<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: worth reading for the readily moved
Review: As far as actual literary value goes, I won't even comment ... the other reviews to this point seem accurate on content, having not read other Rorem it may or may not be so that this is below par, and frankly, upon getting into the book I wasn't paying much attention to all of that so much as, getting towards the end, the on-the-spot accounts of watching a loved one die. Perhaps it's voyeurism, but, to me the raw honesty in that alone made this book if not entirely riveting, definitely worth reading.
Rating: 
Summary: Planet Earth's greatest diarist
Review: I bitterly begrudge Ned for being one of those self-congratulatory artsy-fartsy types who are constantly blathering about Art with a capital "A". I hate that mentality. But that doesn't prevent me from being a Nedhead. My other complaint about Ned's prose is his refusal to provide English translations for the French quotes. For the benefit of us non-francophones. Ned's self-righteous proselytory pacifism is another thing that drives me up the goddam wall. It's a big fat boring blindspot and he excretes smugness whenever the subject of war comes up. Pacifism is a form of simplistic absolutism. And it's just as wrong-headed as any other form of absolutism. Including aesthetic absolutism. Which Ned has himself addressed: "Until an Absolute is established as to what defines 'good music', I will retain my right to call trash certain works of Beethoven: the Emperor, the Appassionata, the end of the Ninth." Let me commend Ned's heroic stoicism in regard to the illness & death of Jim Holmes. I was depressed to find out that Jim was every bit the atheist that Ned is. As usual, I blame God.
Rating:
Summary: Planet Earth's greatest diarist
Review: I bitterly begrudge Ned for being one of those self-congratulatory artsy-fartsy types who are constantly blathering about Art with a capital "A". I hate that mentality. But that doesn't prevent me from being a Nedhead. My other complaint about Ned's prose is his refusal to provide English translations for the French quotes. For the benefit of us non-francophones. Ned's self-righteous proselytory pacifism is another thing that drives me up the goddam wall. It's a big fat boring blindspot and he excretes smugness whenever the subject of war comes up. Pacifism is a form of simplistic absolutism. And it's just as wrong-headed as any other form of absolutism. Including aesthetic absolutism. Which Ned has himself addressed: "Until an Absolute is established as to what defines 'good music', I will retain my right to call trash certain works of Beethoven: the Emperor, the Appassionata, the end of the Ninth." Let me commend Ned's heroic stoicism in regard to the illness & death of Jim Holmes. I was depressed to find out that Jim was every bit the atheist that Ned is. As usual, I blame God.
Rating:
Summary: Necessary
Review: Ned Rorem is our best diarist. Is there another one at present? I find myself dipping into this latest diary all the time. I love the gossip as much as the next fella, but it's the mini essays on any number of topics that I truly love. Elucidates the sad state of the composer and the song right now.
Rating:
Summary: Necessary
Review: This was my first exposure to the writing of Ned Rorem and perhaps because of this, I found "Lies" to be thoroughly readable. Yes, there are moments when he does come across as a sort of whining name-dropper; but there are also times when he sheds light on dying, relationships, music, composing and the like that make it a worthwhile read.
<< 1 >>
| 
