What Books Do you Read, and What are you reading now?

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Sat May 26, 2007 12:12 am

Harry reads books one after the other, constantly.
The last book I read a few weeks ago was "Our Street " by Gilda O' Neill a story about life in the Eastend of London during the blitz.
I have magazines that keep me occupied

so don't have time to get absorbed in books now, and haven't read Don Black's book.

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 6:42 am

I've just finished Norman Hunter's Autogiography 'Biting Talk' - a dead easy read, I enjoyed it!
Next up is Paul Madeley's autobiography (another Leeds player, hmm, there could be a pattern developing here) but after that I'm reading John Boorman's (the director who made Hope & Glory, Deliverence, Excalibur) autobiography.
That should be quite interesting because he worked with Richard Burton, Burt Reynolds, Helen Mirron, people like that.

If anyone can recommend a really good who dunnit, I would appreciate it!
Thank you!

Gray

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 11:08 am

It looks as though we are going to rival Richard and Judy's "Book Club"--I have already bought 2 books recommended on here---the Don Black Autobiography, and the Nicky Campbell autobiography--I have not got round to reading either of them yet though !!

Marian · Post by **Marian** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 11:40 am

I've just started Don Black's biography, but haven't got very far into it yet.
Have scanned through the Matt Monro references though

Marian

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 7:13 pm

That's it, I'm buying the Don Black book too, now.
It'll be top of the bestsellers list at this rate!

Gray

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 10:54 pm

Hi Gray-that is a good choice--I have just dipped into a few pages, and it looks a nice easy read and interesting too. Try ebay-although I got a great bargain in Amazon.[used and new]

Marian · Post by **Marian** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 11:28 pm

I got my copy on ebay for Â£1.00, new condition, hardback copy. I see the new price is Â£16.99, so there are some great bargains around.

Marian

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:28 am

That was a good bargain Marian---as you had already bid on the ebay one, I went to Amazon and mine cost just Â£1.20 --hardback-looks brand new.

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 6:43 am

Hi All

I'm in the middle of a fantastic biography of Richard Harris, I have just read a chapter on his collaboration with Jimmy Webb on MacArthur Park and his efforts to land the lead in Camelot (the movie).

Jimmy Webb was still a teenager when he wrote 'Macarthur Park' and 'By the Time I Get To Phoenix', incredible.
The book says how Webb recorded the music initially for Macarthur Park without Harris, then when Harris came to lay down his vocals, the key was really high, too high for him if truth be known, but Harris was determined to nail the song 'as wriiten' and managed to hit the high notes.

Richard Harris was almost obsessed with taking over from Richard Burton as 'Arthur' in the movie version of Camelot and plagued the producers with telegrams and phone calls on a daily basis until he won the role (mainly because Burton's asking fee was very, very high.).

I watched a bit of Camelot last night on dvd, what absolutley gorgeous photography, just like a chocolate box!

Gray

ROBERT M. · Post by **ROBERT M.** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 11:15 pm

Nice post Gray. I love Richard Harris singing "Macarthur Park"

paul jh · Post by **paul jh** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 11:20 pm

Yes, it's a classic track and always great to hear. For me the highlight is the instrumental middle part. Very exciting! I also like the medium tempo part, "there will be another song for me ...".

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 6:35 am

Thanks Robert

Paul, that part is my favourite bit of the song also.
Jimmy Webb was promised by Richard Harris, "you can have my Rolls Royce if this song reaches number 1" (Harris thinking there was no chance of it happening).
I think it reached the top spot in 10 countries, but Webb was disapointed because he never got Harris' rolls, just a brand new one.
Jimmy Webb said he felt let down, but still, it's not a bad booby prize is it?
A brand new Rolls Royce!

Gray

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 10:56 am

For anyone who read the Nicky Campbell autobiography, there is a programme on tonight [Wed] BBC1 at 9.00 , about the family who adopted Nicky.

Marian · Post by **Marian** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 7:21 am

I watched the programme Marian, and found it very interesting. It was different from the norm with Nicky looking back at the history of his adoptive family.

Marian

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 4:55 pm

If anyone looking for a good exciting autobiography, I have just bought "The Long Walk " by Slavomir Rawicz. I first read this book many, many years ago--out of the library. And I have always remembered it. So when I saw it in ebay recently, I snapped it up.
It is descibed as "The true story of a trek to Freedom "
And "A classic of triumph over despair, of beauty found in the void"
and "An inspiring tale of human courage and endurance"

The story is of the author who was sentenced to 25 years hard labour in Siberia, and his story of how he escapes via Tibet, and the Gobi desert.

It is a very easy book to read, and to get into. I loved it.