‘Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night’ by Dylan Thomas.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Voices from the Grave #11: Dylan Thomas Reading ‘Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night’
Reply
Monthly Archives: March 2012
[From My Archives]* On Shaw, or How a Dead Playwright Transformed My Adolescence and Altered My Life
When I set out to do this essay, I realized that writing about George Bernard Shaw would be rather like writing about my first (real) love: a little daunting, a little dangerous and, ultimately, mostly about me, for we tend to see ourselves reflected in others as steadfastly as we implant ourselves firmly in what we read. Continue reading
A Year in Books/Day 75: Madame Tussaud A Life in Wax
- Title: Madame Tussaud A Life in Wax
- Author: Kate Berridge
- Year Published: 2006 (HarperCollins Publishers Ltd)
- Year Purchased: 2010
- Source: A gift from my lovely Momma.
- About: Even though an autobiography exists under her name, there is so much about Madame Tussaud’s life that has been lost to time. A lot of the information that remains is untrustworthy or muddled. This only adds to the burden carried by any biographer. Kate Berridge’s account is better than expected yet still suffers in spots from lack of original source material. Fortunately, she almost makes up for that deficiency by her unusual approach of treating her subject as a historian, instead of merely as an artisan-impresario. By the end of the book, she succeeds in making Madame Tussaud at least as life-like as her statues-not a small feat given the circumstances.
- Motivation: History + Biography + Unusual Female Subject= an irresistible trio for me. My Mother knows this!
- Times Read: 1
- Random Excerpt/Page 21: “The waxworks were the ideal forum to cater for a phenomenal human interest in public figures that was distinct from respect for their work. In fact cultural achievement was not necessary at all to appear there: the admission requirement was to have attained sufficient public interest to guarantee a crowd; notoriety was as compelling as admiration. From the recently executed criminal to society beauties, Curtius guaranteed a close-up view of the most talked-about people of the day. As each person had their time in the spotlight of public interest, they would take their turn in his pantheon.”
- Happiness Scale: 7 1/2
A Year in Books/Day 74: ‘Tis Herself
- Title: ‘Tis Herself An Autobiography
- Authors: Maureen O’Hara with John Nicoletti
- Year Published: 2004 /This Edition: 2005 (Simon & Schuster Paperbacks)
- Year Purchased: 2005
- Source: Barnes & Noble
- About: The autobiography of Hollywood’s most famous Irishwoman was a long time coming. She was 84 at publication. Tucked inside amongst the expected (but interesting) stories of living and working with lots of larger-than-life stars are some stellar, little-known accomplishments that help to flesh out her legacy, leaping from legend to true trailblazer between covers. It’s worth a read for that alone (and the stunning photographs).
- Motivation: Maureen O’Hara is one of my favourite actresses (and co-redhead). Her talent and ridiculously unattainable beauty graced so many of the movies I loved as a kid (and still do). I obsessively watched them over and over whenever they were on television (and still do). She injected her characters with intelligence, strength, spirit and wit-making her one of the best role models a girl (or grown woman, ahem) could ask for. I loved her then (and still do). Now go watch ‘The Quiet Man’.
- Times Read: 2
- Random Excerpt/Page 83: “I went downstairs and asked Wilmon to go get Will. He found him in a drunken stupor right where the lady had said he would be, at a whorehouse in a seedy part of the city. He’d apparently been there for days, bragging and shooting his mouth off. We had been married less than sixty days.”
Maureen O'Hara-Image via Wikipediawhorehouse in a seedy part of the city. He'd apparently been there for days, bragging and shooting his mouth off. We had been married less than sixty days."
- Happiness Scale: 10
A Year in Books/Day 73: The Wit and Wisdom of Jane Austen
- Title: The Wit and Wisdom of Jane Austen
- Compiled by: Dominique Enright
- Year Published: 2002 (Barnes & Noble, Inc. by arrangement with Michael O’Mara Books Limited)
- Year Purchased: 2002-2004
- Source: Barnes & Noble clearance rack
- About: Excerpts from her fiction and personal letters are featured in this slim but potent volume.
- Motivation: Jane Austen! Quotes!
- Times Read: 2
- Random Excerpt/Page 63: “Walter Scott has no business to write novels, especially good ones. It is not fair. He has fame and profit enough as a poet, and should not be taking the bread out of the mouths of other people.” (Letter to Anna Austen, 28 September 1814)
- Happiness Scale: 10
One Witty Brit-Image via Wikipedia
A Year in Books/Day 72: 1001 Pearls of Wisdom
- Title: 1001 Pearls of Wisdom Wisdom, wit and insight to enlighten and inspire
- Author: David Ross
- Year Published: 2006 (Duncan Baird Publishers Ltd)
- Year Purchased: 2006
- Source: Unknown
- About: This is a thick little volume full of colourful illustrations and inspirational quotes that are divided into traditional self-help categories (the good life, finding fulfilment, lighting the dark).
- Motivation: Quotes, quotes, quotes! Reading, compiling and dispensing quotes is one of my favourite pastimes (I know, I’m a bit obsessive). Although I have an extremely curious and roving mind, I love anything that gives me, however fleetingly, a sense of order.
- Times Read: 1
- Random Excerpt/Page 285: “Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.” (Benjamin Franklin)
- Happiness Scale: 9 1/2
A Year in Books/Day 71: Passionate Pilgrim
- Title: Passionate Pilgrim The Extraordinary Life of Alma Reed
- Author: Antoinette May
- Year Published: 1993/First paperback edition,1994 (Marlowe & Company)
- Year Purchased: 2000/2001
- Source: Barnes & Noble clearance rack
- About: This is one of those books whose front cover tag line lets you know exactly what you are in for: Heroine of Mexico, Pioneer Archaeologist, and Acclaimed Journalist. She certainly had one of those rollicking, magically adventurous lives that makes even the highest of achievers look like dull, stay-at-home types.
- Motivation: See above. I was also sucked in by the fabulous photographs of her no-less fabulous exploits. I adore kick-ass ladies!
- Times Read: 1
- Random Excerpt/Page 82: “It took nearly ten minutes of spirited cranking before Alma’s car was galvanized into action. As it jolted down the road, the jungle closed in around them. Distance ceased to exist, as strangely contorted trees, towering plants, feathery ferns, and spongy fungus all crowded together. Then, the last corner turned and instead of another vista of unchanging forest, a clear straight road led for another mile or so to a sight of breathtaking grandeur. A great white pyramid towered high above the forest, capped by a temple. There was a moment of stunned silence, followed by excited gasps, and then the crew were pummeling one another deliriously.”
- Happiness Scale: 7
A Year in Books/Day 70: Vamp The Rise and Fall of Theda Bara
- Title: Vamp The Rise and Fall of Theda Bara
- Author: Eve Golden
- Year Published: 1996 (Emprise Publishing, Inc.)
- Year Published: 1996/1997
- Source: A book club (I cannot remember which one)
- About: Written forty years after Bara’s death, ‘Vamp’ was the first biography of film’s original bad girl superstar (who, incidentally, played her fair share of classic and/or good girl roles). It’s a well-balanced account of how publicity turned the comfortably middle class Ohioan into a seething, exotic sexpot. The manufactured stories about Goodman are truly a hoot! It also gives substance to the fact that Theda was actually a talented actress, something that has largely been lost to time and under the weight of her outlandish get-ups and the often naive or contrived plots of her films. Although her career proper lasted barely five years, it is rather melodramatic to call the natural slowing down of her fame a ‘fall’; considering the truly tragic fates that ensnared many of her contemporaries, her slide into prosperous and happy anonymity comes off as a blessing.
- Motivation: I’m a silent movie junkie, as you well know by now. I’ve always had a fondness for the big-eyed Buckeye Vamp (psst, here’s a little secret: if we have a daughter, we plan on naming her Theda). Like Theda, I’m an Ohioan (albeit one from two hours North). I bought this book a full ten years before moving South to her hometown. Oddly enough, I live just a few minutes from the neighborhood she called home for her first twenty years!
- Times Read: 2
- Random Excerpt/Page 47: “At least her ‘Kreutzer Sonata’ reviews provided some good news: it was a big hit, mostly due to curiosity about Theda. “Startling and remarkable,” according to one reviewer; another said of Theda and O’Neil, “their acting is splendidly realistic and emotionally powerful.” Being favorably compared to a stage diva like Nance O’Neil must have given Theda strength to continue filming.”
- Happiness Scale: 10
Ohio's Theda Bara-Image via Wikipedia
Quote
“A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.”-Frank Capra
Voices from the Grave # 10: Marianne Moore Reading ‘Bird-Witted’
‘Bird-Witted‘ by Marianne Moore
…the still living
beetle has dropped
out, she picks it up and puts
it in again.
A Small Press Life: Books. Art. Writing. Life. Tea. 