- Paperback: 204 pages
- Publisher: Granta Books; New edition edition (6 Nov 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1862079072
- ISBN-13: 978-1862079076
- Product Dimensions: 19.4 x 13 x 2.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
80,954 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #29 in Books > Biography > Novelists, Poets & Playwrights > Playwrights
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More About the Author
Product Description
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
Review
"'The funniest book I read this year was Simon Gray's The Smoking Diaries' Julian Barnes, Guardian Books of the Year"
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is volume two of Gray's diaries. The first is The Smoking Diaries, and the third is The Last Cigarette.
I really enjoyed getting to know SG in the first volume, and the familiarity I have with him now made this even more enjoyable. He writes more about theatre in this volume, and he examines his own behaviour a lot more, too.
There's a real sense of being there with him as he writes - at one point he's describing what's actually happening as he's writing (a couple looking at him) as he writes it, not watching the pen on paper, which was so vividly 'in the moment' that it almost seemed like some kind of hallucination. Almost ;)
He's impeccably honest, and the writing style is something to savour - he's spent so many years writing that he writes effortless sentences that read like trains of thought - fascinating and funny - that just flow. There's a natural ease of expression that gets you happily going along with it all. I smiled all the way through.
Recommended for those who don't like autobiographies - I don't, but I loved this; it's an easy, entertaining read that was over far too quickly. Great for the beach - if you're off to Barbados it might be worth taking, as SG spent his holidays there, and quite a few of his entries are written there. Time for me to buy the third volume, I think...
I really enjoyed getting to know SG in the first volume, and the familiarity I have with him now made this even more enjoyable. He writes more about theatre in this volume, and he examines his own behaviour a lot more, too.
There's a real sense of being there with him as he writes - at one point he's describing what's actually happening as he's writing (a couple looking at him) as he writes it, not watching the pen on paper, which was so vividly 'in the moment' that it almost seemed like some kind of hallucination. Almost ;)
He's impeccably honest, and the writing style is something to savour - he's spent so many years writing that he writes effortless sentences that read like trains of thought - fascinating and funny - that just flow. There's a natural ease of expression that gets you happily going along with it all. I smiled all the way through.
Recommended for those who don't like autobiographies - I don't, but I loved this; it's an easy, entertaining read that was over far too quickly. Great for the beach - if you're off to Barbados it might be worth taking, as SG spent his holidays there, and quite a few of his entries are written there. Time for me to buy the third volume, I think...
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
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.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
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.
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