liz
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Post by liz on Apr 13, 2010 21:40:57 GMT -6
Not the game. ![](http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c307/lwsroute66/smileys/uh-uh.gif) Any of you read books? I enjoy reading. 700 Sundays by Billy Crystal. That's what I'm reading now. It's about his childhood in the view of a grown-up. 700 is the amount of time he spent with his father. He's dad never worked Sundays. That was family time. His dad died when he was 15. What a amazing book. He meet (as a child) Billie Holiday(she took Billy to the movies),Louie Armstrong, Count Basie,Rosemary Clooney,& more. What a delightful spin on both family and what you can become in life. Any of us. You don't have to be a fan of Crystal's. Just enjoy reading something your interested in. Magazines,books,etc.
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Post by Midge on Apr 13, 2010 22:56:32 GMT -6
What a great topic, Liz! I have great admiration for Billy Crystal and was just watching a Biography episode on his life.
I read voraciously, mostly movie star biographies and books about the golden age of Hollywood, and I've often felt guilty for not reviewing these books here at the Diner. I just finished a memoir by Leslie Caron and a Fred Astaire biography. Right now I'm reading a biography of Evelyn Nesbit, "the girl on the velvet swing," who was romanced by architect Stanford White. Her jealous husband, Harry Thaw, murdered White in a fit of rage.
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Post by diane on Apr 14, 2010 4:02:06 GMT -6
I agree, this is a great topic liz!!! That Evelyn Nesbit book sounds like something I would enjoy. I think I read where her mother was extremely pushy. Anyway I was reading "Esther Waters" by George Moore. It was written in the 1890s and was extemely graphic about the plight of unmarried mothers - the scenes leading up to her giving birth, the indignities she faces with doctors and in the hospitals is very confronting. I am now reading a Gillian White book called "The Devil's Cradle" - it is about an extremely poor young couple who are picked for a "fly on the wall" documentary and the toll it takes on the young woman's already fragile grasp on reality. I find Gillian White can be so brilliant - she specialises in creepy thrillers and satires (I don''t know how she does it) but occasionally she gets it so wrong.
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liz
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Post by liz on Apr 14, 2010 16:13:11 GMT -6
Glad to hear about those books,Midge and Diane. Maybe I'll read them later. My daughter got the Twilight books(hard-copy). She said to read them,before we saw the movies. Must admit,I'm not a vampire person. It sure did get my attention. Pam even bought me a Team Jacob shirt. ![8-)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/cool.png) She got posters and a hoodie. I read more bio's,like Midge. Have to say haven't read Astaire. That's how I get most of my star's baby photos. Books. Tell me later what books you two are reading. I might like to read them. Mostly in winter time or a rainy day.
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Post by Hedvig on Apr 17, 2010 6:16:24 GMT -6
I read a lot of different genres. I think the main drawing power of fiction for me is if it's set in a past time period. That's my particular line of escapism I guess. I don't mind reading books set in contemporary times, but I'm drawn to historical fiction. I also read a lot of history and biography.
I like English detective stories from the golden age of crime writing. Dorothy Sayers is one of my favourite writers. But right now I have no time for recreational reading, I just have to study like mad. :huh:
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Post by filmnoirfanatic on Apr 24, 2010 1:13:21 GMT -6
Hi! Liz, Midge, Diane and Hedvig... I must admit that I'am an avid reader...I have a blog that focus specifically, on books. I like to read mystery books,(Which include Hitchcock mysteries, Holmes, King, Straub(SP)...) books about film noir, (As a matter of fact, I'am offering two film noir books in a contest next month on my blog.) biographies, and autobiography. By the way, Midge and Diane, Late... last year I posted a review of The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing starring Joan Collins, Farley Granger, and Ray Milland on my blog. Focusing on guess who life story?!? ![::)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/eyesroll.png) (Even though I have not watched it (The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing) yet, I plan to seek it out to watch.) DeeDee ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
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Post by Midge on Apr 24, 2010 2:08:16 GMT -6
Dee Dee, I'd love to read your review of The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing. If the movie is ever broadcast on TCM I will try to catch it. It's hard to picture the somewhat hard-looking Joan Collins as Evelyn Nesbit, who had a soft, feminine and natural look and was drop-dead gorgeous even without makeup. Evelyn Nesbit was also a character in the E. L. Doctorow novel Ragtime, which was later made into a musical play and a movie. Elizabeth McGovern played Nesbit in the movie, and I think she was the best possible choice for that role.
The book I am reading right now is has the long-winded title American Eve: Evelyn Nesbit, Stanford White, The Birth of the "It" Girl and the Crime of the Century by Paula Uruburu. Ms. Uruburu is an Associate Professor of English at Hofstra University
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Post by filmnoirfanatic on Apr 27, 2010 22:39:51 GMT -6
Dee Dee, I'd love to read your review of The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing... The book I am reading right now is has the long-winded title American Eve: Evelyn Nesbit, Stanford White, The Birth of the "It" Girl and the Crime of the Century by Paula Uruburu. Ms. Uruburu is an Associate Professor of English at Hofstra University Hi! Midge, My review just consisted of a Wiki(pedia...(I usually don't write I have two writers that write for my blog(s.) review and picture from the film The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing and the video that I posted below...which is the promo(tion) for the book that you are currently reading.
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Post by Midge on Apr 28, 2010 2:25:19 GMT -6
Dee Dee, thanks so much for posting the video. I actually think the title of the book is misleading because Evelyn, though a model, was actually naive and sheltered. She was extremely beautiful, but hardly a temptress. Because she was young and unsophisticated, and because her modeling supported the family, she was thrust by her ambitious, greedy mother into situations in which men took advantage of her. I finished reading the book the other day and recommend it highly. It is a sympathetic but fair-minded look at a woman who despite her good looks and fame, never had a chance at any real happiness. Right now I am reading Right Here On Our Stage Tonight! Ed Sullivan's America by Gerald Nachman. It is a fond look back at the stone-faced emcee who hosted America's most popular variety show from 1948 to 1971. Ed was stiff and awkward as a performer, but he had an eye for talent and knew how to present it. For 23 years, his show was a Sunday night institution in American homes. There has never been anything like it before or since. The Ed Sullivan Show featured acts of all kinds - from ventriloquists, acrobats, plate-spinners and comedians to opera, The Supremes, The Rolling Stones and the Beatles. I am enjoying this book very much and would recommend it to anyone who is old enough to remember Ed Sullivan and his "really big shew." ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
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Post by diane on Apr 28, 2010 15:19:21 GMT -6
Whenever I check this topic I make sure I have a pen and paper at hand (ready to jot down the names of all books mentioned). I am reading "An American Tragedy" by Theodore Dreiser. At the start of the year I read "The Titan" by the same author. It was when the Tiger Woods scandal was going on and the "anti-hero" of the book had the same problem. But it showed so much insight and detail about how it affected Aileen - it was a mighty book. I saw the movie "An American Tragedy" with Sylvia Sidney and I thought "I've got that book" - now a book of 900 pages doesn't put me off. I am about a third of the way through. It is very "unputdownable"!!! The theme of the book is wealth and beauty - Clyde is not able to get on with life because he is always wondering "what if I was wealthy, my life would change". He is not attracted to anyone who is not attractive. The 1931 movie was probably truer to the book than the 1951 film. Roberta (Sylvia Sidney) was supposed to be beautiful that was what attracted Clyde in the first place. I haven't seen the 1951 movie for a while, but I can remember Shelley Winters being pretty homely - but that was not how Roberta is coming across in the book. Anyway I will have to read on. Sondra Finchley has only made a brief appearance.
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Post by Midge on Apr 28, 2010 16:20:34 GMT -6
Diane, thanks for the review. I have always wanted to read An American Tragedy but was not sure if I could make it through such a long novel. On your recommendation I will give it a try. I haven't seen the 1931 movie version, but even if it's not faithful to the novel, the 1951 version with Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor is still one of my favorite films. If for no other reason, I need to read it so that I can find out who "Sondra Finchley" is.
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Post by studekickson66 on Apr 28, 2010 16:56:52 GMT -6
Yeah I'm a reader. I love True Crime books and my favorite author is Ann Rule. Drives my wife crazy that I can usually read a book in a day.
I buy them mostly at thrift stores.
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Post by Midge on Apr 28, 2010 16:59:13 GMT -6
Ann Rule is also my favorite true crime writer, too! ![:-X](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/lipssealed.png) I have read most of her books.
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Post by diane on Apr 29, 2010 3:30:51 GMT -6
I don't want to throw a wet blanket around - but I can't handle true life crime. Years ago, at a book club I had joined, the topic of the month was "true crime". I thought I'd like it as I love fictional crime novels. After reading my choice I swear I'd never read another. I not sure of the title - "Echoes of a Summer" or something. About 30 years ago 2 nurses went missing - their car had broken down in a country town, they hitch-hiked to Brisbane, had their holiday and hitched back to were their car was being repaired - they were never seen again. 25 years later bones were found in a bush grave and it was the nurses. One of the nurses brothers wrote the book, he has never given up the hope that the killers will be found. It was such a scary story - I could vaguely remember the case - and he (the brother) had never really been able to get on with his life - it was sad, scary, everything. I just thought - I'll stick to fiction!!!
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liz
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Post by liz on Apr 29, 2010 15:34:14 GMT -6
I buy them mostly at thrift stores. What a great idea,studekick. Wish I would of thought of that. Thanks for the tip. Glad to see everyone likes to read. Started another book. Passage Home. . . . . a novel by Alison McLeay. A kind of story of a young Victorian girl,growing up to become a woman and wife. Lots of adventures during this time period. Quite a thick book. But interesting enough,not to put down.
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Post by Hedvig on Apr 29, 2010 18:00:15 GMT -6
Midge, I just wanted to say, I ordered this book just now! Wow, shopping is so treacherously easy with the internet. Anyway, I read Ragtime and saw the film version, and I've got the soundtrack for the musical even - one thing struck me about the depiction of Evelyn. She might have made some bad decisions, but she was dreadfully young when she met Stanford White. If what she said about him was true, that's pretty horrific, imo - and Harry Thaw? So why is she consistently depicted so unsympathetically? Because one man killed "for her" and one man died "for her"? Yeah right. Those two had problems before she even came into existence.
At any rate, it's a fascinating era!
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Post by Midge on Apr 29, 2010 18:12:51 GMT -6
Hedvig, I'm so happy to hear that you ordered the book! ![:-*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/kiss.png) I think you will like it. To answer your question, it seems that the reason Evelyn Nesbit was portrayed so unsympathetically is that in the public's mind, Harry Thaw killed a man because of her, so she "caused" the murder. That makes no sense to me, but it made a good story for the press. I agree, both Stanford White and Harry Thaw were despicable, and to make things worse, Evelyn's mother neglected her shamefully. She used Evelyn's good looks as a meal ticket but never gave her any real love or guidance. The one thing about the book I wish were different is that the author has little to say about what happened to Evelyn after the trial. The entire rest of her life only takes up 16 pages!
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Post by rmichaelpyle on Apr 30, 2010 8:52:17 GMT -6
I'm a bookworm nerd. Most of what I read is history, but certainly not all. I am in the wine business and research wine things for several reasons, many of which, over the years, have made me read long tomes on wine and its environs. I also am a translator, and I've recently translated John Barbour's Old Scots epic The Bruce into modern English octosyllabic couplets, copying the format of the original. My reading for the work on that work of nearly twenty years was voracious in all kinds of Medieval history.
However, my wife just finished a book and described it to me afterwards, and it piqued my interest to such an extent that I began it recently, and I find that it's difficult to put down. It's called The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and, much like middle eighteenth century novels, this one is a series of letters back and forth between and among the protagonists.
A lady in England receives a letter in post WWII 1946 from a man who lives on Guernsey, and whom she doesn't know, and it thanks her for formerly owning a book of select essays by Charles Lamb which kept him - and several others - alive during the Nazi occupation of Guernsey. That's how the book begins. Why did he write her? What does Charles Lamb have to do with keeping a complete group alive during WWII??
Fascinating book and a great - and fairly easy - read. It's very well written, by the way. Only 250 pages, and it'll make you appreciate the idea behind the written word just from what the book's about... I'll not say more... It's definitely worth a look!
Authors are aunt and niece, Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.
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Post by Hedvig on May 2, 2010 14:50:53 GMT -6
That sounds really interesting! Love books that have to do with this period in England's history, it's fascinating.
Midge, It can't have been easy to navigate in New York in those days without proper guidance, especially not for a 16-year-old working in showbiz. It's a shame the book doesn't write much about her later life - it gives you the impression that the rest of it wasn't worth commenting on. Sadly that might have been Evelyn's impression too, judging from what she said shortly before she died: "Stanny was lucky, he died. I lived."
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Post by Midge on May 2, 2010 18:00:21 GMT -6
Midge, It can't have been easy to navigate in New York in those days without proper guidance, especially not for a 16-year-old working in showbiz. It's a shame the book doesn't write much about her later life - it gives you the impression that the rest of it wasn't worth commenting on. Sadly that might have been Evelyn's impression too, judging from what she said shortly before she died: "Stanny was lucky, he died. I lived." It's true, Evelyn was thrust into situations that she should not have been expected to handle at her age. Her mother should have chaperoned her better. She let Stanford White's money turn her head. He was very generous not just to Evelyn but to her mother and brother. Mrs. Nesbit took a trip to Europe and left Evelyn in White's care, and that is when he drugged her wine and took her virginity. He then convinced her that "this must be our secret," so she didn't tell anyone - until Harry Thaw bullied her into confessing.
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Post by Hedvig on May 2, 2010 18:14:26 GMT -6
I guess her mother didn't want to see it? It's so strange and sad.
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Post by Midge on May 2, 2010 18:41:18 GMT -6
I guess her mother didn't want to see it? It's so strange and sad. Yes, very sad. She looked the other way because she was using her daughter to support the family.
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liz
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Post by liz on May 2, 2010 23:39:50 GMT -6
I'm a bookworm nerd. Most of what I read is history, but certainly not all. I am in the wine business and research wine things for several reasons, My reading for the work on that work of nearly twenty years was voracious in all kinds of Medieval history. However, my wife just finished a book and described it to me afterwards, and it piqued my interest to such an extent that I began it recently, and I find that it's difficult to put down. It's called The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and, much like middle eighteenth century novels, this one is a series of letters back and forth between and among the protagonists. A lady in England receives a letter in post WWII 1946 from a man who lives on Guernsey, and whom she doesn't know, and it thanks her for formerly owning a book of select essays by Charles Lamb which kept him - and several others - alive during the Nazi occupation of Guernsey. That's how the book begins. Why did he write her? What does Charles Lamb have to do with keeping a complete group alive during WWII?? That's my kind of history. It's great if you reading something that might help you with your own life. Business. Studying history,is how we learn many things. As for your wife,I like her pick. My first book like that was The Diary Of Ann Frank. Read it when I was quite young. Gives you a view from a different angle. It just depends on my mood,sometimes what I'm into reading. History,Comdey,Bio's,etc. Like figuring out what to have for dinner. Some meals(books)are really good,others OK.
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Post by Kimmer on May 17, 2010 17:15:19 GMT -6
Quite awhile ago, I encouraged larry to put in a separate section for books and no one used it so it was deleted. So, as sad as I was to see it disappear, I'm glad to see that books ARE being discussed on the board. I have several that I can add to the discussion when I have time, but, for now, I'll just say that I also read the one about Evelyn and thought it was excellent. Like Midge, I also wished there had been more about her later years.
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Post by diane on May 31, 2010 15:14:24 GMT -6
I have just finished reading "Scream Queens" by Calvin T. Beck. It is a fascinating book profiling just about every actress who ever screamed in the movies (one I did miss was Gloria Stuart, oh well). Apart from a couple of (to me) long and unnecessary review quotes in the Mary Philbin and Brigitte Helm chapters, it was an excellent book. It is from 1978 and the thing I like about these older books is that many of the stars and their friends and family were still alive to be interviewed then. This book was a companion to "Heroes of Horror" and Beck also edited some film magazines as well. No one is left out - from Fay Wray, Mae Clark and Joan Crawford to Aquanetta, Patty McCormack and Vampira - there is something for everyone, provided you like thrillers and horrors. Again I bought it from Amazon at a very reasonable price - $4. These books are something Larry would like.
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Post by dvdjunkie on Jun 1, 2010 7:19:59 GMT -6
I am reading a book called Beyond the Garage by Sean Bonniwell. It is a self-penned autobiography of a former member of The Wayfarer's music group who recorded an album in San Franciso's Hungry Eye, and follows his career of near-self-destruction to finally find peace within himself and with his God.
Sean was a very good friend of mine back in the 60's and fortunately, or unfortunately, I contributed to some of his mis-deeds during that period of his life, and he didn't forget, and included them in the book. Never mentioning me by name, but I know who and when he was talking about.
Sean was one of the original 60's punk-garage band leaders with a band called "The Music Machine", and his fame and fortune brought him to the wrong side of life, and fortunately he saw the light and straightened himsel fout before it was too late.
I had lost track of my friend until about three months ago, when I was contacted through my Facebook page by non other than Sean Bonniwell. It has been great to revive some old times through my talking with him, and we have exchanged addresses and phone numbers and gotten back in touch with each other.
The book pulls no punches, and Sean speaks very bluntly about how fame, drugs, and the wrong people lead him down this path of near-self-destruction. He has totally recuperated, and is living in Porterville, California with his family and is back writing music, and even found two of the four other members of the original Music Machine, and did a tour of Europe in 2004.
The book is not hard to read, but is very long at over 400 pages. I can recommend it very highly for those interested in what drives a person in such directions and how he survived those tumultuous years.
;D
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Post by Midge on Jun 1, 2010 15:44:48 GMT -6
How interesting, Bill! I just downloaded "Talk Talk" by the Music Machine in honor of Sean Bonniwell. I am glad that he is doing well now.
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Post by diane on Jun 6, 2010 15:44:11 GMT -6
I had a lovely night last night - thanks to bill ![8-)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/cool.png) I also went to youtube to listen to "Talk Talk" - and while I hadn't heard it before I noticed that "Incense and Peppermints" was with the "other music clips you might like". I know I had that single so last night we spent a lovely couple of hours playing singles - I have over a hundred and singles aren't really the records you play every day - so we had a nice trip down memory lane. Thank you bill. ![:-*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/kiss.png)
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Post by Midge on Jun 6, 2010 16:48:41 GMT -6
Ah, memories! I never did quite understand all the lyrics to "Incense and Peppermints," but I still love that song. ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png) I am reading a memoir called The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. She writes of being raised in a family with a brilliant but alcoholic father who couldn't hold down a job or even keep a roof over their heads. When sober, he could be immensely charming and had grandiose ideas for inventions that would make them all rich. Walls' mother was an eccentric, self-absorbed would-be artist and writer who had no interest in domestic life and left her four children to basically raise themselves. The family lives a nomadic and often squalid existence. There is little money and sometimes not enough to eat because neither parent can manage to hold down any regular employment. They often have to flee in the middle of the night to escape bill collectors. Through all this turmoil, young Jeannette learns to be tough and self-reliant. All four of the children eventually grow up to have stable, successful lives, but their parents reject all offers of help and choose to remain homeless, still living in a dream world of their own making. This memoir is by turns funny, inspiring and heartbreaking. I'm less than halfway finished, but I highly recommend it, especially to anyone who has had an eccentric upbringing or an alcoholic parent.
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Post by filmnoirfanatic on Jul 2, 2010 21:35:17 GMT -6
Hi! Larry 66 Diner members, I'am reading two complimentary books this month...the first one is Noir by author Robert Coover. and the 2nd book is by authors The Film Noir Encyclopedia by Silver, Ward, Ursini, and Porfirio.DeeDee ![:)](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png)
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