13 replies to this topic

[Ed Waffle]

Spent about half an hour at a local Borders the other day reading sections of Bentley's erotic memoir.

I can see why someone would want to write such a book but, having sampled it, can't imagine why someone would want to read it.

[Mel Johnson]

Agreed, Ed.  This is one of those books that you can't tell the author what to do with, because she'd probably like it, and consider it a compliment.

[BalletNut]

Mel Johnson, on Nov 19 2004, 09:59 PM, said:

Agreed, Ed.  This is one of those books that you can't tell the author what to do with, because she'd probably like it, and consider it a compliment.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Bravo! That's classic. Can I quote you on that?

[Mel Johnson]

Be my guest!

[BW]

Amazing, Mel - you do have a way with words.

I read the "book review" in the NT Times a while ago and fairly choked on it all.

[Farrell Fan]

Surprise, surprise!   "The Surrender" has been chosen by the New York Times Book Review in its Dec. 5, 2004 issue as one of the 100 Notable Books of the Year.

[BW]

Ugh - and I saw that she's reviewed a book for them, too. What is The New York Times coming to?

[Farrell Fan]

BW, the book Toni Bentley reviewed in the TBR is Meredith Daneman's biography of Margot Fonteyn. It's a wonderful review and convinced me I should read the book. I can't resist quoting from Toni's last paragraph: "Fonteyn's ashes were not interred at Westminster Abbey as many thought they should be, but rather, as she instructed, at the foot of Tito's tomb in an ill-kept cemetery outside Panama City. Hers is the smallest stone, Daneman reports, in the entire cemetery. Dame Margot Fonteyn literally took her humility to the grave."

Bentley has been a wonderful writer since her days in the NYCB corps. That's why  I bought and read "The Surrender." I found it disappointing because, if you'll forgive me, she examined her subject in too much depth. But even so, there were parts early in the book which were worth reading. She is currently working on a biography of Lincoln Kirstein. It should be great!  

[dirac]

I have a copy of “The Surrender,” too, although I haven’t started it yet.  A glance-through indicates that it’s actually not that bad, but  can’t decide that till I’m finished.  Bentley would seem a very logical choice to review a dance biography for NYTBR, and I enjoyed her article.  Like Farrell Fan, I'm looking forward to the Kirstein bio -- it should be great!

[BW]

Thank you Farrell Fan and dirac, I apologize for my remarks. I do know that she's written other things. I shouldn't have been so abrupt with my comments. Just because I don't care for someone's autobiographical accounts doesn't mean I should discount her writing talents.

[dirac]

BW, there's no need to apologize at all.  Reasonable people can disagree.   If differing views don't get aired, energetically, we don't have much in the way of discussion!

[BW]

Thanks dirac, and too true about views being aired. I think that my views were really more of a gut reaction than an attempt at discussion, but I do appreciate your encouragement, nevertheless.

[Farrell Fan]

BW, you're the greatest!  

[dirac]

I finished this recently and must eat a certain amount of crow. Much better than expected.  Sorry, Ms. Bentley!