Status Updates From Bring on the Empty Horses

last page is 369 in this edition, and a punchline it is. Well, gotta think a little bit on this before revewing.

Page counts differing between editions; mine has 368 pp. One more session gets it.

In the homestretch on this marvelous book. Thought it would be light puffery after notching several heavy duty histories, but this one stands up with the best of them. Niven was pretty awesome and this was a surprise from left field for me. So well done. Onward.

John Barrymore justified his use of cue cards instead of script memorization when making films, thusly (paraphrased): "My mind is filled with the beauty of Shakepeare's sonnets and soliloquys ... I'm not going to clutter my mind with this horseshit!" Can't argue with that. Had me laughing loudly.

Loving Mr. Niven the more I read of this. His observations on the Hollywood blacklist were astute and thoughtful. Choice tidbits too on that crazy bastard, Errol Flynn. I'm into it now.

In a few graphs Niven writes more interestingly about the Garden of Allah hotel than Sheilah Graham did in her entire book, including about F. Scott Fitzgerald whom he befriended. Also, amazing stories of the pressures stars had to put up with.

Niven was a very keen Hollywood observer. This might end up being essential cinema reading.

Not David Niven's fault, but the reading is slowing down again for me. I go through phases with things.

Niven is a fine enough writer, but there are some factual and spelling errors in this first edition. Wonder if they got corrected later? He makes his buddy Clark Gable sound pretty awesome, a perfect outdoor companion.

I've somehow managed to come into two copies of this so I think that means I ought to read it. I'll do the hardcover on the patio and the paperback when I'm out and about. David had a matchless wit, so it should be fun.