The Benny book is quite enjoyable. Turns out it's mostly Jacks autobiography (never finished) along with his (adopted) daughter Joan's reminiscences; as well as those of many others who knew him, some quite famous. I really loved both the radio and TV shows and there are lots of amusing stories about those.

I decided to re-read "The Romanovs-The Final Chapter" by Robert K. Massie too.

And I'm thinking about reading "The Iceman" by Philip Carlo.

quote:

Originally posted by Braling II:
The Benny book is quite enjoyable.

snip

I was lucky enough to have been with Mr. B, last Tuesday. While driving past the music hall, in downtown Los Angeles, he talked about his having done fundraising with Jack Benny. They were billed as "The Boys from Waukegan."

"Well!"

Something Wicked This Way Comes, as a matter of fact.

Snip is a good word.

mondegreen
You must know that mondegreen is a better word. No?

Wow, Nard what a great word! And one I actually didn't know!
Lots of mondegreens in pop music; one of the most well-known is from Hendrix' "Purple Haze".
Know that one?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hSW67ySCio

BRALING II

Strange. I was just listening to JIMI HENDRIX on YOUTUBE yesterday afternoon. Like this one noted above. I just happened to hear about the mondegreens with the Haze lyrics.

I just finished reading 'The Postman' by David Brin (which grasstains so kindly sent me!) and liked it very much. It was better even than the movie...
Some friends gave me books as an early birthday gift, so now I'm reading 'There Is A River: The Story of Edgar Cayce,' by Thomas Sugrue. Great book so far!

Just finished "Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves", by P.G. Wodehouse, of course. A good antidote for the poisoning to which I subjected myself in reading "The Iceman". Good book, but very dark and disturbing. I wish more of these guys watched "Mister Rogers" growing up.
Now reading "The Island of the Colorblind" by Oliver Sacks (author of "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat").
Nearly done with the Benny Book.
All this, mind you, while working 2 jobs (one part time), playing occasional jazz gigs, getting the house ready for Winter, and practicing for the Christmas concert!

I went to a book signing last night; "This Is Your Brain on Music" by Daniel J. Levitin. Great talk before the signing, and he even read a bit from his forthcoming book. I thought it coincidental that his book and Oliver Sacks' new one "Musicophilia" should be coming out concurrently, and dealing with similar subjects. Turns out they're friends, worked a bit with each other, and will even be attending signings together.

If you're interested, here's a bit about each book:

http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780525949695,00.html

http://www.oliversacks.com/musicophilia.htm

Last years Halloween season read was Dracula, this year it is Something Wicked This Way Comes. I just started it today because I have been so busy.

W. C. Fields: A Biography, by James Curtis.

Just finishing SWTWC. What a great read. Mesmerizing, actually. I have been turning the pages late at night. Haunting passages.

Chapter 31 is a classic!! ***HEY, "Chap" thus the moniker???

Also, Shelley's Frankenstein, Lee's Mockingbird, and getting ready for Mr. B's F451.

Somewhere a Band is Playing! The Gauntlett Press edition, with lots of fragments of screenplays and early draughts.

If I didn't already have a screen name, I might have chosen Claude, after the horse who knows his way around town without needing to be led.