Drink red…

The one book that has had, by far, the most influence over my life and its direction is The Razor’s Edge by William Somerset Maugham. I can’t say what the focal point of the book is for me, but I do know that I read it at a pretty pivotal point in my life; a time where I needed guidance that can’t be found from friends or family, counselors or clergy.

I actually read the book for the first time after seeing the movie adaptation starring Bill Murray. I remember going to see the movie alone (big Bill Murray fan here) as no one else had a desire to see it. I went in blind with zero knowledge of the book or its subject matter – I just wanted a laugh. Little did I know…

Watching the movie I was transfixed by the Larry Darrell character and his internal struggle. I suppose that’s what drew me to the book – Larry himself. I could relate to him as I was having issues of my own, and was looking for something that no one else could provide. The movie whetted my appetite, and the book proved to be not my salvation as much as my direction. While I’m no Larry Darrell (shoot, I WISH) he certainly gave me pause, guidance and peace through his own search and his discoveries.

Oddly enough, one of the most direct pieces of advice I carry with me came from the movie itself, and isn’t even in the book. It’s a fairly important part of the story: Isabel has come to Paris with her mother and meets Larry for dinner. Larry has been apart from Isabel for a couple of years, just “loafing”.

Isabel, the blue blood, is forever uncomfortable with Larry’s Plebeian tastes: cafe table wine, friends of questionable character, one room apartments with no private bath. Larry has no need of luxuries – just necessities. In fact, it is when Larry takes Isabel to his apartment in Paris that this revelation comes.

Upon entering his apartment, Larry asks Isabel if she wants a glass of wine, and Isabel accepts.

As this is the Fall, and it’s chilly outside, Larry opens a window, reaches out, and pulls a bottle of white wine from his sill and pours two glasses.

Isabel, perplexed, asks “What do you do when it’s summer?”

“Drink Red.”

Filed under: Drunkards, Music, Movies and/or Books

I Advanced Masked

I bought this album when it came out, and a couple others that resulted from the Fripp/Summers collaboration. Looking back, I’m not sure what possessed me to by it as I had zero idea who Robert Fripp was. I knew Andy Summers from the Police, but even then I had no real admiration or love of his guitar playing. I suppose I was thinking I’d get an album of somewhat eclectic songs like “Mother” from Synchronicity. Little did I know….

Maybe it’s the wine (who am I kidding…it IS the wine), but the album stands the test of time. Each song is different on many different levels. While the “sound” stays the same (you can tell the difference between Summers and Fripp) the rhythm, pacing, atmosphere and feeling change from song to song. I love that. So many artists these days sound the same: same song, same sound, same engineering.

Okay – lame post, but I wanted to write. Just felt the need….

Filed under: Drunkards, Music, Movies and/or Books

A modern spiritual by Gail and Dale?

Not sure what’s more off-putting: hearing this song in two-part harmony or hearing Lawrence Welk call it a “modern spiritual”.

Filed under: Music, Movies and/or Books

High Fidelity

Caught part of the movie “High Fidelity” with John Cusack yesterday afternoon. For some reason, while I was watching the move I was curious as to  how it compared to the book – so I went out and bought it.

I’ve never read any Nick Hornby before, but I was so taken by his style, his conversation and his ability to nail the neuroses of the human male that I’m already over half way through the book.

Something of note: Hornby also wrote the book “Fever Pitch”, which was turned into a movie starring Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore. Interesting to note, the team in the film was not the team Hornby originally wrote about in his book. For American audiences the setting was transferred to Boston during the Red Sox run at their first World Series win in 80+ years. Hornby’s book follows a superfan of the Arsenal football club, a team in the English Premier League.

Filed under: Music, Movies and/or Books