Paper or Plastic: Life in the Check-Out Lane

by Bobbi Erhart

Book Overview

Bobbi Erhart laughed her way through bankruptcy, divorce and finally into a grocery store check stand. From hilarious anecdotes concerning children and crabby menopausal customers to tales of Bungee... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1604747099
• ISBN13: 9781604747096
• Release Date: March 2008
• Publisher: America Star Books
• Length: 174 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Shocking Reality

What a GREAT book! It's an easy read that's hard to put down. Makes you re-think what you blabber about to your check-out person. You just never know when that person will make notes about your personal quirks and write a book about it. Why will we tell strangers things that we won't tell even our best friends? I LOVED Ms. Erhart's "straight-on" approach to life's everyday trials. She certainly found humor in them. She tells life like it is--through other people's eyes. I laughed. I cried. I certainly can relate. Just a really fun book to read, PLUS the recipes at the end are an added bonus. Can't wait for her next book to "hit the shelves".

Charmingly comic book

Bobbi Erhart's book "Paper or Plastic: Life in the Checkout Lane" is a funny, charming first title (the sort of book many people probably plan to write about the "you-wouldn't-believe-it" nature of their workplace escapades yet never execute). This book is great fun to read and while the narrative isn't the voice of a seasoned writer, it IS the voice of a great story-teller. I stayed up late reading this book because I couldn't stop turning the pages and that is high praise for ANY book no matter how lauded the author. In fact, there were times when I felt like I was listening to her tell me stories! Erhart certainly attains the mark of any great writer: she can make just about ANYTHING engaging and can breathe life into the most simple scenario. The book is a mixture of autobiography and a collection of stories about her years behind the check-out-stand and the colourful (to say the least!) supermarket denizens who landed in her queue. There is a lot of heart and warmth to the humour in these quirky stories and you can immediately tell that the author is a keen and compassionate observer. Never sardonic or cutting, Bobbi Erhart manages to tug at your heart strings and make you laugh without self-conscious ploys or the strained sophistication a lot of auto-biographical humourists employ. She's true blue and the most effective (and funny) passages come when she nails the art of truthful and even self-exposing observation. The passages where she talks about her love affair with cheesecake is one of the best "battle with the bulge" expositions in ANY book. The stories about her quirky customers are fascinating and I can attest to the reality of some of the ones which describe local celebrities as I live in the town she fictionally describes as "Gunbark, Montana" -- What a great book. As an extra treat there are recipes at the end of the book and even a unique use for a dishwasher. I was sad when there were no more pages left. If you are looking for a clear, warm and honest example of 'truth is stranger than fiction' -- look no further than this collection of stories from behind the check-stand. I will never think of the supermarket in the same way again! I'm looking forward to her next book.

Paper of Plastic

I loved this book. She is a great storyteller who knows how to keep your interest up. I can't wait for her next book. I've recommended it to all my friends. They should make a sitcom out of her life, except no one would believe it.

An extra entertaining look at a very ordinary occupation

Ms Erhart's account of her, and other people's lives from the perspective of the checkstand is very entertaining and enlightening. Her funny, lighthearted, Erma Bombeck style, makes for a book that I would recommend to anyone.

Great Read I couldn't put it down!

I just loved this book. It is hilariously funny. I could not put it down; I wanted to know what was going to happen next or who was going to do what. If you want a good laugh and some insight into other peoples lives this is the book for you. I bought ten; it is going to make a great gift.