tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post706474990075516953..comments2024-02-20T00:35:39.057-08:00Comments on The Lion's Den: Staff Announcement GSLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903412564467078538noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-25215509775259543552015-01-10T16:02:32.570-08:002015-01-10T16:02:32.570-08:00HI Donna,
BRH is well worth your time and I've...HI Donna,<br />BRH is well worth your time and I've seen all those you mention except Upstairs, Downstair and especially liked those Jeeves/Wooster Fry/Lawrie adaptations.GSLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04903412564467078538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-16666914128564518792015-01-10T07:38:12.996-08:002015-01-10T07:38:12.996-08:00Thanks for the youtube tip GSL. I had to check o...Thanks for the youtube tip GSL. I had to check our Kalaidiscape system, as I have so many British series on it. BHR is one I don't have; and have never read. I do vaguely recall watching some of it on television. My mum watched all the PBS series broadcasts, and bought many DVD's which I now have loaded into our system.<br />I do have all episodes of the original Upstairs, Downstairs, The Forsyte Saga, Jeeves & Wooster, amongst many others.<br />I just noticed The Aristocrats series; which I plan to watch today.No Sacrifice Bagshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14768755519910407042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-54562423876672467402015-01-06T13:00:19.190-08:002015-01-06T13:00:19.190-08:00Jody, my instincts (and your charming telly appear...Jody, my instincts (and your charming telly appearance) tell me your magnetic presence trumps any phrase...esp. with those summer frocks you featured and that blue dress/updo smoking hot number....and now you've even got some Camino swagger to walk your talk...and an absolute Den full of smitten admirers over this way.GSLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04903412564467078538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-25720459745071963832015-01-06T12:47:13.384-08:002015-01-06T12:47:13.384-08:00Gosh what a great phrase...must try and work that ...Gosh what a great phrase...must try and work that into my conversation today.About Last Weekendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04716571630418078937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-45687187868970061952015-01-05T21:00:20.704-08:002015-01-05T21:00:20.704-08:00Hi Jill,
BR is one of those books you must be rece...Hi Jill,<br />BR is one of those books you must be receptive to being swept away and into that world which I often am but understand how it can be be a difficult read if it were an academic assignment with deadline eminent or some other hindrance held our imagination hostage. Also, it's not everyone's cup of tea.<br />GSLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04903412564467078538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-57172344474353199642015-01-05T20:24:13.115-08:002015-01-05T20:24:13.115-08:00Oh what a hilarious post. I just love it. I'd ...Oh what a hilarious post. I just love it. I'd be happy to give Hugh (circa Bridget Jones when he was a complete bastard) a smack, but only if he's been a bit naughty and really really wants it. Hee hee hee. Oh I do love a cute whipping boy, hooray that you've added one here in the Den (of Lust?). Ha. I read BR a long time ago and survived it but it was not my favorite novel. Maybe if I see the movie and then re-read the book I will have a greater appreciation for it? XO, JillJillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18062587289685203227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-27646716674663292592015-01-05T14:29:33.703-08:002015-01-05T14:29:33.703-08:00Your beautifully evocative prose had me in the roo...Your beautifully evocative prose had me in the room with you and friend as a faint "No further questions Your Honor..." echoes down the hall from the 25" Zenith. I can smell the enticing Jiffy Pop garnished by the yellow dressed girl under the umbrella and squeeze bottle margarine.<br />Those lush auburn locks flipped so sensuously by Rita Hayworth occupy a special room in GSL's House of the Holy.GSLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04903412564467078538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-27297383998237424002015-01-05T13:03:37.587-08:002015-01-05T13:03:37.587-08:00PS Absolutely stunning and clickety-clack clever...PS Absolutely stunning and clickety-clack clever comment on LT just now---perfect.RachelDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11204947567574886675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-65241816287600207242015-01-05T12:56:16.225-08:002015-01-05T12:56:16.225-08:00Well, Hey There Mr. Mossy! It's been quite...Well, Hey There Mr. Mossy! It's been quite a Christmas Season, and I'm trying to catch up before my usual January hibernation. Just the mention of BHR is to conjure rapt evenings of the early eighties, a friend and I ensconced cross-legged on my twin bed, with the tiny black-and-white TV the only one in the house whose rabbit-ears (rather more a set of six-points any deer hunter would love) would pick up anything other than Channels 3, 5, and 13 out of Memphis---CBS, ABC and NBC. We'd have to close the door to drown out Perry Mason or some such from the big TV in the den, where the kids and who-all of their friends had dropped in, and the scent of popcorn or Tacos-in-the-making provided an incongruously common note to the black and gray elegance flitting before us.<br />She'd come over maybe thirty minutes early, and we'd get our big glasses of tea, swipe the "Herman" off Caro's bed for her, and line it and mine up against the wall for proper propping, and go simply mesmerized at the wonderful of it. How we'd have lingered for hours, re-winding and discussing and clearing up "What did he say, again?" had we had all the convenient show-stoppers of today. <br /><br />Blanche was, of course, our favourite character, and it seemed SUCH a waste of screen time when he wasn't on it. I later seemed to sort of "find" him again in the delightful Berkeley of OUT OF AFRICA---something just reminded me so much of his paradoxical hesitance AND tendency to blurt outrageous things.<br /><br />That marvelous young blondie with the sturdy stance and here-I-am grin is amazingly familiar---I will be going back to an album we got out last week when DS from Mississippi was here---there's a little doppelganger in there with the same neatly-tugged pants and Mama-combed hair, though the toy was most probably a tractor for that little country-raised farm boy. <br /><br />Looking forward to a thorough read of this and the EP post. I've missed your wit and wisdom. Stay warm and well.<br /><br />r<br /><br />PS doncha think the photographer shouldn't have looked away just at the MINUTE HG flung those saucy locks back like Rita Hayworth?RachelDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11204947567574886675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-57558095119849747112015-01-04T18:54:39.895-08:002015-01-04T18:54:39.895-08:00I will definitely follow your EW guidance for back...I will definitely follow your EW guidance for background material, I liked the Jeremy Brett Holmes series from the mid '80s better than the installments from early '90s when Brett had thickened up a bit and at Bebe's urging reluctantly watched the Cumberbatch series. For what it was, it was very well done and he was superb but with me 221b Baker Street is sacred ground and artistic license should be revoked and strict adherence to ACD's text should be imposed. GSLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04903412564467078538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-91342661199990209482015-01-04T13:40:20.154-08:002015-01-04T13:40:20.154-08:00You're going to have a wonderful time indulgin...You're going to have a wonderful time indulging in a Waugh feast! When you get to reading books about him, his friends and times, you might also enjoy "Evelyn Waugh and his World" edited by David Pryce-Jones, a collection of accounts of him by his friends and others, most of whom knew him well. For your interest in his WWII years, it includes a contribution from the Earl of Birkenhead about their time together, along with Randolph, in Yugoslavia, and references to Waugh on War. Not sure if it's still in print though. My copy is Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1973.<br /><br />Wondering how you enjoyed the latest Sherlock TV offerings - the ones with Cumberbatch in the role? C was quite brilliant in "The Imitation Game" - as I think I've already mentioned in another comment. PammieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-68887964482318383872015-01-04T07:50:02.059-08:002015-01-04T07:50:02.059-08:00Fascinating stuff Pammie! I knew of EW's conne...Fascinating stuff Pammie! I knew of EW's connection to the Mitfords and had heard that amusing Paul Robeson anecdote and will definitely someday read 'Mad World' as nourishment after I've picked the EW canon clean like I did for Sherlock Holmes and started reading all those delicious arcana books that expanded on minutiae and speculated on those case Watson so humorously mentions in passing.<br />EW's WWII years are of great interest. Thanks Pammie!!!GSLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04903412564467078538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-89321615348374389612015-01-03T21:37:39.227-08:002015-01-03T21:37:39.227-08:00As you're such a fan of "Brideshead"...As you're such a fan of "Brideshead" you might be interested in reading "Mad World: Evelyn Waugh and the secrets of Brideshead" about the real family that Waugh drew on, the Lygons of Madresfield. Eccentric, glamorous and fascinating. The account is quite illuminating. In addition have always felt Waugh was also rather in love with the Mitfords too, at least with some of them. When young he was attracted by the beautiful Diana (eg he was invited to a fancy dress party where guests had to come as the person they'd most like to xxxx, so he came dressed as Diana - but she came as Paul Robeson, as did Cecil Beaton!) though he also great friends with Nancy. There's an interesting volume of the letters exchanged.<br />Quite a few of his books were v influenced by what had been happening in his life around the time, eg some of the bitterness and blackness in "A Handful of Dust" and his cutting and quite cruel depiction of the women probably stems from his unhappiness and disillusionment when his first wife "She-Evelyn" (he was known amongst their friends then as "He-Evelyn") ditched him for someone he felt was completely unworthy.<br />He was really quite an extraordinary man and had some extraordinary friends. When in Yugoslavia during WWII he was holed up on a special military mission with Randolph Churchill and Lord Birkenhead. Evelyn enjoyed pretending he thought Tito was a woman and always referred to him as her - if they had problems with him Waugh always said it must be the wrong time of the month. This eventually leaked out to Tito. Randolph almost drove them both mad as he was hypermanic and wouldn't stop talking. So they challenged him to read the Bible from beginning to end to keep him quiet. This eventually backfired on them. Spectacularly original decision to match up these three for a mission together. An extraordinary man and a great comedic writer. PammieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-90692238022130006102015-01-03T16:44:47.628-08:002015-01-03T16:44:47.628-08:00AA was superb and well cast as Flyte but that role...AA was superb and well cast as Flyte but that role is best played by someone without a magnetic presence portending superstardom and AA did perfectly capture what A. Blanche described as that light airy bubble (from the Millais painting above) that pops into nothingness.GSLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04903412564467078538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-39870582754310839442015-01-03T16:32:45.455-08:002015-01-03T16:32:45.455-08:00I hate hearing that! I'm signed up but can'...I hate hearing that! I'm signed up but can't figure out how to launch off my profile page...hearing those giggles echo in the distance may help me focus.GSLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04903412564467078538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-3445422230939749642015-01-03T16:27:03.430-08:002015-01-03T16:27:03.430-08:00Funny how one person in a famous series becomes ev...Funny how one person in a famous series becomes even more famous and the other fades away. The main character, Anthony Andrews, I've not heard or seen of him in years. As for the teddy bear???About Last Weekendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04716571630418078937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-24802381082795470652015-01-03T16:21:06.892-08:002015-01-03T16:21:06.892-08:00Are you on Instagram yet GSL? You're missing o...Are you on Instagram yet GSL? You're missing out on all the fun!Si Je Veuxhttp://si.jenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-58907968513726196662015-01-03T16:11:42.900-08:002015-01-03T16:11:42.900-08:00Will do Curator...I'm late for everything!Will do Curator...I'm late for everything!GSLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04903412564467078538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-76096166174524086472015-01-03T16:04:52.850-08:002015-01-03T16:04:52.850-08:00Get 'Vile Bodies' and 'A handful of du...Get 'Vile Bodies' and 'A handful of dust' under you belt and report back...Keep up the good work. We'll have you on Chaucer and Rabalais in no time!Si Je Veuxhttp://si.jenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-53277963881958037132015-01-03T11:03:23.223-08:002015-01-03T11:03:23.223-08:00Marie,
I am not familiar with Vile Bodies other th...Marie,<br />I am not familiar with Vile Bodies other than seeing 'Bright Young Things' ages ago and I actually like and respect characters such as A. Blanche, C. Ryder, and S. Flyte as in AB's case he actually stands for something and Ryder and Flyte are at least looking. The public persona of Hugh Grant I'm familiar with only at a distance doesn't seem to stand for anything nor does he appear to be looking and diminishes everything he touches.GSLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04903412564467078538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-40343284356967309822015-01-03T10:32:09.218-08:002015-01-03T10:32:09.218-08:00Since you seem to abhor Hugh Grant and his ilk, de...Since you seem to abhor Hugh Grant and his ilk, definitely read Vile Bodies, a satiric look at the phony lives of Pretty Young Things (though Hugh may be past his sell-by date as a PYT). Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02708265736473324024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-21874770978115167642015-01-03T08:44:31.020-08:002015-01-03T08:44:31.020-08:00...and Marie I should have mentioned that I'll......and Marie I should have mentioned that I'll be reading Decline and Fall next and am very interested in hearing your recommendations for my Waugh excursions.GSLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04903412564467078538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-889925162150770752015-01-03T08:41:33.891-08:002015-01-03T08:41:33.891-08:00Scoop was wickedly funny I do a lot of audiobooks ...Scoop was wickedly funny I do a lot of audiobooks which can be burdensome on first go-rounds with intricate plots, numerous characters, and in dialect not immediately familiar as I got lost a bit in Middlemarch but listening to Brideshead brilliantly narrated by Jeremy Irons and Scoop narrated by Simon Cadell who have such a deep intimacy with Waugh and virtuosos of voice take those masterpeices into an even higher realm. I like writers who primarily write for the ear which Waugh clearly does and George Eliot less so I think...brilliant as she is.GSLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04903412564467078538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-71075162233419845392015-01-02T18:25:58.751-08:002015-01-02T18:25:58.751-08:00Glad you think I'm such a spring Chicken! I se...Glad you think I'm such a spring Chicken! I seem to remember I was around 8? My mother, who was an avid reader and loved the classics would have thought it entirely appropriate for us to watch. I have to say that some of the subtler homeo-erotic nuances would have gone a little over my head at that age though! Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01432089507602828735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6421822117996903245.post-80836449600696416182015-01-02T17:24:33.451-08:002015-01-02T17:24:33.451-08:00You know I love me some Waugh, right? He left an o...You know I love me some Waugh, right? He left an outstanding body of work that sometimes was overshadowed by his offensive persona. Having said that, I don't know what to make of the fact that I consider his finest work to be actually his first one, Decline and Fall. Good to know you are enjoying his work and I look forward to discussing with you the chain of events set off by the "great crested grebe feather footed though the plashy fen" in Scoop. Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02708265736473324024noreply@blogger.com