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

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 8:35 am

Also, from my local library, I borrowed a biog of Frankie Howerd, I can't put it down!
He suffered with stage fright and lack of self confidence to such a degree, it really is a wonder he managed to forge a career in show biz at all.

Gray

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 7:45 am

Just finished Norman Mailer's 'An American Dream', it made quite a fuss in the mid-60's when first written due to it's explicit content.
Can't say I enjoyed it, but it was very well written.
I will read some more of his work, definately, simply because of his skills as an author.

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 8:43 pm

Last week I finished another Norman Mailer book, 'The Fight'.
It is his account of the Ali vs George Foreman Rumble In The Jungle fight of 1974.
It was excellent, if you're a sports fan, I cannot recommend it enough.

Next up is a biog of David Lean.

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 8:07 am

I have finished the David Lean biography, it was very good, now I have started Sarah Vaughan's life story.

Anyone out there a Sarah Vaughan fan?
(She's my dad's favourite female vocalist)

mariana44 · Post by **mariana44** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 10:56 am

I have a feeling that Paul may be.

Marian · Post by **Marian** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 9:03 am

I'm reading Steve Race's autobiography. I thought there might be some reference to Matt included as they worked together, but disappointingly, not. It's an interesting read just the same.

Marian.

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 8:45 pm

Well, I heard Sarah Vaughan's version of Misty today - it absolutely knocked my socks off!
It was fabulous, her phrasing and emotion really left me reeling - I must hear more of her work!
(Time to raid my dad's record collection, me thinks!

)

Lena & Harry Smith · Post by **Lena & Harry Smith** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:40 am

Sarah Vaughan is one of the greats Gray. There are some clips on Youtube. "Over The Rainbow." "Perdida" . and "I Can't Give You Anything But Love."

jon · Post by **jon** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 1:24 pm

I am an admirer of Sarah Vaughan too, Gray: particularly like her recordings of "Fly Me To The Moon" and "I'll Be Seeing You".

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 7:26 am

I shall check that out Lena, thank you.

Glad to hear you like her also, Jon.

I really thought her version of Misty was tremendous, I will definately listen to more.

paul jh · Post by **paul jh** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 10:39 pm

I'm not particularly a fan of Sarah Vaughn's music or singing. I don't know why ... I don't see anything special and I have plenty of other singers I'd rather be listening to. I only have a few recordings on compilation CDs. I like "It's Crazy" with Clifford Brown and I should probably purchase the full CD with Clifford Brown, as he's my favourite trumpet player.

keithgood838 · Post by **keithgood838** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 3:00 pm

Hi Marian,
I thought I should breathe new life into this topic,
albeit very belatedly. I was struck by your preference
for biographies and autobiographies. They are mine also
because they are about real life, unlike novels which are
an author's imaginings, however brilliant the writing.
I cannot recommend too highly an autobiography by Dublin
playwright, Hugh Leonard, entitled Home Before Night.
It is about his childhood in Dublin; the prose is scholarly
yet a hoot from start to finish. It does everything it says
on the blurb, to paraphrase. The chapters alternate between
the first and third persons (I assume to preclude any monotony
in the presentation, some chance) and I suppose an affinity
with Ireland would add extra relish to the read.
Keith

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Mon Apr 14, 2008 8:58 pm

I've just finished reading an excellent book detailing all the shows that have appeared on Broadway from the early 20th Century until 1996.

Very interesting.

Apart from Paul in the US, has anyone else seen Bye Bye Birdie?

Gray · Post by **Gray** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 8:54 am

I'm reading a biog of Dave Allen at the mo', it's very good.
Matt is mentioned in a couple of nice stories (though his name is spelt Munro!)

I had no idea Dave Allen was a big TV star in Australia before he found fame in Britain.

keithgood838 · Post by **keithgood838** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 11:24 am

May I draw to the attention of forum members
the book, Home Before Night, which I recommended
earlier in this topic? I'll try to give you a flavour
of it:
The boy asked his dad to explain the meaning of 'adultery'.
The naive and guileless dad took a glass with milk in it,
added some water and proclaimed triumphantly:
'That's adultery!'
Father Creedon (aptly nicknamed Credo) was becoming
increasingly impatient with a drunken congregation member
disrupting his sermon. 'His fat fingers, twitching on the rim
of the pulpit, put you in mind of fish dying on the harbour wall.'
An example of the descriptive figures of speech littering
this this literary gem. Marian(a), dear George would
have loved it; should your local library agree to put
a trace on it, tell them it is languishing at Barnet Libraries,
Stapylton Road branch.
Keith

Matt Monro Forum

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

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