A Curious Career

by Lynn Barber

Lynn Barber, by her own admission, has always suffered from a compelling sense of nosiness. An exceptionally inquisitive child she constantly questioned everyone she knew about imitate details of their lives. This talent for nosiness, coupled with her unusual lack of the very English fear of social embarrassment, turned out to be the perfect qualification for a celebrity interviewer. In A Curious Career, Lynn Barber takes us from her early years as a journalist at Penthouse - where she started out interviewing foot fetishists, voyeurs, dominatrices and men who liked wearing nappies - to her later more eminent role interrogating a huge cross-section of celebrities ranging from politicians to film stars, comedians, writers, artists and musicians. A Curious Career is full of glorious anecdotes - the interview with Salvador Dali that, at Dali's invitation, ended up lasting four days, or the drinking session with Shane MacGowan during which they planned to rob a bank. It also contains eye-opening transcripts, such as her infamous interview with the hilarious and spectacularly rude Marianne Faithfull. A wonderfully frank and funny memoir by Britain's greatest and most ferocious interviewer, A Curious Career is also a fascinating window into the lives of celebrities and the changing world of journalism.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Journalism, Celebrity

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 8, 2014

Reviews

[Sue Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this autobiographical journey by British interviewer/profile writer Lynn Barber. Particularly the first half, then I began to tire a little of the dominant "I" voice as I now recall I often did when reading Barber's work in various Sunday supplements. (Caveat: envy likely at work here. Few journalists are given the license to turn their own stories of their travails with egomaniacal, difficult or monosyllabic subjects into their pieces. I never was one of them.) Some of Barber's encounters positively leap of the page - Christopher Hitchens, Marianne Faithfull, Salvador Dali. I'm glad I read it for the "good bits" and for Barber's vivid portrayal of a realm I once knew well. Anyone interested in interviewing "the famous" will assuredly enjoy her account of what is never less than A Curious Career. Unless rampant curiousness drives your days, you are unlikely to go far in journalism. I would have given Barber's book 3.5 stars but 3 stars denotes "liked it" and I "liked it."

[Paula Maguire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorged on this book while on holiday - a perfect, mischievous distraction. I lover her barbed wit and her insights on people. Not surprised that she is great mates with Tracey Emin, they would make great ( though slightly intimidating mates) She comments on her craft, how she has to don nicotine patches nowadays, and how she dreads the interview ' sitting an exam with not enough time' itself and much prefers the research and writing. We hear about her early career and how she accidentally fell into her job - first writing for Penthouse in her 20s. She alos mentions her childhood hood in Twickenham ( yawn) which is fairly covered in 'An Education' ( which I want to read) She gives accounts of some key interviews - Marianne Faithful, Jimmy Savile ( who she challenged) and the kinds of questions she asks film stars to glean juicy gossip ' ie who did you have dinner with most nights on location ? When she draws a blank, she puts it in the article to mark a spot for other interviewers to dig. She also looks around the subject, ie noticing that Lionel Shriver doesn’t put on the heading ( wearing a coat and gloves indoors) ( woman after my own heart) despite suffering from Raynauld's disease. She also feels moods are catching, and if she comes out of an interview depressed she will listen to the tape and try and find the moment where her mood changed - She covers Artists, film Stars, Michael Winner, Pop Stars ( Shane McGowan & his missus, Victoria, Sports Stars (Nadal) Writers,
On Tracey Emin's dad. ' She obviously picks this fight every time she sees him, she won't ever let things be. That is why her childhood pain is always so fresh and available to her art. If a wound shows any signs of healing, she'll pick the scab until it starts bleeding again. This is an incredible strength in her art - the way she can call up old emotions, feel old pains - but it must be quite a drawback in her life. '

[Chrystyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Curious Career by Lynn Barber - Very Good

It seems like ages ago I saw Lynn Barber talk about this book at the BookFest. It probably was, as I felt I had to find and read her first volume, An Education, first and that was three years ago now.

There are a few autobiographical details in this one but not to the extent of the first book, this, funnily enough, is about her career as a journalist interviewing the good, the bad and the outrageous for the broadsheets, their weekend supplements and Vanity Fair etc. Regardless of whether they were dull or flamboyant, taciturn or loquacious she would turn out a column and some extracts are included here. From Salvador Dali, Shane McGowan, Tracey Emin to Rafa Nadal and Martin Clunes she details her craft and snippets of information gleaned.

I don't remember ever reading any of these interviews before, I don't think they ever appeared in of the publications that I read, and as such I found it all fascinating.

She wrote the book when in her late 60s and I was particularly struck by a paragraph in the last chapter:

"It strikes me that there are two basic stereotypes for women my age and older. You can either be a sweet old biddy, patting kiddies on the head and saying how you long to put your feet up and have a nice cup of tea. Or you can be a wicked witch who scares people stiff."

I think I'm tending towards the latter ;-)

Really enjoyed reading this, although the first book was more exciting/eye opening. Both well worth the reading.

#review

[Ginebra Lavao Lizcano · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtfully written book full of her anecdotes as an interviewer from the beginning of her career until the moment she wrote it. She found a way to teach life lessons through all of her stories, most standing the final chapter with her final thoughts on what she has learned from her experiences. I do agree with her that one never truly gets to know anyone (I don’t think we even get to ever know our own selves), and that an hour or two of conversation tells you basically nothing about a person. Either way, she points out the ways in which we can get more information about others through the right questions and behavior.
It made me want to explore more the field of journalism. We will see.
Thanks Stuart.

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great collection of interviews peppered with observations Barber has learned throughout her journalism career on interviewing, writing and understanding people. While most of the interviews were warm and admiring, my favourite interview was the colourful evening spent with Marianne Faithful and her awful husband/manager with no rose-tinted filter. I would have liked to have read some from her earlier Penthouse days, as most of the interviews were undertaken in the last 15 years.

[Janet Bird · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripper for me. I read it in two goes and only because it was the early hours and I had to put it down the first time when I'd nearly reached the end. Takes a lot these days to hold my attention so I was impressed. I do like reading gossipy stuff though. The Martin Clunes excerpt surprised me, he didn't come across well, proper Doc Martin. I now want to read An Education on the strength of reading this. Very enjoyable.

[Kidlitter · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dishy, terribly fun read from one of the most experienced journalists of the 20th century, a woman who virtually invented celebrity interviews in Britain. If you've seen An Education and wondered what happened to the central character this is an interesting read. More importantly, if you read contemporary celebrity profiles, the kind that abound on the internet, Barber's work is of interest - a combination of cheerfully shallow, cunningly incisive and occasionally viporous. Fun stuff!

[Hannah Harazawa · Rating 3 out of 5]

An unapologetically trashy, yet fascinating read, although I found it hard to trust a writer who was so bi**hy about almost every person she’s ever interviewed (including David Attenborough), except Hilary Mantel, who she liked

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody brilliant journalism lessons from Barber. She is ferocious but funny with sharply acute observations. This is packed full of anecdotes and shows us how interviewing truly is an art form.

[Joe O'Donnell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lynn Barber is the doyen of the combative celebrity interview - an acerbic, scabrous puncturer of A-list pomposity and pretension. 1CA Curious Career 1D represents Barber 19s attempt to analyse the art of interviewing, while also serving as a partial memoir.

Some of Barber 19s most famous interviews are reproduced in full in 1CA Curious Career 1D. This is a tremendous choice in the case of Christopher Hitchens (who Barber interviewed during the final weeks of his battle with cancer), Barber 19s fantastically catty encounter with Marianne Faithful, or her interview with a surprisingly lucid Shane MacGowan. Less interesting are the unexpurgated reproductions of Barber 19s meetings with Martin Clunes, Rafael Nadal and Hilary Mantel.

The real worth of 1CA Curious Career 1D is as an advice guide to aspiring journalists. Barber is superb at dispensing invaluable, if blunt, instructions to those who want to make a living out of interviewing people. She is adamant about the value of research, so that you don 19t waste valuable interview time asking for information you could easily have uncovered during your own preparation.

Barber is also hugely insightful on the art of extracting great material from an otherwise recalcitrant interviewee. She recommends that you try to interview your subjects at home as you can find out so much more about them by examining their mantelpiece and rooting around their bathroom cabinet. And if you as a journalist is not being sued or threatened with legal action at least occasionally then 13 according to Barber - you 19re probably doing it wrong. Perhaps Barber 19s most valuable advice to prospective interviewers is 1CDon 19t be a fan 1D. As an interviewer, you should be meeting your subject as an equal - not as an obsequious enthusiast 13 as the latter approach is unlikely to lead to a good final article.

I found the parts of 1CA Curious Career 1D that dealt with Lynn Barber 19s often troubled and turbulent life story to be less satisfying, almost as if she is holding something back at times (apparently, her earlier memoir titled 1CAn Education 1D was more illuminating on her personal life). This is a disappointment, as in the rest of the book Barber 19s exuberant personality leaps from the page. But, there is enough in 1CA Curious Career 1D that makes it indispensable reading for anybody interested in the trade of journalism 13 or interested in the art of making people reveal elements about themselves that they 19d rather keep hidden.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed this book. Barber is truly funny and I enjoyed her wit throughout. I found the interview process and her thought process most fascinating and could have read a book entirely of that. Based on that alone, I'd have given it 4 stars but I honestly didn't enjoy reading the interviews she'd written, which took up most of a chapter, and were often with people with whom I was unfamiliar nor did I care. I did read up on them all, however, to try to best understand their claim to fame and, once I did that, reading the interview was actually more enjoyable. Overall, I really enjoyed this book; a solid, quick read.

[Beth Ruby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lynne Barber being her usual cynical, honest and funny self. Her interviews with Tracey Emin (revealing), Hilary Mantel (fierce) and Marianne Faithful (rude) are as stand out as her tips for wannabe journalists (don't ask celebrities anything you could find out online and instead ask them how often they call their mum).

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lynn Barber is a journalist, and her interviews have appeared in many different publications. In this short memoir, she includes interviews with a few of her subjects- my favorites being Christopher Hitchens and Hilary Mantel. Barber was also the young female subject of "An Education."

[Stacey Bartlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lynn is one of my favourite writers so I could already tell I was going to love it - wish it was longer!

[Cian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant read and as much about Lynn's career and what she has learned about life as the celebs she's met.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't know many of the interviewees in this memoir of a celebrity journalist, but I was still delighted by the candor, writing skills and humor of Lynn Barber.

[Detective Deralta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Crisp. Funny. Feels Honest. Made me more open to being nosey and taking interest in other people's lives.

[Sudakshina Bhattacharjee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very insightful book on how the world of celebrity interviewing in feature pieces works.

[Bettie]

to look into further/hunt down

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but it didn't have a lot of heart :(