BillF

Sandra Blow Puff Daddy Edith Piaf

Happy Birthday!

Curly Russell Ross Russell Jane Russell

The Deer Leader Monarch of the Glen Nessie

Wally Fawkes Flook Anchorman

Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams The Clown Pithecanthropus Erectus

Joris Dirck Roland

Paddy O'Neill O'Neill Spencer Spencer Tracy

Then there's this little-known session - a swingin' live date: And this one is a total gas!

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jun/18/alan-douglas

Just finished it. Not bad as a novel, and the Spark biography shows how it came out of her situation and preoccupations at the time. What has been your favorite Spark novel so far? I figure she is someone I will get around to, but I have quite a few others ahead of her in the queue (Dorris Lessing being one). I've read six and my favorite is Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, so no surprises there. BillF, kudos to you on taking on "The Comforters." Question: who are the "comforters" and who is being comforted? Does the biography address that? I would agree with BillF that "The Prime of Jean Brodie" is her best work. Following, in my order of preference, are: "The Girls of Slender Means" "The Ballad of Peckham Rye" "Memento Mori" "A Far Cry from Kensington" (1988, but hearkens back to her early work; indeed, if one did not know the dates of publication, one would likely think it was among that first group of novels. Just finished Far Cry - very readable and thanks for your recommendation, Leeway. I can distinguish it from the early Sparks, though. In those there's a density of nuanced language so typical of literary writing of that era, which I don't find in the much more recent Far Cry. Interesting, good point. Glad you liked the book. I haven't tried Spark's non-fiction, although being this far into the oeuvre, I guess I should. Not just the essays but also the book on Masefield (an author once highly esteemed and very collectible on the rare book market during his time, now largely forgotten), as well as her other miscellany writings. Not sure I have time for all that unless it proves unusually engrossing. Anyway, will add the essays to the list. Right now I'm reading the Stannard biography of Spark; very readable and seems even-handed. Glad you're enjoying the Stannard biography. I certainly did. At first his tendency to write in metaphor irritated me, as did his numerous half-hidden literary quotes, but I soon settled into it. As for "even-handed", I found I had to read through his constant excusing of Spark to make my own judgments on her behavior. Let's admit it, she must have been a dreadful woman! Do you mean the "B" word? When I said "even-handed" I was thinking of the others besides Spark. I have more to go though (just finishing school days), so I might have to revise my evaluation. Jus' keep goin' ...

Your mention of Richie Cole on YouTube took me to this. Crazy stuff! Mr Henriquez' piano technique is somethin' else! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cjIaIs-4pU

Robert Burns Blaise Cendrars Cinderella

Flo Andy Capp Jack "the Hat" McVitie

Just finished it. Not bad as a novel, and the Spark biography shows how it came out of her situation and preoccupations at the time. What has been your favorite Spark novel so far? I figure she is someone I will get around to, but I have quite a few others ahead of her in the queue (Dorris Lessing being one). I've read six and my favorite is Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, so no surprises there. BillF, kudos to you on taking on "The Comforters." Question: who are the "comforters" and who is being comforted? Does the biography address that? I would agree with BillF that "The Prime of Jean Brodie" is her best work. Following, in my order of preference, are: "The Girls of Slender Means" "The Ballad of Peckham Rye" "Memento Mori" "A Far Cry from Kensington" (1988, but hearkens back to her early work; indeed, if one did not know the dates of publication, one would likely think it was among that first group of novels. Just finished Far Cry - very readable and thanks for your recommendation, Leeway. I can distinguish it from the early Sparks, though. In those there's a density of nuanced language so typical of literary writing of that era, which I don't find in the much more recent Far Cry. Interesting, good point. Glad you liked the book. I haven't tried Spark's non-fiction, although being this far into the oeuvre, I guess I should. Not just the essays but also the book on Masefield (an author once highly esteemed and very collectible on the rare book market during his time, now largely forgotten), as well as her other miscellany writings. Not sure I have time for all that unless it proves unusually engrossing. Anyway, will add the essays to the list. Right now I'm reading the Stannard biography of Spark; very readable and seems even-handed. Glad you're enjoying the Stannard biography. I certainly did. At first his tendency to write in metaphor irritated me, as did his numerous half-hidden literary quotes, but I soon settled into it. As for "even-handed", I found I had to read through his constant excusing of Spark to make my own judgments on her behavior. Let's admit it, she must have been a dreadful woman!

"Gone Jelly Blues" from Art Hodes' solo piano album, Pagin' Mr Jelly.

The Man with the Iron Fists Punch and Judy Pancho Villa

Haven't heard this album, but Richie Cole is a tremendous altoist who excels when pitted against others on his horn. He's made great albums with Phil Woods and Greg Abate.

Just finished it. Not bad as a novel, and the Spark biography shows how it came out of her situation and preoccupations at the time. What has been your favorite Spark novel so far? I figure she is someone I will get around to, but I have quite a few others ahead of her in the queue (Dorris Lessing being one). I've read six and my favorite is Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, so no surprises there. BillF, kudos to you on taking on "The Comforters." Question: who are the "comforters" and who is being comforted? Does the biography address that? I would agree with BillF that "The Prime of Jean Brodie" is her best work. Following, in my order of preference, are: "The Girls of Slender Means" "The Ballad of Peckham Rye" "Memento Mori" "A Far Cry from Kensington" (1988, but hearkens back to her early work; indeed, if one did not know the dates of publication, one would likely think it was among that first group of novels. Just finished Far Cry - very readable and thanks for your recommendation, Leeway. I can distinguish it from the early Sparks, though. In those there's a density of nuanced language so typical of literary writing of that era, which I don't find in the much more recent Far Cry.

The Gay Caballero The Gay Hussar The Gay Gordons

President's Poodle Queen's Corgis Hush Puppies

Bootsie Rockin' Dopsie Jimmy Yancey

Peter Sellers Frank Byers

King Visor Helmut Newton Metal Mickey