Bright Young Things discussion

Your wish is my command...

Following the Dorothy Parker appreciation society that seems to have been founded over in the introductions thread I agree with Sawyer that this fabulous writer needs a space all of her own.

Tell me your favourite pieces of hers or anything you know of her life...

Ally

Hi,
I love Parker! I said it on my introduction but, by a silly mistake my account was deleted, and when I got a new one, I joined again.. I wondered if I should write again on the intro board..

I'm currently re-reading Parker's collected stories, I love her wit, specially the use of monologues.

Has anyone seen the film about her "Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle"? I have been considering buying the dvd and would like to know opinions about it (I missed it on theatres and have been trying to watch it since then).

Antia wrote: "Hi,
I love Parker! I said it on my introduction but, by a silly mistake my account was deleted, and when I got a new one, I joined again.. I wondered if I should write again on the intro board.. ..."

Yes i am interested in that film too. Anybody got any comments about it?

It was ok. I felt a little let down by it.

I wondered if she really sounded like that. Jennifer Jason Leigh used a very flat voice for her. And I later read that she did an awful lot of research and I presume some of that would have included what she sounded like.

But, yes, it is interesting. But I would try to rent it somewhere before going out and buying it.

Antia wrote: "Hi,
I love Parker! I said it on my introduction but, by a silly mistake my account was deleted, and when I got a new one, I joined again.. I wondered if I should write again on the intro board.. ..."

I have a copy of the film. I thought it was well done and that Jennifer Jason Leigh was incredible as Dottie.

I haven't read much by her and even that was a few years ago. I own The Portable Dorothy Parker, so I should probably pick her up soon.

I think my favorite Parker quote was from the Algonquin when they were playing a word game. "Dorothy, use the word 'horticulture' in a sentence." Her reply: "You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think." Ha! I love it! I wish I could have been around (and sharp enough) to join to Algonquin Round Table.

I think we all wish we were THAT quick!

I love her short witty poems...

'On Being a Woman'

Why is it, when I am in Rome
I'd give an eye to be at home,
But when on native earth I be,
My soul is sick for Italy?

And why with you, my love, my lord,
Am I spectacularly bored,
Yet do you up and leave me - then
I scream to have you back again?

or...

'Unfortunate Coincidence'

By the time you swear you're his,
Shivering and sighing,
And he vows his passion is
Infinite, undying -
Lady make a note of this:
One of you is lying.

I love the "Unfortunate Coincidence" haha

'Fame'

If I didn't care for fun and such,
I'd probably amount to much.
But I shall stay the way I am,
Because I do not give a damn.

My favorite times I had with my Grandma growing up was when she'd be cooking in the kitchen reciting Parker. I really enjoyed these times and they stuck with me throughout all these years because they are witty, funny and just adorable!

Parker just keeps coming up in my life, snippets in newspapers, chancing across websites. I'm going to have to find a biography or a compendium - any suggestions?

I was just reading an article the other day that quotes parker as having said "I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal labotomy"

...and I think she was responsible for the timeless "men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses"

...and one of the best - "If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to!"
...plus this funny little poem (advice on when to stop for anyone going on festive party outings)

I like to have a martini,
Two at the very most.
After three I'm under the table,
after four I'm under my host.

...you've got to love her!

Ally

I believe Marion Meade has one" What Fresh Hell is This". I read her book about Buster Keaton and it wasn't too bad.

I read one years ago by, possibly, John Meats or some similar name

Her most famous one:

Résumé (1926)

Razors pain you;
Rivers are damp;
Acids stain you;
And drugs cause cramp.
Guns aren't lawful;
Nooses give;
Gas smell awful;
You might as well live.

I didn't know she had written screenplays too:
http://www.poemhunter.com/dorothy-par...

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18...

She was an unhappy woman. I haven't seen the movie, but I believe she was either a depressive or bipolar. A good many of her poems are about death or suicide, and are bitter or sarcastic.

Oscar Wilde

If, with the literate, I am
Impelled to try an epigram,
I never seek to take the credit;
We all assume that Oscar said it.

A Journey into Dorothy Parker's New York by Kevin C. Fitzpatrick - I got this for my birthday and just love it.

Thanks, Ivan. I always get useless stuff for my birthday.

I just finished reading though "The Portable Dorothy Parker", and I enjoyed it so much. I'd not read much of her work before, and was really enchanted especially by the poems and the book reviews that she did for the New Yorker as "The Constant Reader". What a sense of humor!! So much fun!

Parker is the sharpest wit I know of. As usual, a sharp wit goes with a less than happy personal life. The whole Algonquin circle is interesting. I've been meaning to read them up for years as part of my interest in the Paradiso Artigianato -- that's a made up phrase for the gathering of all artists which occurs periodically i.e. Paris 1870 and 1921 and 1950, Vienna 1900, Greenwich Village 1923 and 1953, San Francisco 1965... The question was how do the first residents of a paradiso find it at the beginning, before the cultural tourists show up? I always thought the Algonquins might give me a clue. (The farthest I got with this project was one route stop of a walking tour of 1952 Expatriate Paris. That's on my website.)

Jan C wrote: "It was ok. I felt a little let down by it.

I wondered if she really sounded like that. Jennifer Jason Leigh used a very flat voice for her. And I later read that she did an awful lot of researc..."

Yes, Jan, I wonder about the Jennifer Jason Leigh voice used in the film, too. It really wasn't very "tuneful", was it? ;o) I don't know if there are any recordings of Parker speaking, but I wouldn't be averse to looking for some just to see if she did sound so nasal! Thanks.

Lori wrote: "I haven't read much by her and even that was a few years ago. I own The Portable Dorothy Parker, so I should probably pick her up soon.

I think my favorite Parker quote was from the ..."

Oh, yes, this is typical of the Parker wit, indeed. What a character she was!!

Ally wrote: "Parker just keeps coming up in my life, snippets in newspapers, chancing across websites. I'm going to have to find a biography or a compendium - any suggestions?

I was just reading an article t..."

Ally, you're right about the "women with glasses" quote - definitely by Parker. I found that I really enjoyed her poetry as well as the stories and book reviews, which I hadn't expected. She was an amazing writer! Thanks.

Charles wrote: "Parker is the sharpest wit I know of. As usual, a sharp wit goes with a less than happy personal life. The whole Algonquin circle is interesting. I've been meaning to read them up for years as part..."

Thanks, Charles. I've not read much by the Algonquin Circle either, but have been considering doing so for a while now. If you did, which writer would you choose? Thanks!

Ellen wrote: "Charles wrote: "Parker is the sharpest wit I know of. As usual, a sharp wit goes with a less than happy personal life. The whole Algonquin circle is interesting. I've been meaning to read them up f..."

Alexander Woollcott had several books of his articles . I know because my parents had them - Long Long Ago and While Rome Burns.

Oh, thanks for letting me know. I'll look for his work! What about Robert Sherwood? Has anyone read any of his work? Thanks so much!!

I think he wrote mainly plays, including The Petrified Forest and Abe Lincoln in Illinois.

Ah, OK. Thanks, Jan. I'm not likely to read his work then, as I don't enjoy reading plays all that much. I would much prefer to see them performed on stage as intended. Have a great day!

Ellen wrote: "Ah, OK. Thanks, Jan. I'm not likely to read his work then, as I don't enjoy reading plays all that much. I would much prefer to see them performed on stage as intended. Have a great day!"

At some point he went to work for the government in some capacity when FDR was president and subsequently wrote a book about Roosevelt and Hopkins (I think that is also the title ).

Ellen wrote: "Charles wrote: "Parker is the sharpest wit I know of. As usual, a sharp wit goes with a less than happy personal life. The whole Algonquin circle is interesting. I've been meaning to read them up f..."

Alexander Woolcott. I believe he wrote the story Rear Window.

Charles wrote: "Ellen wrote: "Charles wrote: "Parker is the sharpest wit I know of. As usual, a sharp wit goes with a less than happy personal life. The whole Algonquin circle is interesting. I've been meaning to ..."

No, Cornell Woolrich (The Bride Wore Black) wrote the short story Rear Window was based on - "It Had to Be Murder ".

Woolcott was the basis for George S. Kauffman's (also a member of the circle ) "The Man Who Came to Dinner".

Jan C wrote: "Cornell Woolrich (The Bride Wore Black) wrote the short story Rear Window was based on - "It Had to Be Murder ".

Woolcott was the basis for George S. Kauffman's (also a member of the circle ) "The Man Who Came to Dinner". "

Right. Thanks for the correction.

Ellen wrote: "Jan C wrote: "It was ok. I felt a little let down by it.

I wondered if she really sounded like that. Jennifer Jason Leigh used a very flat voice for her. And I later read that she did an awful lo..."

I wondered as well and found this website with clips of her reading some of her poems http://www.dorothyparker.com Unfortunately I don't have Real Player at work and can't download it. I enjoyed Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle and thought JJL was excellent though I did wonder about the voice. Leigh doesn't strike me as an actress who would do something as a gimick if it weren't true to the character. Someone listen to those clips and let me know! I also read the Marion Meade bio and thought it was well done.

I just found a second hand copy of The Portable Dorothy Parker! woohoo!

Ally wrote: "I just found a second hand copy of The Portable Dorothy Parker! woohoo!"

Yay!!! After you get to reading the book, Ally, keep me posted on how you like it, which are your favorite stories, poems, etc. I'd love to talk about Parker with you and everyone else who's read her work. She's just such a character! Thanks so much!!!