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4 reviews for:
Sleeping With Bad Boys: A Juicy Tell-All of Literary New York in the 1950s and 1960s
Alice Denham
3.13 AVERAGE
4 reviews for:
Sleeping With Bad Boys: A Juicy Tell-All of Literary New York in the 1950s and 1960s
Alice Denham
3.13 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
I must start by saying that the edition of this book that I read was the uncorrected proofs (the gods grace us in SF with used book stores that are the envy of the world); therefore some of what I might find to be 'flaws' could possibly be corrected in a the final version.
Her style and voice is daring and true, the vernacular chosen is that of the times and her vocabulary shines refreshingly.
Her wit lends to smirking smiles from the reader and her triumphs and rejections are heartfelt. She bares all (in a few ways) and takes a bold stand on the time, being a writer and a woman - in love, in life, in passion.
What might come off as 'risky' even today in certain circles is just further proof of her 'no holds barred' attitude. Personally, I enjoyed reading about how Jimmy Dean was in bed since there is no chance of that for myself. But I do wonder if some of the men still living might think of her sizing them up in ink...
I will say being a short brunette with a sporadic lifestyle, unhinged love life,and the writing curse I related much to the author and her story.
This memoir is just that, with a tip of the hat to certain past friends as well as a sneering last word to those whom she may not have yet been able to say.
One draw back, of very few, would be her re-accounting of events aforementioned - perhaps this is to keep the reader up to speed, but for those of us who pay attention it becomes somewhat trivial. The bouncing of dates and times and what happened when and then returning to 55 from 64 - is well laid out, but slightly rough - and could have been better polished in the final version. As mayhaps the ending which comes somewhat abruptly from such a fine a build and progression - but so it goes, perhaps that was all she felt the need to tell.
All and all a fantastic read, especially for those much enamored and involved with the literature, writing style and lives of the time. I highly recommend it. And much Kudos to the Miss Denham; I'd love to have a drink with her.
Her style and voice is daring and true, the vernacular chosen is that of the times and her vocabulary shines refreshingly.
Her wit lends to smirking smiles from the reader and her triumphs and rejections are heartfelt. She bares all (in a few ways) and takes a bold stand on the time, being a writer and a woman - in love, in life, in passion.
What might come off as 'risky' even today in certain circles is just further proof of her 'no holds barred' attitude. Personally, I enjoyed reading about how Jimmy Dean was in bed since there is no chance of that for myself. But I do wonder if some of the men still living might think of her sizing them up in ink...
I will say being a short brunette with a sporadic lifestyle, unhinged love life,and the writing curse I related much to the author and her story.
This memoir is just that, with a tip of the hat to certain past friends as well as a sneering last word to those whom she may not have yet been able to say.
One draw back, of very few, would be her re-accounting of events aforementioned - perhaps this is to keep the reader up to speed, but for those of us who pay attention it becomes somewhat trivial. The bouncing of dates and times and what happened when and then returning to 55 from 64 - is well laid out, but slightly rough - and could have been better polished in the final version. As mayhaps the ending which comes somewhat abruptly from such a fine a build and progression - but so it goes, perhaps that was all she felt the need to tell.
All and all a fantastic read, especially for those much enamored and involved with the literature, writing style and lives of the time. I highly recommend it. And much Kudos to the Miss Denham; I'd love to have a drink with her.
Her storytelling involves too much meandering; this is a cool story, but I don't need every detail included.
I discovered Alice after reading her obituary in the New York Times. My dear fellow Southern lady friend gave to me, and it was a perfect gift. So much of Alice's life resonated with me as a Southern gal moving to a big city, as well (unfortunately) as navigating double standards for women and fighting for reproductive justice. Highly recommend!