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bowienerd_82's review
4.0
I first learned of Oscar Levant in [b:Harpo Speaks!|35270|Harpo Speaks!|Harpo Marx|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1168584689s/35270.jpg|35205], which led to me reading Oscar's first book, [b:A Smattering of Ignorance|2466190|A Smattering of Ignorance|Oscar Levant|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1242938314s/2466190.jpg|1590798] (one of the greatest titles ever, by the way). After all of this, I was totally intrigued by the man, and so immediately checked A Talent for Genius out of the library.
It's a well-written and engrossing biography about a fascinating figure, written with a good deal of empathy. It can be hard to find a well-balanced biography- I find that they are often either hostile or defensive, neither of which makes for a good book. This book, however, managed to find the golden mean of biographies, and so was both enjoyable and informative.
It's a well-written and engrossing biography about a fascinating figure, written with a good deal of empathy. It can be hard to find a well-balanced biography- I find that they are often either hostile or defensive, neither of which makes for a good book. This book, however, managed to find the golden mean of biographies, and so was both enjoyable and informative.
kmccubbin's review
4.0
At one point in this book, Levant's star threatens to eclipse Charlie Chaplin's triumphant return to the United States after exile. THAT is how big a star this self-destructive, neurotic, OCD-plagued, cynical, cruel drug addict was. This book does quite a fine job of explaining how it came to be, getting to the core of his undeniable genius and taking you on a tour of American entertainment from the 20s to the 70s to boot.
Maybe it struggles a little when it tries to wrap Levant up in a nice clean package, but then again, so did he.
Maybe it struggles a little when it tries to wrap Levant up in a nice clean package, but then again, so did he.
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