Customer Reviews

My Name Escapes Me (Penguin Audiobooks)

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In this, the first of his two volumes (so far, I hope) based on his journal, the great actor Sir Alec Guinness makes writing and reading seem as effortless as his acting. His graceful, lucid prose is remarkable, as are his observations and ruminations on his life, on the craft of acting (he never lets one forget that acting is a craft with exacting standards of professionalism), on his reading, on his religious life, on the world around him, and on his family and friends. He is one of the sharpest yet kindest observers of the human comedy, and reading him is not only an unalloyed pleasure but nourishing to the mind and the heart. Readers of this book should scour used-bookstores for BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE and should also hunt down his new book A POSITIVELY FINAL APPEARANCE.

I haven't hear the audio version of Sir Alec's diary: don't need to since I can hear his voice in my head as I read. Gracious to a fault about his fellow actors, prickly about fans who invade his privacy (whether spying him at a museum or appearing in the back garden), exasperated at the Star Wars fame, he is a truly eccentric Englishman and proud of it. I love it when he admits he probably went on and on while telling a story; a common fault of the loquacious and the aging. Pokes fun at himself and endears himself all the more. Delightful.

"My Name Escapes Me" is one of those audiobooks you want to spend an undisturbed evening with, curled up in your most comfortable armchair, armed with a pot of tea. I can't say what I expected when I bought this tape, but definately not "meeting" Alec Guinness on such a personal level. His gentle humor charmed me within the first minutes of listening, and his out-look on life itself is something you don't want to miss. You suffer with him upon the loss of another friend but moments later can join him in celebrating life and whatever it has to offer. You like Alec Guinness - this tape is a must.

Yes, there are charming references to the classic films and roles for which he is known, but throughout, the private, lyrical and simple moments moved me to laugh and sigh. Perhaps, my own aging parent made this seem so personal, so humbly true. Perhaps the author is simply as gifted an author as he is an actor. And, oh, how I loved his irritation with the "Cult of Obi Wan" and its followers!

"My Name Escapes Me" is a book of actor Sir Alec Guinness' personal diary entries from January 1995 to June 1996, which he wrote with publication in mind. I have to give Sir Alec credit: His diary is not as tedious as most people's would be. His writing has a nice pace, and the book is mercifully short. But there simply isn't anything interesting about it. Sir Alec was 82 years old and retired when he wrote this diary. He spent most of his time relaxing at his country home. If he were working, he might have had more interesting anecdotes to relate or perhaps some insight into the process of putting on a play or making a movie to share. But it takes a more talented writer to make something interesting out of the mundane. Sir Alec mentions music that he likes, plays that he sees, books that he reads, art in various forms, but he never expounds on these subjects, so we don't learn anything about the subjects or about him. He doesn't seem to be an opinionated person. Opinions, however trying, might make for better reading. All in all, "My Name Escapes Me" gives the impression of a man of moderate writing talent and moderate intelligence. It's really too bad that no publisher asked Alec Guinness to write a diary for publication earlier in his life. His style is both literate and easy-going. If it had been applied to the life of a working actor, an insightful and highly readable book might have resulted. But as it is, I think only obsessively curious fans of Alec Guinness will find anything of interest in "My Name Escapes Me".

I don't know what to tell you about this book. I enjoyed it thoroughly (Guinness somehow turns out effortless engrossing prose), but I take nothing of value away from it (the prose is often directed at the weather, the dog, the mail...). The distinct impression of Guinness is of someone around whom you would want to tread carefully. He judges quickly and harshly, but I tend to agree with his judgements, and he seems humble, in a way, making them. The introduction by John le Carre is an odd addition--a short character sketch describing a man of very conservative tastes. The best thing is take some excerpts and let them speak for themselves:

"The tele-box then led us to the calm waters of the House of Lords... Some of their lordships had their eyes closed and I assumed them to be asleep until old mottled hands began to fumble with hearing-aids when Lady Thatcher rose to speak. I can't think why anyone in this country wants to get rid of the Upper House. They are amusing to look at and sensible, and they manage to discuss issues without shouting or finger-pointing... Far better to diminish the House of Commons than constitutionally to damage the Lords. Of course it should be occupied only through inheritance and not topped up with temporary titles."

"The Oscars have come and gone, and I forgot about them in spite of the hype and speculation. I liked Emma Thompson's acceptance speech for her script of Sense and Sensibility as reported in the press; and I was delighted that Wallance and Gromit got an Oscar..."

"At six this evening there was a violent hailstorm accompanied by thunder and lightning. The dogs immediately sought human comfort and the protection of cushions on the sofa. The storm only lasted fifteen minutes but three hours later the grass is still pitted with hailstones. And there is a curious site: dense mist, about ten feet high, is trapped in every fall of the land. A couple of deer moved slowly into the mist when it rose."

If you are a Star Wars fan, you are likely to be disappointed if you liked the Obi-wan of Ewan McGregor. However, if your favorite part of the Star Wars series is the stretch between C3PO and R2D2 being picked up by Jawas and the Millenium Falcon leaving the Mos Eisly space port, then you may find you love this book despite Guinness' withering comments about Star Wars fans.

Where BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE and A POSITIVELY FINAL APPEARANCE are more organized as memoirs, this is simply a sequence of diary entries prepared for publication. They show a great actor, the dean of Ealing comedies and (to his chagrin) the great Jedi Master, admiring the twilight in his retirement. This is a gentlemanly, sensitive, yet vibrantly witty writer who once described heaven as sitting with one or two friends, sharing a drink and savoring the silence. There are no peekaboo stories about celebrities or iconoclastic commentaries on the state of the world; just an appreciation for an interesting life well-lived, deliciously and intimately inscribed for us in these daily entries.

For a more organized and literary memoir, the two titles mentioned above come highly recommended.

His career is a remarkable one, his film characters always men of intelligence and subtlety, and this collection of observations and reflections from a year and a half of his life reflects those qualities as well. He writes of friendships and acquaintances with a painter's eye for detail, appreciating the work of writers, artists, and fellow actors. But what I enjoyed most were the little remarks here and there such as his fondness for "Wallace and Grommit," his wish to win the National Lottery so he could buy more artwork, his love for books and good writing, and his enjoyment of the series "Due South." His tone is never intrusive or tattling, but rather self-effacing and sometimes sly. Finishing it, I made up my mind to find his earlier book "Blessings In Disguise," and to rent a video of "My Life As A Dog," which is one of his favorite films. Sir Alec is that rarity, an actor who can write engagingly well.

Following is the beginning of our review of this book at our theater webzine, CurtainUp (http://www.curtainup.com): I would have posted this review of My Name Escapes Me the slim diary of Sir Alec Guiness with its slyly double entendre title. Blame it on Sir Alec that I got detoured into reading John Updike's 500 page novel In the Beauty of the Lilies. You see, as Guiness the actor was able to submerge his ego deep within a cornucopia of faces and personalities (not excluding women), Guiness the writer manages to seduce you with his still vigorous intelligence to follow the markers in his rendering of his ordinary out-of-the-mainstream existence. Thus, his comments worked like a link on a web page, prompting me to pick up the novel I began but did not finish last summer. Thank you Sir Alec--for nudging me into this second and very enjoyable re-reading of Lilies. (Incidentally, one of Updike's key characters, a budding movie star, mentions Guiness' multiple roles in The Lavender Hill Mob as a performance that inspired her). And thank you Sir Alec for reminding readers that whether you're a retired actor or financier, the life of the mind continues to provide much satisfaction even to those now sidelined to the spectator section of life's playing field. For the rest of this review and other theater-related reviews of books available from Amazon, visit curtainup at http://www.curtainp.com

sir alec must have been a kind and gentle man. i found in this book that he was charming and witty and deliberately effacing. it takes us on a journey to his many memories of movies,tv,politics, and a great cast of characters that he's met over the years. it's a quiet and calm book. a very relaxing and entertaining read. and what a since of humor!