Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #86280 in Books
• Published on: 2006-11-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Review
* 'Gray's digressions are as brilliant as they are idiosnycratic. I hope that Gray is already jotting down his thoughts and insights for a forthcoming volume' Paul Bailey, Sunday Times * 'A trenchant, funny and surprisingly mellow book' Michael Arditti, Daily Mail * 'Gray is always sharp, clever, eminently readable ... laugh-out-loud digressions ... utterly hilarious' Ranjit Bolt, Observer * 'Gray is an absolute genius...the very best thing he has ever done' Daily Express * 'A great achievement, a terrific read, every page crammed with jokes, philosophical observations and miniature portraits of Grays' family and friends' Spectator

Tatler
‘Laugh at his triumphs, weep at his disasters’

Daily Telegraph
‘One of the great modern memoirists’

Customer Reviews

What a life and what a terrific contribution to the theatre!
I am so happy that Simon Gray saw a significant re-birth of his career (and in the general interest in him as a writer) in the final years of his life. I simply loved the Richard E. Grant helmed production of "Otherwise Engaged" and Gray's "Little Nell" is a fine, thoughtful play that will find its place someday.

The Smoking Diaries are a fitting (and accomplished) final contribution from this very interesting and complicated man. That Simon Gray was able to record them on CD is all the more exciting because you may now hear Simon Gray eternally. (A good thing I assure you!) Would that so many others had the opportunity to do the same!

There'll never be another Simon Gray
This style may be copied but it'll never be surpassed. Simon Gray was a one-off and as much as The Smoking Diaries is the best of these autobiographical studies, The Year of the Jouncer is great fun. The worst thing about his books is they end too soon.

An excellent read
Lots of interesting and quirky thoughts and plenty of insight into the playwright's life and business, along with amusing anecdotes concerning Simon Gray's friends (most of whom are famous and interesting in themselves). A lovely chatty style, an easy read, a most interesting and attractive person - what more could you want? However, for chronological reasons, I'd read first The Smoking Diaries, which is also excellent.