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

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Sat Jul 14, 2007 7:19 pm

Yes Marian I have read the book and i agree with you. I am also a John Grisham fan, his novels are brilliant. (Harry)

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 6:50 pm

Thanks for the tip Marian, will look out for that.
I've just finished Terry Yorath's autobiography, it was an excellent read.

Gray

michduncg · Post by **michduncg** » Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:42 pm

After a year or so of reading non-fiction (Ronnie Corbetts biography amongst others), I picked up a Jeffery Archer

I hadn't read one of his books for years, but was a big fan in the 1980s but got fed up of his formula writing. Well, 25 years on, the formula hasn't changed, but I still couldn't put the book down! It was a book called the '11th Commandment', and featured a new Russian Dictator starting the Cold War all over again! And I turn on my news today and read about Russian expulsions.......

I am now just starting on a Bill Bryson - 'Down Under'. I love travel and humour, so his books can be very entertaining

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 8:46 pm

I've been to the library tonight and picked up a couple of books, one of which is a biography of Ava Gardner.
I'm looking forward to reading it because I know she dated some famous Hollywood leading men, so hopefully it should be a good read.

Any Ava Gardner fans out there?

Gray

Marian · Post by **Marian** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 8:53 pm

Of course, Ava Gardner was once married to Frank Sinatra. I believe it was a wonderful but tempestuous relationship!
Marian

john · Post by **john** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 12:25 am

I am looking forward to the forthcoming biography of the wonderful Hattie Jacques, due out in September. This is a definite must for me!

ROBERT M. · Post by **ROBERT M.** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 10:19 pm

Ava Gardner was sensational in "Showboat" - Gray

such a lovely beautiful woman. She was the ONLY love of Frank Sinatra. In fact when Frank found out that she had passed away, he locked himself into a room to mourn for many days, he was so much in shock and saddened

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 6:41 pm

Hmm, interesting that Robert, about Frank Sinatra...
Yes, I've seen Showboat and Ava Gardner was great in that, I know she won the heart of many a leading man she played opposite.
I'm looking forward to reading the book, if only I could prize it out of Amanda's hands I might be able to start it!

Gray

michduncg · Post by **michduncg** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 10:07 pm

Aww - Hattie jacques was wonderful - loved her in Hancocks Half Hour on radio - got some of the tapes. And of course as Matron and in Sykes. I was always confused why her surname was pronounced Jakes, not and not the French Jacques as it should have been!

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 7:13 pm

Been to the library tonight and picked up Gary Sprake's (the former Leeds Utd goalkeeper) autobiographt 'Careless Hands'.
Should be a very interesting read for me and he fell out with most of his Leeds Utd team mates.

Next up after that is a biog of Alfred Hitchcock.

Gray

Catherine M · Post by **Catherine M** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 1:58 pm

I am reading this biography of the infamous Profumo Affair and the
aftermath for the family. It is funny, sad and gives a real insight into
to the scandal and the love affair that endured as told by their youngest son.

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 6:45 am

Hi CM

That sounds really interesting, I saw the movie 'Scandal' when it was released back in the 80's and that about sums up my knowledge of the incident.
I think I would like to learn more of the aftermath, particuarly how it affected the family.
I will enquire at my library, thanks for the tip.

Gray

ROBERT M. · Post by **ROBERT M.** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 10:37 pm

John Profumo passed away not too long ago

Marian · Post by **Marian** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:01 pm

The Stately Home which featured in "The Profumo Affair," Cliveden, is now a hotel and also open to members of the public.
For anyone not familiar with the story..
In the early sixties John Profumo and his guests were staying there as guests of Bill Astor. Elsewhere in Spring Cottage in the grounds, stayed society osteopath Stephen Ward and his guests, who included Christine Keeler, and a Russian naval attache who was also a spy. They all met at the pool at Cliveden which was where John Profumo first met Christine Keeler and began their notorious affair. Unfortunately for John Profumo she was seeing Captain Ivanov at the same time, and eventually sold her story to the papers causing John Profumo's downfall from the government.
Stephen Ward was made a scapegoat and sadly killed himself during the trial.

I expect the book is very interesting CM.

Marian.

Catherine M · Post by **Catherine M** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 11:21 pm

The Book is great.

John Profumo more than made amends through his charity work in London
and was awarded the CBE by the Queen in 1975.

His wife was of course, Valerie Hobson, the actress who starred in
Kind Hearts and Coronets and the King and I on the London Stage, and she stood by him and was deeply devoted to him.

From a child's point of view the media attention and even bullying
at his private school was quite horrific and then the whole family had to
decamp to the country until it all blew over. David tells it in such an
amusing light now. One wonders if such a thing would get more
than a view headlines nowadays ?

Matt Monro Forum

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

BRINGING THE HOUSE DOWN - BY DAVID PROFUMO

PROFUMO - REPLY TO MARIAN