Mike Nichols Autobiography
Mike Nichols Autobiography
macbeth
Broadway Star Joined: 5/7/03
#1Mike Nichols Autobiography
Posted: 1/26/21 at 6:56am
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/25/books/review-mike-nichols-biography-mark-harris.html?
Just pre-ordered and can't wait!
#2Mike Nichols Autobiography
Posted: 1/26/21 at 7:17am
I found this review quite fascinating. It sounds like a wonderful book. (Speaking of wonderful books, I am getting Cicely Tyson's book via Amazon today.)
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#3Mike Nichols Autobiography
Posted: 1/26/21 at 8:30amI’m making gourmet cheeseburgers in my air fryer later and truffle fries. We all be busy today, yo.
#4Mike Nichols biography
Posted: 1/26/21 at 9:01am
It is a biography, not an autobiography. Maybe if it had been the latter it would address the Avedon relationship that this book does not. The review is bizarre, not something I would expect from the Times, both in terms of focus and accuracy. But whatever. The book itself is well written although, coming on the heels of the one with a compendium of anecdotes (which I thought was wonderful), a lot of the wind has been taken from its sails.
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#6Mike Nichols biography
Posted: 1/26/21 at 9:55am
macbeth said: "https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/25/books/review-mike-nichols-biography-mark-harris.html?
Just pre-ordered and can't wait!"
"He knew instinctively that tragedy appeals mainly to the emotions while comedy taps the mind."
Isn't the author likely confusing tragedy with melodrama--tragedy doesn't tap the mind???--and assuming intellectual comedy is the only kind of comedy here?
As for the Avedon relationship, as an internet search suggests neither ever much discussed the affair with anyone, and there doesn't seem to be much written evidence from either about it, either, there isn't much from which to create a basic factual account, let alone an analysis. It will likely be one of the more difficult aspect of his life to write about, if in fact it is covered, at all.
#7Mike Nichols biography
Posted: 1/26/21 at 2:32pm
joevitus said: "As for the Avedon relationship, as an internet search suggestsneitherever muchdiscussedthe affairwithanyone, and there doesn't seem to be muchwritten evidence from either about it, either, there isn't much from whichto create a basic factual account, let alone an analysis. It will likelybe one of the more difficult aspect of his life to write about, if in fact it is covered, at all."
I think the other question is, how does it inform anything we care about in relation to one of the richest subjects for biography in the 20th C. theatre? If you have a nexus, then I say have at it (even if it is just based on conjecture) but if there is no nexus then who cares? I don't think Harris is making a point about Nichols's sexuality in relation to his work, is he? Is anyone?
#8Mike Nichols biography
Posted: 1/26/21 at 2:58pm
Good point. Yeah, I can't really figure out on the basis of the review how effective the book is going to be. It's interesting to hear you describe Nichols as "one of the richest subjects for biography in the 20th c. theater." I never saw his stage work, and I'm not really a fan of most of his film work--though I don't by any means want that to be taken to mean if I don't like it, then it must not be important.
I think I agree with your statement, objectively--I mean, he was part of so many different worlds of performance and was so strongly connected with so many important creative people in different branches of the arts. I hope the book opens my eyes to that and holds me fascinated. I'm not sure it will.
#9Mike Nichols biography
Posted: 1/26/21 at 3:49pm
fwiw, I would say that the "compedium of anecdotes" book I referred to in an earlier post may prove more "fascinating." I really liked it. That book is:
Life isn't everything: Mike Nichols, as remembered by 150 of his closest friends. Paperback – December 8, 2020, by Ash Carter and Sam Kashner
Ravenclaw
Leading Actor Joined: 9/16/17
#11Mike Nichols biography
Posted: 1/26/21 at 5:52pm
Mark Harris is a wonderful writer, and I have been looking forward to this book for quite some time. He began working on it before Nichols's passing in 2014, so I believe he had some access to the man early on in the project. Life Isn't Everything, the "oral history" of Mike Nichols, was a really exciting book about a fascinating life, and I'm sure it should pair well with Harris's much lengthier biography.
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