Customer Reviews

Lies: A Diary 1986-1999

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This was my first exposure to the writing of Ned Rorem and perhaps because of this, I found "Lies" to be thoroughly readable. Yes, there are moments when he does come across as a sort of whining name-dropper; but there are also times when he sheds light on dying, relationships, music, composing and the like that make it a worthwhile read.

Ned Rorem is our best diarist. Is there another one at present? I find myself dipping into this latest diary all the time. I love the gossip as much as the next fella, but it's the mini essays on any number of topics that I truly love. Elucidates the sad state of the composer and the song right now.

I bitterly begrudge Ned for being one of those self-congratulatory artsy-fartsy types who are constantly blathering about Art with a capital "A". I hate that mentality. But that doesn't prevent me from being a Nedhead. My other complaint about Ned's prose is his refusal to provide English translations for the French quotes. For the benefit of us non-francophones.

Ned's self-righteous proselytory pacifism is another thing that drives me up the goddam wall. It's a big fat boring blindspot and he excretes smugness whenever the subject of war comes up. Pacifism is a form of simplistic absolutism. And it's just as wrong-headed as any other form of absolutism. Including aesthetic absolutism. Which Ned has himself addressed: "Until an Absolute is established as to what defines 'good music', I will retain my right to call trash certain works of Beethoven: the Emperor, the Appassionata, the end of the Ninth."

Let me commend Ned's heroic stoicism in regard to the illness & death of Jim Holmes. I was depressed to find out that Jim was every bit the atheist that Ned is. As usual, I blame God.

This latest book by Rorem is a desperate attempt to continue reporting on his witty and sometimes scandalous life. However, the wit is trying and desiccated. Further, what Rorem now hopes we will find scandalous has more to do with his disdain of the words "pundit" or "grunge" than anything truly controversial. One can't blame Rorem; his lover's illness and decline was probably devastating. He might have done better to wait until he had some time to heal. LIES is more a study of a fraying and distracted man than a heartfelt account of fame and death.