Reading the 20th Century discussion

Every month we discuss a book on a specific era or a theme. This book will be the winner of a group poll.


Our February 2023 theme is...


Actors and acting


Please nominate a 20th century book (either written in the 20th century or set in it) that is centred around actors and acting, and that you would like to read and discuss. It could be fiction or non-fiction

Please supply the title, author, a brief synopsis, and anything else you'd like to mention about the book, and why you think it might make a good book to discuss.


Happy nominating.

The first book that pops into my head is...


The Good Companions

by

J.B. Priestley


...which I really enjoyed when I read it back in the day


But there are loads


It could be a biography, or a non-fiction book about acting, cinema, theatre etc. Or a novel set in the world of actors and acting.


Over to you

Here's a few thought starters (not all 20th Century set or written)...


https://www.spotlight.com/news-and-ad...

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/the...

https://bookriot.com/must-read-books-...

Great lists, Nigeyb, very inspirational - and I remembered that I'd love to reread my childhood favourite, Ballet Shoes.

Some titles I'd been mulling over:

Trust Exercise set in the 1980s in a school for performing arts

Blonde - a fictional biography of Marilyn Monroe but it's very long

Actress - as I haven't read Anne Enright yet

The Vagabond set in 1920s French music halls

Beautiful Ruins from a 1960s film set to modern Hollywood

Will check out some samples and come back.

I've narrowed it down to two:


Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
A #1 New York Times bestseller, this “absolute masterpiece” (Richard Russo) is the story of an almost-love affair that begins on the Italian coast in 1962 and resurfaces fifty years later in Hollywood. From the lavish set of Cleopatra to the shabby revelry of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to the back lots of contemporary Hollywood, this is a dazzling, yet deeply human roller coaster of a novel.


Actress by Anne Enright
Katherine O’Dell is an Irish theater legend. As her daughter Norah retraces her mother’s celebrated career and bohemian life, she delves into long-kept secrets, both her mother’s and her own.

Katherine began her career on Ireland’s bus-and-truck circuit before making it to London’s West End, Broadway, and finally Hollywood. Every moment of her life is a star turn, with young Norah standing in the wings. But the mother-daughter romance cannot survive Katherine’s past or the world’s damage. With age, alcohol, and dimming stardom, her grip on reality grows fitful and, fueled by a proud and long-simmering rage, she commits a bizarre crime.

Some great suggestions there RC - looking forward to the final reveal

I hope my choice is sufficiently actorly. It does take place in a theatre and looks like an interesting read. If anyone feels it's insufficiently actorly I will happily change it....



Here We Are (2021)

by

Graham Swift


It is 1959 in Brighton, England, and the theater at the end of the famous pier is having its best summer season in years. Ronnie, a brilliant young magician, and Evie, his dazzling assistant, are top of the bill, drawing a full house every night. And Jack is everyone’s favorite master of ceremonies, holding the whole show together. But as the summer progresses, the drama among the three begins to overshadow their success onstage, setting in motion events that will reshape their lives. Vividly realized, tenderly comic, and quietly shattering, Here We Are is a masterly work of literary magic.

Nigeyb wrote: "I hope my choice is sufficiently actorly. It does take place in a theatre and looks like an interesting read."

Sounds fine to me - I don't think we need to be purists here! I've only read Swift's Waterland and remember his gorgeous writing.

I was thinking of a non-fiction work, Carrie Fisher's Wishful Drinking

In Wishful Drinking, Carrie Fisher told the true and intoxicating story of her life with inimitable wit.

Born to celebrity parents, she was picked to play a princess in a little movie called Star Wars when only 19 years old. "But it isn't all sweetness and light sabres." Alas, aside from a demanding career and her role as a single mother (not to mention the hyperspace hairdo), Carrie also spends her free time battling addiction and weathering the wild ride of manic depression.

It's an incredible tale: from having Elizabeth Taylor as a stepmother, to marrying (and divorcing) Paul Simon, and from having the father of her daughter leave her for a man, to ultimately waking up one morning and finding a friend dead beside her in bed.

Ooh, great choice, Ben! I listened to one of her other book of memoirs and she's hilarious - only problem was, she thought she was hilarious too and laughed at her own jokes too much! I'd definitely read this (but in my own voice this time).

I'd go for Wishful Drinking, too. I've read a couple of her books and enjoyed them.

I think that the only books I can remember about 20th century theatre are those where a murder takes place!

But I wonder if it would be right to recommend , by Mary Renault, which was at least written in the 20th century CE, even if set 2,400 years before!

"Set in fourth-century B.C. Greece, The Mask of Apollo is narrated by Nikeratos, a tragic actor who takes with him on all his travels a gold mask of Apollo, a relic of the theater's golden age, which is now past. At first his mascot, the mask gradually becomes his conscience, and he refers to it his gravest decisions, when he finds himself at the center of a political crisis in which the philosopher Plato is also involved. Much of the action is set in Syracuse, where Plato's friend Dion is trying to persuade the young tyrant Dionysios the Younger to accept the rule of law. Through Nikeratos' eyes, the reader watches as the clash between the two looses all the pent-up violence in the city."

I have a number of biographies by actors, directors. Only other books about theaters that I have do involve murders - Christopher Fowler, Ngaio Marsh, Edwin Radford off the top of my head.

Laurence Olivier - Confessions of an Actor; John Lithgow - Drama: An Actor's Education; Eli Wallach - The Good, the Bad, and Me: In My Anecdotage; David J. Skal - Claude Rains: An Actor's Voice, etc.

Rosina wrote: "But I wonder if it would be right to recommend "

The Mask of Apollo would be a great nomination, Rosina. It was written in the twentieth century and is also fascinating for the way theatre and acting in Ancient Greece had a different social function from how we think of them today so lots to discuss. I love Mary Renault though haven't read her for years.

I will nominate At Freddie's by Penelope Fitzgerald

From the Booker Prize-winner of ‘Offshore’ comes this entertaining tale of a chaotic stage school and its singular headmistress. With a new introduction by Simon Callow.

It is the 1960s, in London’s West End, and Freddie is the formidable proprietress of the Temple Stage School. Of unknown age and provenance, Freddie is a skirt-swathed enigma – a woman who by sheer force of character and single-minded thrust has turned herself and her school into a national institution. Anyone who is anyone must know Freddie.

At Freddie’s is a wickedly droll comedy of the theatre and its terminally eccentric devotees.

Had it been before Christmas I would have suggested An Awfully Big Adventure by Beryl Bainbridge which I love.

Two authors I'm not very familiar with, Susan - for some reason, I thought the Bainbridge title was about the Scott expedition!

Ha ha! No, Peter Pan :)

I will nominate Wishful Drinking

Description in previous post.

I've never seen Star Wars, Ben. Have discovered that Nigeyb's nomination already lurks on my kindle though - unread so far, but perhaps that will change?

You know , there's a podcast by that name!

Is there? I haven't seen much, to be fair, but it's never appealed. I think I like my fiction set in the present or the past, rather than the future.

The podcast features people who have never done something that's very typical and then has them do it and interviews them for their impressions.

Roman Clodia wrote: "Rosina wrote: "But I wonder if it would be right to recommend "

The Mask of Apollo would be a great nomination, Rosina. It was written in the ..."

I will recommend The Mask of Apollo, by Mary Renault.

I think the summary I posted above is wrong - I'm pretty sure that Nikeratos' mask is wood, not gold! I'll need to re-read it to be certain.

I love Star Wars! Which as someone who doesn't much watch films and also doesn't do sci-fi/fantasy/space opera (don't even know what the correct term is...) is saying something. I've been re-watching it over the last couple of years with my nephew who's 10 and have even been known to play light sabres with him ;) (But only the first three original films).

Yes, 1-3 and 7-9 are fan fiction produced by a licensed holder of copyright and trademark rights.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I'v...

Very funny

Ben wrote: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I'v...

Very funny"

Some of the things that people haven't done is mind-blowing - how can Kate Adie never have eaten porridge?!

I'm tempted by the Ian Hislop episode

Thanks Ben


🫶🏻

Wow. I was considering nominating By Myself by Lauren Bacall, but there are too many other great options already nominated!

I'm very excited about Actress and At Freddie's, and would love to read Wishful Drinking because Carrie Fisher is so funny. Lots of others look great too--will be difficult to choose!

Hopefully I have got all the actual nominations below, if not please correct me...


Here We Are (2021) by Graham Swift (Nigeyb)
Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher (Ben)
At Freddie's by Penelope Fitzgerald (Susan)


RC, you're still making up your mind?

Rosina, The Mask of Apollo by Mary Renault is not currently a nomination?

Jan, that's just a list of possible nominations?

Anyone else nominating?

Sorry - I meant to nominate The Mask of Apollo! Can it please be accepted.

Kathleen wrote: "Wow. I was considering nominating By Myself by Lauren Bacall, but there are too many other great options already nominated!

I'm very excited about [book:Actress|45993..."

Actress is not among the nominations, Kathleen, although you could nominate it, if you wish?

Sorry for the confusion there, I was dithering... So I will nominate Actress by Anne Enright:

Katherine O’Dell is an Irish theater legend. As her daughter Norah retraces her mother’s celebrated career and bohemian life, she delves into long-kept secrets, both her mother’s and her own.
Katherine began her career on Ireland’s bus-and-truck circuit before making it to London’s West End, Broadway, and finally Hollywood. Every moment of her life is a star turn, with young Norah standing in the wings. But the mother-daughter romance cannot survive Katherine’s past or the world’s damage. With age, alcohol, and dimming stardom, her grip on reality grows fitful and, fueled by a proud and long-simmering rage, she commits a bizarre crime.

Thanks all.


Nominations so far (I've also added the Lauren Bacall book under Kathleen - we can change this if necessary)...

Here We Are (2021) by Graham Swift (Nigeyb)
Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher (Ben)
At Freddie's by Penelope Fitzgerald (Susan)
Actress by Anne Enright (Roman Clodia)
By Myself by Lauren Bacall (Kathleen)

Anyone else nominating?

I won't nominate as I'm tempted by the Swift, Fitzgerald and Enright books!

I've read the Lauren Bacall book which was great - there is an edition called 'By Myself and Then Some' which has an extra section at the end about her life since the original book.

Nigeyb wrote: "Thanks all.


Nominations so far (I've also added the Lauren Bacall book under Kathleen - we can change this if necessary)...

Here We Are (2021) by Graham Swift (Nigeyb)
Wishful Drinking by Carri..."

I nominate The Mask of Apollo.

Thanks Rosina


Nominations so far

(I've also added the Lauren Bacall book under Kathleen - we can change this if necessary)...

Here We Are (2021) by Graham Swift (Nigeyb)
Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher (Ben)
At Freddie's by Penelope Fitzgerald (Susan)
Actress by Anne Enright (Roman Clodia)
By Myself by Lauren Bacall (Kathleen)
The Mask of Apollo by Mary Renault (Rosina)

Anyone else nominating?

Nigeyb wrote: "Thanks Rosina


Nominations so far

(I've also added the Lauren Bacall book under Kathleen - we can change this if necessary)...

Here We Are (2021) by Graham Swift (Nigeyb)
Wishful Drinking by Ca..."


It's okay to leave the Bacall book, Nigeyb, but I'll probably be voting for one of the other great options. :-)

I very often find books I want to read, or am reminded that I own (!) through nominations, so they are never wasted Kathleen. Although I nominated myself, I am very drawn to both RC's and Nigeyb's nominations.

Thanks Kathleen - will do


Yes indeed Susan, there's always so many tempting nominations, and suggestions


#toomanybooks 📚

Nominations so far


Here We Are (2021) by Graham Swift (Nigeyb)
Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher (Ben)
At Freddie's by Penelope Fitzgerald (Susan)
Actress by Anne Enright (Roman Clodia)
By Myself by Lauren Bacall (Kathleen)
The Mask of Apollo by Mary Renault (Rosina)

Anyone else nominating?

I'll get the poll up sometime tomorrow so last call for nominations

I'm not nominating. Wishful Drinking has been on my shelf for years.

I liked By Myself. Read it when it came out. Can't recall whether I still have it or not. I believe she updated it and it was called By Myself and Then Some. I didn't read that one - I think it mainly had an introduction and possibly updating on her life.

Thanks Jan


Yes, Judy (message 36) also highlighted the later, augmented version of Bacall's own story, which sounds like the one to go for if it wins, or if anyone is inspired to read it

Poll coming this very day 👏🏼

Time to vote...


https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...



Nominations

Here We Are (2021) by Graham Swift (Nigeyb)
Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher (Ben)
At Freddie's by Penelope Fitzgerald (Susan)
Actress by Anne Enright (Roman Clodia)
By Myself by Lauren Bacall (Kathleen)
The Mask of Apollo by Mary Renault (Rosina)

Poll watch...


At Freddie's by Penelope Fitzgerald - 2 votes, 33.3%

Here We Are by Graham Swift - 1 vote, 16.7%
Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher - 1 vote, 16.7%
Actress by Anne Enright - 1 vote, 16.7%
The Mask of Apollo by Mary Renault - 1 vote, 16.7%

By Myself by Lauren Bacall

So basically, so far everyone has voted for their own nomination :)

I have posted on the NetGalley thread - definitely an author that will interest you, Nigeyb.

Susan wrote:


"So basically, so far everyone has voted for their own nomination :)"

Yep

That's usually how we start however voters then often switch to their second choice if their current favourite has no chance of winning

Yes, true. Plus, there are always buddy reads.

Poll watch...



At Freddie's by Penelope Fitzgerald - 3 votes, 30.0%
Wishful Drinking by Carrie Fisher - 3 votes, 30.0%

Actress by Anne Enright - 2 votes, 20.0%

Here We Are by Graham Swift - 1 vote, 10.0%
The Mask of Apollo by Mary Renault - 1 vote, 10.0%

By Myself by Lauren Bacall



Neck and neck 🤠



Vote/change your vote here...

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...