BroadwayWorld.com Daylight Savings Time Book Report (Part 2)

Well, the weather's starting to get nice and it's a great time to take that book along with you to read during a break, over a lunch or on the subway. I finally got my notes together, so here's the second installment of BroadwayWorld.com's Daylight Savings Time Book Report. Part 3, coming in a couple of days, will be a tribute to people in the industry no longer with us, who wrote some books or have had some books written about them that I want you to know about, should you want to hunt them down. Part One, if you missed it, can be found here.

THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING
By Joan Didion
Knopf (hardcover)
Vintage; reprint edition (paperback)

five stars (out of 5)

I couldn't stop crying as I read this book. Never have grief and loss been so clearly, honestly or candidly written about. The fact that this story has been adapted by its author for the stage and is being performed by Vanessa Redgrave is almost too much to imagine … but …. I will be there. This book is GIANT. To lose one's husband suddenly, at the dinner table, after having returned from the hospital visiting a daughter in a coma, is almost too much to comprehend or bear. The following year? Extraordinary …. And loaded with "magical thinking." Joan Didion is one of the iconic writers of our time, famously married to another writing talent - John Gregory Dunne. Sadly, their daughter Quintana, after some time of getting better, eventually died as well. Didion is unflinching in her feelings and expression in the "year" after Dunne's passing. This book is not a "self-help" or simple "fix" book laying out "feel good" Hallmark Card phrases. It is grief of the highest order and, as I read it, there were so many enormous thoughts, I felt I should have a hi-liter pen handy. But I didn't. I went for the ride … and am much richer for it. This is an amazing book that is beyond anything one could write to describe it.

RED CARPETS AND OTHER BANANA SKINS
The Autobiography

By Rupert Everett
(Warner Books)

four stars (out of 5)

Rupert Everett has a great gift for writing. This should be envied by others who have struggled with "co-authors" in making the effort to pen their memoirs or autobiographies. A respected actor who is openly gay, he takes us on quite a ride … and a gossipy one at that. Calling it as he sees it, he is not bitter, but always entertaining. This talented guy has traveled from Britain to Hollywood (on a fast track) and just about everywhere else a good looking thesp could get to. Don't forget he was also a rent-boy and a VERSACE model. His life has had its share of glamour and plenty of drama, too. Most of the American public know him from the Julia Roberts hit film, MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING … but, there's much more to this guy. MUCH more!

WILL POWER
How to Act Shakespeare in 21 Days

By John Basil
With Stephanie Gunning
(APPLAUSE Theatre & Cinema Books)

3 and a half stars (out of 5)

This book by John Basil, Producing Artistic Director and co-founder of the American Globe Theatre in New York City, could be "tricky business" in the wrong hands. One certainly can't discourage picking it up and paging through it, but one musn't believe they can conquer acting Shakespeare in 21 days, when the most skillful of actors work a lifetime to embody some of the greatest and most complex roles in history. For this reason alone, you will rarely find two productions of any Shakespeare play to be the same, as they are usually visionary approaches or interpretations taken by daring actors, innovative directors or traditionally based repertory companies.

That said – there is an informative approach here to the rehearsal "process", but there is no ONE WAY approach to anything – especially acting – and this seems a bit "text book" to me. Also a bit like Cliff Notes.

I'm not sure about this book, but you should decide for yourselves. Mr. Basil is certainly respected and has some impressive endorsements on this book from friends. Amazon.com reviews are mostly of a student nature.