A pre-valentine show but no romantic books to review, we have some valentine ditties & a poem though.
Ro Bennett & Maggie Perkovich are my guests this week and Ro had a book with a valentine theme as it weaves around the Shakespearean tragedy 'Romeo & Juliet' (Juliet by Ann Fortier). The only association with her second book is the first name of the character - 'Valentino' - Heartbreaking & staggering about human endurance (What is the What by Dave Eggers). Maggies books are about human endurance too (Edith Cavell by Diana Souhami and Blood & Sand by the BBC war correspondent Frank Gardner).
This is the last show for 3 weeks as I am off on my hols to Kenya................
Showing posts sorted by date for query Frank Gardner. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query Frank Gardner. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Thursday, 10 February 2011
Frank Gardner - Blood & Sand
REVIEW BY MAGGIE PERKOVIC ON SHOW 10TH MARCH
FRANK GARDNER HAS LONG BEEN ADMIRED AS A MIDDLE EAST EXPERT AND WORKED FOR THE BBC
AS SUCH FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS. HOWEVER THIS WAS AFTER AN INTERESTING LIFE
WHERE HE GREW UP LONGING TO STUDY THE MIDDLE EAST AFTER MEETING THE EXPLORER
SIR WILFRED THESIGER A FRIEND OF HIS DIPLOMATIC CORPS PARENTS.
HE STUDIED IN EGYPT AND MADE IT HIS BUSINESS TO LIVE WITH ORDINARY FAMILIES, TO SPEND TIME WITH THE DESERT BEDU, WHOSE LIVES WERE BEING RUINED BY THE OIL RUSH, WITH PEOPLE IN THE OMAN A BACKWARD SULTANATE THAT LATER BECAME TRANSFORMED INTO A RELATIVELY MODERN COUNTRY WITH SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS AND ROADS. HE THOUGHT THAT HIS EXPLORER HERO PREFERRED THE OMANIS TO REMAIN unspoiled" RATHER THAN ADVANCE TO A BETTER STANDARD OF LIVING, SOMETHING THAT FRANK, VERY MUCH A MAN OF
PRINCIPLE ALWAYS ADVOCATED!!!
HE JOINED THE BBC IN 1999 AS MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT IN CAIRO AND WAS A BUSY
AND HARD WORKING CONTRIBUTOR TO THE NEWS. BEFORE THAT HE HAD BEEN IN DUBAI AND HAD ALSO RELEASED AND WENT ON TO TAKE PART IN THE KIDNAPPING OF WALL STREET REPORTER DANIEL PEARL WHO WAS LATER BEHEADED ON CAMERA. THE MAIN PART OF THE BOOK IS HIS LIFE, AS A BANKER IN THE MIDDLE EAST BEFORE BECOMING A JOURNALIST AND A CORRESPONDENT FOR BBC.
THEN HE TELLS OF HIS ATTACK AND HORRIFIC SHOOTING, WHERE HIS CAMERA MAN WAS KILLED. HE TELLS HOW HE HAD A BAD FEELING ABOUT THAT ASSIGNMENT IN RYADH BUT DECIDED TO FINISH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (IT WAS SPEAKINQ TO SAUDI AUTHORITIES ABOUT THEIR COMBATING THE AL QAEDA INSPIRED TERROR CELLS.)
A YOUNG MAN APPROACHED FRANK AND SAID IN ARABIC "PEACE BE UPON YOU" WHO REPLIED
IN ARABIC "AND UPON YOU THE PEACE AND MERCY OF GOD AND HIS BLESSINGS", THE MAN PAUSED, AND THEN REACHING INTO HIS ROBE TOOK OUT A GUN AND SHOT HIM, AS HE RAN AWAY, HE SHOT HIM AGAIN BRINGING HIM DOWN, AS HE LAY ON HIS FRONT SOME MORE GUNMAN SURROUNDED HIM AND FIRED AGAIN PUMPING BULLETS INTO HIS PELVIS, SACRAL BONES,
AND CAUSING THE IMMEASURABLE HARM TO HIS INTERNAL ORGANS. HE FEIGNED DEATH WHILE THEY
CROWDED AROUND, THEN THEY ROBBED HIM AND LEFT.
HE WAS AS NEAR DEATH AS HE COULD BE BUT TRIED TO KEEP CONCIOUS AS HE SAID FOR HIS FAMILY. FINALLY THE POLICE ARRIVED AND REMOVED HIM TO HOSPITAL, HE LATER LEARNED SIMON HAD DIED IMMEDIATELY, THE DRIVER HAD ESCAPED.
THE LAST PART OF THE BOOK DEALS IN HIS RECOVERY, HIS COMING TO TERMS WITH HIS
NOW BEING IN A WHEELCHAIR, HIS TERRIBLE INJURIES AND THE FACT THAT ALL HE EVER
WANTED TO DO WAS TO REPORT FAIRLY ON LIFE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, HOW HE RECEIVED
SO MANY LETTERS AND PRESENTS AND APOLOGIES AFTER HE WAS SHOT, AND HOW HE REALISES HISLIFE OF FLYING ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR A STORY IS NOW GONE FOR EVER.
HE PRAISES THE BBC FOR THEIR SUPPORT, HIS WIFE AND TWO DAUGHTERS FOR THEIR LOVE AND HE STILL HAS AN ENDURING LOVE FOR THAT TURBULENT REGION THAT HE LIVED IN FOR SO LONG.
IF YOU READ THIS BOOK, YOU LEARN A LOT MORE BELIEVE ME
REVIEW BY MAGS
FRANK GARDNER HAS LONG BEEN ADMIRED AS A MIDDLE EAST EXPERT AND WORKED FOR THE BBC
AS SUCH FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS. HOWEVER THIS WAS AFTER AN INTERESTING LIFE
WHERE HE GREW UP LONGING TO STUDY THE MIDDLE EAST AFTER MEETING THE EXPLORER
SIR WILFRED THESIGER A FRIEND OF HIS DIPLOMATIC CORPS PARENTS.
HE STUDIED IN EGYPT AND MADE IT HIS BUSINESS TO LIVE WITH ORDINARY FAMILIES, TO SPEND TIME WITH THE DESERT BEDU, WHOSE LIVES WERE BEING RUINED BY THE OIL RUSH, WITH PEOPLE IN THE OMAN A BACKWARD SULTANATE THAT LATER BECAME TRANSFORMED INTO A RELATIVELY MODERN COUNTRY WITH SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS AND ROADS. HE THOUGHT THAT HIS EXPLORER HERO PREFERRED THE OMANIS TO REMAIN unspoiled" RATHER THAN ADVANCE TO A BETTER STANDARD OF LIVING, SOMETHING THAT FRANK, VERY MUCH A MAN OF
PRINCIPLE ALWAYS ADVOCATED!!!
HE JOINED THE BBC IN 1999 AS MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT IN CAIRO AND WAS A BUSY
AND HARD WORKING CONTRIBUTOR TO THE NEWS. BEFORE THAT HE HAD BEEN IN DUBAI AND HAD ALSO RELEASED AND WENT ON TO TAKE PART IN THE KIDNAPPING OF WALL STREET REPORTER DANIEL PEARL WHO WAS LATER BEHEADED ON CAMERA. THE MAIN PART OF THE BOOK IS HIS LIFE, AS A BANKER IN THE MIDDLE EAST BEFORE BECOMING A JOURNALIST AND A CORRESPONDENT FOR BBC.
THEN HE TELLS OF HIS ATTACK AND HORRIFIC SHOOTING, WHERE HIS CAMERA MAN WAS KILLED. HE TELLS HOW HE HAD A BAD FEELING ABOUT THAT ASSIGNMENT IN RYADH BUT DECIDED TO FINISH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (IT WAS SPEAKINQ TO SAUDI AUTHORITIES ABOUT THEIR COMBATING THE AL QAEDA INSPIRED TERROR CELLS.)
A YOUNG MAN APPROACHED FRANK AND SAID IN ARABIC "PEACE BE UPON YOU" WHO REPLIED
IN ARABIC "AND UPON YOU THE PEACE AND MERCY OF GOD AND HIS BLESSINGS", THE MAN PAUSED, AND THEN REACHING INTO HIS ROBE TOOK OUT A GUN AND SHOT HIM, AS HE RAN AWAY, HE SHOT HIM AGAIN BRINGING HIM DOWN, AS HE LAY ON HIS FRONT SOME MORE GUNMAN SURROUNDED HIM AND FIRED AGAIN PUMPING BULLETS INTO HIS PELVIS, SACRAL BONES,
AND CAUSING THE IMMEASURABLE HARM TO HIS INTERNAL ORGANS. HE FEIGNED DEATH WHILE THEY
CROWDED AROUND, THEN THEY ROBBED HIM AND LEFT.
HE WAS AS NEAR DEATH AS HE COULD BE BUT TRIED TO KEEP CONCIOUS AS HE SAID FOR HIS FAMILY. FINALLY THE POLICE ARRIVED AND REMOVED HIM TO HOSPITAL, HE LATER LEARNED SIMON HAD DIED IMMEDIATELY, THE DRIVER HAD ESCAPED.
THE LAST PART OF THE BOOK DEALS IN HIS RECOVERY, HIS COMING TO TERMS WITH HIS
NOW BEING IN A WHEELCHAIR, HIS TERRIBLE INJURIES AND THE FACT THAT ALL HE EVER
WANTED TO DO WAS TO REPORT FAIRLY ON LIFE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, HOW HE RECEIVED
SO MANY LETTERS AND PRESENTS AND APOLOGIES AFTER HE WAS SHOT, AND HOW HE REALISES HISLIFE OF FLYING ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR A STORY IS NOW GONE FOR EVER.
HE PRAISES THE BBC FOR THEIR SUPPORT, HIS WIFE AND TWO DAUGHTERS FOR THEIR LOVE AND HE STILL HAS AN ENDURING LOVE FOR THAT TURBULENT REGION THAT HE LIVED IN FOR SO LONG.
IF YOU READ THIS BOOK, YOU LEARN A LOT MORE BELIEVE ME
REVIEW BY MAGS
Thursday, 18 November 2010
Lee Server - Ava Gardner, Love is Nothing
Review by Maggie on show 18th Nov.
THIS WAS PUBLISHED ABOUT 3YRS AGO AND I FOUND IT VERY READABLE.
THE STORY OF A GIRL BORN IN JOHNSTON COUNTY IN THE RED DIRT HEARTLAND OF CAROLINA, IN 1922 AND NAMED AVA LAVINIA GARDNER, WHO GREW UP TO BE ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMEN IN HOLLYWOOD AND FEATURED IN SEVERAL FILMS, VERY FEW WHO REALLY USED HER TALENT TO ITS BEST ABILITY.
SHE WAS DISCOVERED IN A PHOTO OF HER IN A SHOP IN NEW YORK, TAKEN AS A PRESENT FOR HER MOTHER AND USED IN A DISPLAY IN A SHOP WINDOW. AS HAPPENED IN THOSE FAR OFF DAYS A SCOUT CONTACTED SOMEONE IN M.G.M. MOVIES AND SHE WAS BROUGHT TO HOLLYWOOD FOR A SCREEN TEST. IT WASN'T VERY SUCCESSFUL, HER DEEP SOUTH ACCENT ALMOST UNINTELLIGIBLE, HER MOVEMENTS AWKWARD AND SELF-CONSCIOUS BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT MADE HER STAND OUT AND THEY KEPT HER ON AND EDUCATED HER TO BECOME THE ICON SHE IS THOUGHT OF TODAY.
I SOMETIMES THINK SHE IS MORE REMEMBERED FOR HER MARRIAGES THAN FOR HER FILMS!!
IT WAS MICKEY ROONEY FIRST, HE WAS TOP OF HIS PROFESSION AND IN GREAT DEMAND BUT ONCE HE SET EYES ON AVA IT WAS THE ONLY GOAL IN HIS LIFE - TO MARRY HER. SHE BEING OVERWHELMED BY HIS PURSUIT AND HIS STANDING IN HOLLYWOOD SUCCUMBED (ONCE THE RING WAS ON HER FINGER!) ONLY TO FIND THAT FOR MICKEY IT WAS ALL IN THE CHASE. HE NEGLECTED HER FOR GOLF AND OTHER HOBBIES UNTIL THEY WERE DIVORCED. HER NEXT LIAISON WAS WITH ARTIE SHAW, A VERY ERUDITE BUT COLD CUSTOMER WHO FELT HER EDUCATION WAS SADLY LACKING AND MADE HER READ BOOKS HE HAD RECOMMENDED TO IMPROVE HERSELF. AGAIN SHE FELT LEFT OUT OF HIS LIFE AND THEY DIVORCED AFTER A SHORT TIME.
AVA WAS BEGINNING TO FEEL HER FEET, SHE APPEARED IN THE KILLERS' AND MADE A GREAT IMPRESSION AFTER ANOTHER FILM 'WHISTLE STOP' HAD NOT DONE MUCH FOR HER, HOWEVER HER BEAUTY WAS SOMETHING ELSE. HER FIGURE AND FACE MADE HER THE OBJECT OF GOSSIP COLUMNISTS AND NEWSPAPERS WORLD WIDE. SOMETHING SHE NEVER GOT USED TO.
HOWARD HUGHES ALSO PURSUED HER. HE SET SPIES TO WATCH HER EVERY MOVE WHICH UNNERVED HER AND THEN SHE AND FRANK SINATRA STARTED THEIR AFFAIR AND THE WHOLE WORLD STOPPED!! RATHER LIKE LIZ TAYLOR AND RICHARD BURTON THEY LOVED TOO MUCH TO SETTLE INTO OLD AGE. MAYBE THEY WERE TOO MUCH ALIKE, BOTH ATTRACTIVE TO THE OPPOSITE SEX, BOTH JEALOUS AND POSSESSIVE AND FIERY. THE STORIES OF BUST UPS BOTH MENTAL AND PHYSICAL FILL THIS BOOK UNTIL THEY FINALLY DIVORCED BEFORE THEY DESTROYED EACH OTHER. HOWEVER, SHE SUPPORTED HIM WHEN HE FELL ON HARD TIMES IN THE 1950'S. HE HELPED PAY HER MEDICAL BILLS DURING HER LAST DAYS OF CRITICAL ILLNESS. ON HER DEATH HE WENT INTO MOURNING FOR DAYS.
SHE WAS DEFINITELY A MASS OF CONTRADICTIONS, HER ROISTERING DAYS IN SPAIN WHERE SHE AND BULLFIGHTERS CAROUSED DAWN TO DUSK, SHE HAD AFFAIRS WITH MOST OF HER CO-STARS AND DRANK AND SMOKED HERSELF NEARLY TO DEATH. SHE WAS ALSO A VERY DOWN TO EARTH STAR WITH NO PRETENSIONS, NO RACIST FEELINGS, UNUSUAL IN THE 1950'S AND A GREAT LOVE FOR THE UNDERDOG AND ANIMALS, PARTICULARLY IN FILMS WHERE SHE FELT THE DIRECTOR WAS TOO HARD ON THEM!!
A GREAT ACTRESS? THE JURY IS STILL OUT ON THAT ONE.
THIS IS A THOROUGHLY ENGROSSING BOOK. IF WE THINK TODAY'S STARS ARE OUTRAGEOUS, READ THIS YOU MAY NOT BE SO SURE!!!!
REVIEW BY MAGS
THIS WAS PUBLISHED ABOUT 3YRS AGO AND I FOUND IT VERY READABLE.
THE STORY OF A GIRL BORN IN JOHNSTON COUNTY IN THE RED DIRT HEARTLAND OF CAROLINA, IN 1922 AND NAMED AVA LAVINIA GARDNER, WHO GREW UP TO BE ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMEN IN HOLLYWOOD AND FEATURED IN SEVERAL FILMS, VERY FEW WHO REALLY USED HER TALENT TO ITS BEST ABILITY.
SHE WAS DISCOVERED IN A PHOTO OF HER IN A SHOP IN NEW YORK, TAKEN AS A PRESENT FOR HER MOTHER AND USED IN A DISPLAY IN A SHOP WINDOW. AS HAPPENED IN THOSE FAR OFF DAYS A SCOUT CONTACTED SOMEONE IN M.G.M. MOVIES AND SHE WAS BROUGHT TO HOLLYWOOD FOR A SCREEN TEST. IT WASN'T VERY SUCCESSFUL, HER DEEP SOUTH ACCENT ALMOST UNINTELLIGIBLE, HER MOVEMENTS AWKWARD AND SELF-CONSCIOUS BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT MADE HER STAND OUT AND THEY KEPT HER ON AND EDUCATED HER TO BECOME THE ICON SHE IS THOUGHT OF TODAY.
I SOMETIMES THINK SHE IS MORE REMEMBERED FOR HER MARRIAGES THAN FOR HER FILMS!!
IT WAS MICKEY ROONEY FIRST, HE WAS TOP OF HIS PROFESSION AND IN GREAT DEMAND BUT ONCE HE SET EYES ON AVA IT WAS THE ONLY GOAL IN HIS LIFE - TO MARRY HER. SHE BEING OVERWHELMED BY HIS PURSUIT AND HIS STANDING IN HOLLYWOOD SUCCUMBED (ONCE THE RING WAS ON HER FINGER!) ONLY TO FIND THAT FOR MICKEY IT WAS ALL IN THE CHASE. HE NEGLECTED HER FOR GOLF AND OTHER HOBBIES UNTIL THEY WERE DIVORCED. HER NEXT LIAISON WAS WITH ARTIE SHAW, A VERY ERUDITE BUT COLD CUSTOMER WHO FELT HER EDUCATION WAS SADLY LACKING AND MADE HER READ BOOKS HE HAD RECOMMENDED TO IMPROVE HERSELF. AGAIN SHE FELT LEFT OUT OF HIS LIFE AND THEY DIVORCED AFTER A SHORT TIME.
AVA WAS BEGINNING TO FEEL HER FEET, SHE APPEARED IN THE KILLERS' AND MADE A GREAT IMPRESSION AFTER ANOTHER FILM 'WHISTLE STOP' HAD NOT DONE MUCH FOR HER, HOWEVER HER BEAUTY WAS SOMETHING ELSE. HER FIGURE AND FACE MADE HER THE OBJECT OF GOSSIP COLUMNISTS AND NEWSPAPERS WORLD WIDE. SOMETHING SHE NEVER GOT USED TO.
HOWARD HUGHES ALSO PURSUED HER. HE SET SPIES TO WATCH HER EVERY MOVE WHICH UNNERVED HER AND THEN SHE AND FRANK SINATRA STARTED THEIR AFFAIR AND THE WHOLE WORLD STOPPED!! RATHER LIKE LIZ TAYLOR AND RICHARD BURTON THEY LOVED TOO MUCH TO SETTLE INTO OLD AGE. MAYBE THEY WERE TOO MUCH ALIKE, BOTH ATTRACTIVE TO THE OPPOSITE SEX, BOTH JEALOUS AND POSSESSIVE AND FIERY. THE STORIES OF BUST UPS BOTH MENTAL AND PHYSICAL FILL THIS BOOK UNTIL THEY FINALLY DIVORCED BEFORE THEY DESTROYED EACH OTHER. HOWEVER, SHE SUPPORTED HIM WHEN HE FELL ON HARD TIMES IN THE 1950'S. HE HELPED PAY HER MEDICAL BILLS DURING HER LAST DAYS OF CRITICAL ILLNESS. ON HER DEATH HE WENT INTO MOURNING FOR DAYS.
SHE WAS DEFINITELY A MASS OF CONTRADICTIONS, HER ROISTERING DAYS IN SPAIN WHERE SHE AND BULLFIGHTERS CAROUSED DAWN TO DUSK, SHE HAD AFFAIRS WITH MOST OF HER CO-STARS AND DRANK AND SMOKED HERSELF NEARLY TO DEATH. SHE WAS ALSO A VERY DOWN TO EARTH STAR WITH NO PRETENSIONS, NO RACIST FEELINGS, UNUSUAL IN THE 1950'S AND A GREAT LOVE FOR THE UNDERDOG AND ANIMALS, PARTICULARLY IN FILMS WHERE SHE FELT THE DIRECTOR WAS TOO HARD ON THEM!!
A GREAT ACTRESS? THE JURY IS STILL OUT ON THAT ONE.
THIS IS A THOROUGHLY ENGROSSING BOOK. IF WE THINK TODAY'S STARS ARE OUTRAGEOUS, READ THIS YOU MAY NOT BE SO SURE!!!!
REVIEW BY MAGS
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