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Spalding Gray

Sex and Death to the Age 14 Paperback – June 12, 1986

by Spalding Gray (Author)

19 ratings

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This is a collection of six monologues by the master of one-man drama. Included are "Sex and Death at the Age of 14," "Booze, Cars, and College Girls," "47 Beds," "Nobody Wanted to Sit Behind a Desk," "Travels through New England," and "Terror of Pleasure: The House." Also includes a preface by the author.

Print length

256 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Publication date

June 12, 1986
Dimensions

5.5 x 0.64 x 8.5 inches
ISBN-10

0394742575
ISBN-13

978-0394742571
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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The five stories in this volume developed out of the author's work in avant-garde theater, in which he is renowned for conducting extemporaneous interviews with his audience and delivering monologues about growing up in New England. The provocative title promises to deliver insights about common experiences which, the reader expects, will be refracted through the nimble imagination of the narrator (Spalding Gray himself). However, the stories are not thought-provoking. Incidents are not tied togetherindeed, the abrupt breaks in the narrative are irritatingand the stories themselves are related only in that they recount the narrator's experiences. Finally, the self-absorption of the author is boring and distances the reader from the material. Not recommended. Michael J. Esposito, formerly with Special Libs. Assn., Washington, D.C.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Spalding Gray's monologues inspire a reaction rare in theatre: affection. You're aware of the art involved, but most of the time it might be you and he in a bar somewhere, two friends from way, way back."--Los Angeles Times

"In the same way an Ann Beattie story, a Woody Allen movie, or a Bob Dylan song might capture the essential quirks of a group or a generation, a Spalding Gray monologue exemplifies the current Zeitgeist."--Other Stages

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group; 1st edition (June 12, 1986)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0394742575
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0394742571
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.3 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.64 x 8.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #598,668 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #7,572 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction
- #30,537 in Literary Fiction (Books)
- #30,724 in American Literature (Books)

Customer Reviews:
19 ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

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Vermont lass

Spalding is my hero!1

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 26, 2012

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I bought this book many years ago and recently purchased a new one since we suffered a flood and lost many books. I wanted this one sitting on my new book shelf and have reread it. Spalding Gray was a unique writer and performer who saw life through the perceptive lens of an avid observer. He always seemed to grasp at the unusual and be open to "the moment" and just go with the experience despite all of his paranoia and fears and inherent OCD. Spalding makes you laugh and feel happy about your life. He was the most unique and keen observer of things that are ordinary and somehow make them extraordinary. It's all a matter of perception. I will always miss him.

One person found this helpful

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Norway Mom

Good book, misleading title

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 6, 2015

Verified Purchase

Don't expect the book to stay true to its title. I liked the chapters about his childhood best, but he also writes about his adult life - with varying success. I ended up putting the book down for several weeks because I lost interest in the second to last chapter "Travels through New England." The last chapter (about home ownership) worked better for me.

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King Hill

Creativity or insanity? Not sure.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 18, 2017

Verified Purchase

Reading this was like being locked up with a crazy person, they ramble on but you don't shut them up for fear you may miss something good.

One person found this helpful

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Etaoin Shrdlu

Autobiography as performance art as novel

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 10, 2019

Verified Purchase

Autobiographical stories developed by Gray from memory in front of audiences over a long period of time, and later turned into text in the form of this book. A very readable artifact of performance art, and a personal favorite.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 11, 2013

Verified Purchase

This book was recommended to me by a friend and I was not at all disappointed. Gray has such a blunt, interesting way of turning phrases as he chronicles, essentially, his life through a hilarious series of mishaps in monologue style. Mildly reminiscent of David Sedaris. Definitely recommend this book!

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John Hazard Forbes

Be Prepared for Disappointment

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 15, 2016

Verified Purchase

Yes, some parts of this memoir will most probably make you laugh. But be warned: These are very few and very, very far between what can only be described as drivel. Perhaps this stuff worked as performance art; but as reading art it's a tough slog of meandering, unremarkable, pointless, and disappointing wanderings all leading to one point: Skip the whole damn thing.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 21, 2017

Verified Purchase

OK.

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Donald Jans author of Freaks I've Met

Inspired me to become an author.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 10, 2015

When I found this book years ago, recommended by my brother in law, who knew I hated to read, I was skeptical. But 10 pages in, I was hooked. Finally a book I loved to read! Super honest and laugh out loud funny.

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