picture of the lives of Casey and Emma Bretten, their three boys, and charming daughter, Tiona. The subplots of Casey's affairs add spice. Noema Jean Ayers has written this novel so clearly, it seems almost true. Highly recommended.

Strong Women

This is the story of strong women and their struggle through the problems of life. It illustrates how women can work out the many problems facing them in a man-dominated world. Starting at the beginning when Mary O'Brian fears her husband of only two weeks may be killed during World War I. The story continues with the marriage of Casey Bretten and his family and their struggle during the Depression. Casey's wife, Emma, is home alone with their four children eleven weeks out of twelve while Casey travels for a living. All four of the children become well-manered, independent children. Their lives take many turns as the story enters World War II.

Remember the Days-1917-1945

Sing Me a Bawdy Song supplies a wealth of American history.The story begins in Wisconsin in 1917 during The Great War and the beginning of prohibition. The story continues through the Roaring 20's. Next, we find ourselves in the middle of the Great Depression when Casey and Emma Bretten are moving to Los Angeles with their four children. Casey Bretten is the Western District Service Manager for Nash Motors. He travels 11 out of every 12 weeks. During that time Emma is home with their children. Day by day she struggles with death, sickness,the 1938 flood and a fear that Casey may be unfaithful to her. This is a wonderful heart-warming story about a real family with photographs of a real family. When you finish you will know more about the first half of the twentieth century and you will understand why Tom Brokaw called these people 'The Greatest Generation.'

Sing a Bawdy Song Sings

For anyone who enjoyed "The Greatest Generation" (and it seems thousands did)"Sing a Bawdy Song" compliments it well. Just as Brokaw begins his book with a chapter about "Ordinary People", Noema Ayers's book tells the moving story of an ordinary family during an extraordinary time in America's history--the years prior to and during World War II. Ayers's novel relates the story of the Bretten family as they develop pride and a strong work ethic during the Depression years. Interwoven in the story are humor, grief, romance and the dark secret of a child conceived in deception and lust.The historical research is obvious and well done. It includes such topics as the Menominee Indian tribe in Wisconsin, The Nash Motor Company and the Los Angeles flood of 1938.An added delight are the many old time favorite songs, such as "Roll Out the Barrel" and wonderful family photos.For anyone who grew up in the era, or had a family member who did, the book is a definite treat.

Poignant All-American Family Tale

This is a poignant all-American family tale. You'll laugh at parts of it and you'll cry at parts of it, but you'll continue to turn the pages until the end, and throughout the reading you'll stop and remember the events (both good and not good) in your own history that shaped you. This book will make you want to begin your own journey into your family roots.The title "Sing Me A Bawdy Song" comes from the Shakespeare line in King Henry IV, but it is also in one of the funny scenes in the book where one of the kids corrects the puritan Emma Bretten when she defines the word "bawdy" in non-sexual terms. This scene is just one of the many scenes that will make you laugh.Remember when a warm beer was as good as it got during prohibition? Remember when you could feed the whole family hot dogs and root beer at the beach for $1.50? Remember when families prayed at every meal? America's history as well as your own family history will be closer after you read this book.