Customer Reviews

It's a Slippery Slope

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Each adventure with Spalding is a little different. But the issues always remain the same, Spalding is an intensely neurotic individual with an over developed fear of death. But that is why we love him. It is not always what he says, but more how he says it. After seeing Spalding perform his monologue live I have four things to do; make a mental note to see him perform at any chance, rewatch his videos, read some of his books, and start keeping a journal.

Save no ones sanity, master monologist Spalding Gray is at it again. This time delivering the most neurotic and insightful commentary on the subject of the mid-life crisis. Finding the perfect balance between career and personal life is metaphoricly shown to us through the eyes of a man learning to ski for the first time. Gray is a maestro of the "first person" leading the reader up and down the rocky sloaps of the novel. At the end of the perfect run, Gray only slips in his sementality. Finding the perfect balance has only made his bitting humor about the subject a bit soggy.

As usual Spalding Gray has done it again.Very entertaining and witted.Just love the audio too, can never get enough of Spalding.I highly recommend all his works.

I haven't read the book version of Spalding Grey's latest monologue, however, I did have the wonderful opportunity to see him perform it live. I was, naturally, overwhelmed. Mr. Gray takes the audience on a journey from the mountains of Colorado to the innermost reaches of his soul. Certainly his most personal monologue yet (beat that), "It's a Slippery Slope" explores facets of Spalding Gray's personality never before reached. A definite winner!

In what must have been, for lack of a better term, a turbulent time for Gray the metaphor of skiing became striking and profound. This monologue, which isn't as funny as Gray's Anatomy for example, is initially a bit directionless. Perhaps intentionally though, as the last half or so is quite compelling, even frightening, in it's emotional nakedness and the clarity with which he expresses the tumult of those days.
So I can't respond to this in the same manner as Gray's Anatomy, which proved reverential and somewhat calming. It's a Slippery Slope is deeper, uneasy, fraught in the ways of mania and adulthood, and heart-rendering too.
Coming to Gray post-mordem is saddening, as his writing is exceptional and he took many untold stories...

Every year a buddy and I take a driving trip across North America. Traditionaly we read a Spalding Gray monologue aloud to each other along the way (in my opinion they are much better when heard and not read) This year we took The Slippery Slope and found the humour not as cutting or satirical and found it difficult to laugh at the author's challenges because of their typical and mundane nature. The out loud laughter and memorable quotes that I love and look forward to and have always found in a Spalding Gray book just seemed missing! Redeem yourself Spald crank another one out!!!!!!