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41st out of 111 books
—
11 voters
Memoirs
When Memoirs was first published in 1975, it created quite a bit of turbulence in the mediathough long self-identified as a gay man, Williams' candor about his love life, sexual encounters, and drug use was found shocking in and of itself, and such revelations by America's greatest living playwright were called "a raw display of private life" by The New York Times Book Rev...more
Paperback, 368 pages
Published
October 15th 2006
by New Directions
(first published 1975)
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Sigh. Disappointing book, this one.
I would expect from Mr. Williams a book of profound depth about the art of writing, storytelling and the theatre or a book of juicy stories about famous people and scandalous goings on.
This book is neither.
Mr. Williams specifically writes that he didn’t want to write a book about writing because while he’s happy to air his personal laundry, his writing life and his work habits are very personal and not for public consumption. I’d be fine with that if the writi...more
I would expect from Mr. Williams a book of profound depth about the art of writing, storytelling and the theatre or a book of juicy stories about famous people and scandalous goings on.
This book is neither.
Mr. Williams specifically writes that he didn’t want to write a book about writing because while he’s happy to air his personal laundry, his writing life and his work habits are very personal and not for public consumption. I’d be fine with that if the writi...more
Simultaneously reading the bible and war and peace was making me seriously consider the upsides of functional illiteracy. Based on the juxtaposition alone between these texts I liked this novel, but it has merit in and of itself. I don’t usually read memoirs but I assumed that the life of the person who wrote a streetcar named desire had to be interesting- and generally speaking, it was. Nothing overtly profound was written but it seemed like a candid revealing conversation- predominately about...more
Trashy, tragic sweetness, went down very smoothly but made me a little sad in spots, most likely in a similar way to the cocktail barbituate combos he became famous for downing. The man is endlessly fascinating and, regardless of his addictions - and there were many, was still phenomenally talented.
this was real good, but...i had tennessee way up on a pedestal and then when i read his memoirs i was sort of disappointed about the way he talks about people and things...like sex (he was a ho i think) and other things. but it was probably good for me to be disillusioned. i still like him.
Tennessee Williams
Memoirs
New Directions, Paperback, [2006].
8vo. xix+274 pp. Foreword by TW [xv-xix]. Introduction by John Waters [ix-xiv]. Afterword by Allean Hale [pp. 253-254]. Illustrated with 144 photographs.
First published by Doubleday, 1975.
First published in paperback by New Directions, 2006.
Contents
Introduction by John Waters
Foreword by Tennessee Williams
Memoirs
Afterword by Allean Hale
List of Illustrations
Index
====================================================
This book comes together w...more
Memoirs
New Directions, Paperback, [2006].
8vo. xix+274 pp. Foreword by TW [xv-xix]. Introduction by John Waters [ix-xiv]. Afterword by Allean Hale [pp. 253-254]. Illustrated with 144 photographs.
First published by Doubleday, 1975.
First published in paperback by New Directions, 2006.
Contents
Introduction by John Waters
Foreword by Tennessee Williams
Memoirs
Afterword by Allean Hale
List of Illustrations
Index
====================================================
This book comes together w...more
1 like · like · see review
I have never seen any play or movie that Tennessee Williams wrote but the candid details in his memoirs are very lively. He writes as if he is writing journal entries and they are loosely chronological. He does not reveal very much about his internal world but more reports events that took place- especially the men with whom he was romantic. It is illuminating to learn how he manages a gay life style during such a homophobic time. His bohemian relationships and travels kept the book entertaining...more
Ir tādi autori, kuru nedrīkst iepazīt pareizi, tradicionāli.
Tādiem no sākuma ir jānoskatās teātra izrāde, tad memuārus.
Un tad ir jāsaprot - jā, viņš ir traks, viņš ir lielisks, viņš ir...neparasts, nepareizs, ideāls.
Un tikai tad ir jāsāk lasīt gan par brīdinājumiem, gan ilgām.
Kā teikts pēcvārdā, šajā grāmatā Tenesijs vairāk atvēra savu bikšu priekšu kā sirdi. Negribēja jau runāt par darbiem, runāja par Dzīvi. Un mainīja arī manu attieksmi pret to pagājušajā gadā. Dullāk, trakāk...pareizāk. Patie...more
Tādiem no sākuma ir jānoskatās teātra izrāde, tad memuārus.
Un tad ir jāsaprot - jā, viņš ir traks, viņš ir lielisks, viņš ir...neparasts, nepareizs, ideāls.
Un tikai tad ir jāsāk lasīt gan par brīdinājumiem, gan ilgām.
Kā teikts pēcvārdā, šajā grāmatā Tenesijs vairāk atvēra savu bikšu priekšu kā sirdi. Negribēja jau runāt par darbiem, runāja par Dzīvi. Un mainīja arī manu attieksmi pret to pagājušajā gadā. Dullāk, trakāk...pareizāk. Patie...more
Williams' Memoirs is a beautiful attempt to capture the complex nature of one's self and one's art. In a stream-of-consciousness/free-associative style Tennessee opens up about his experiences, and focuses on his loves and losses. He is a true connoisseur of written English, and knows exactly when to embellish or to back off, all for the sake of drama. In Memoirs, he takes his skill and deconstructs his life, giving the reader a look into who created some of the greatest theatrical pieces in the...more
The author himself within these pages repeatedly notes what’s lacking from these Memoirs is a discussion of any trade secrets of his genius and bedeviled writing, that whether seen on stage, screen or page, has a searing impression – but inside this almost stream of conscious recount of the playwright’s the conditions of his existence are certainly given an airing, revealing a carnal and psychological and psychotropic recipe, dizzyingly reason enough for his success. Tennessee boozes, drugs, and...more
"People please, if you have never read Tennessee Williams' Memoirs, run yourself a warm bath, turn off all your appliances, pour yourself a glass or wine and...treat...your...self!"
This was a fascinating portrait of not only a truly unique and complex individual, but of a time lost in America - that of the bohemian. I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the theatre and writing but you may be disappointed by the lack of actual insight to his writing and his process. This is more of a re...more
This was a fascinating portrait of not only a truly unique and complex individual, but of a time lost in America - that of the bohemian. I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the theatre and writing but you may be disappointed by the lack of actual insight to his writing and his process. This is more of a re...more
Livewire, intense ramble through Williams early life - his loves, drinking and stories are to the fore as is tragedy and real sadness.
Very honest, and bitingly funny and cruel. Loved it all..
Very honest, and bitingly funny and cruel. Loved it all..
I loved this book, but then I love Tennessee Williams. It's a very candid look into his personal life that helped shape his work, rather than the work itself. It can be sporadic at times, it jumps from the present to past several times in a chapter, but it comes across as if you are sitting in the room with him as he is reminiscing about his life. For any fan, it is a must read.
Read it when it first came out in 1975. What an honest and beautifully written book for its time. My 1975 first has a special place in a glass covered bookshelf.
Fascinating in the same way a roadside accident causes rubber necking. Tennessee's personal life is open for examination in a rambling, stream-of-consciousness.
This was a very interesting look into the life of a famous playwright. I recommend for the quality of the writing and the crazy life stories.
I don't have a lot of experience reading memoirs, but I do know that I enjoyed this book tremendously. (Of course I'm going to be biased, because TW is my favorite playwright.)
This memoir is sometimes aloof and sometimes achingly personal. There are many hilarious moments, but there are also moments of profound sadness. I've given this book four stars instead of five, because I wish Williams would have discussed his craft more than he did. But I think his goal was probably to sell as many copie...more
This memoir is sometimes aloof and sometimes achingly personal. There are many hilarious moments, but there are also moments of profound sadness. I've given this book four stars instead of five, because I wish Williams would have discussed his craft more than he did. But I think his goal was probably to sell as many copie...more
I learned Tenn caused quite a bit of talk when this book was published. He's quite open (for the time) about cruising, his love life, etc. I would recommend this book if you are interested in hearing stories about his real life. The oddest thing about this memoir is that he doesn't really talk about his plays very much. He also doesn't talk about the movies; yet there are plenty of pictures. He does talk about the actors in his plays: Marlon Brando, Ann Meachum; and he mentions Paul Newman.
In th...more
In th...more
Kept my Attention - 5
Accessible - 5
Must Read - 3
Important - 3
Well-written - 5
Reads like Williams himself is sitting across the table while you both drink highballs. Wonderful!
Accessible - 5
Must Read - 3
Important - 3
Well-written - 5
Reads like Williams himself is sitting across the table while you both drink highballs. Wonderful!
A brilliant, but tortured man.
Apr 16, 2012
Churi
added it
i love this book
He wrote what he felt his audience wanted to know, all the gossip, misconceptions, Hollywood, but little about his writing process. He just assumed audiences would be bored if he only wrote about the process and the craft. The last chapter or two were slow, but he definitely lived and knew how to live.
I have a copy of this book with John Waters' signature--who did the introduction--inside the front flap of the book. This was the main focus of last year's Tennessee Williams Festival in New Orleans, which was overrun by harlots, tramps, cross-dressers, queers, no-goods, wanderers, and little old white southern ladies. Where else can one find such a diverse crowd?
Just like other certain indivduals who are born with the 'it' factor, Williams had "it" in spades. He truly must have been a great person to know at the local bar. This is a fantastic memoir by one of the great playwrights, but beyond that it is the man's personality that comes through these pages. Funny, funny, and hysterical.
Drunken ramblings from Tennessee
Favorite revelations:
1. Avoid penetration if you don't want an STD
2. Probably the only Pulitzer Prize winner to discuss the subject of pubic crab lice removal.
2. "I've had a wonderful & terrible life & I wouldn't cry for myself. Would you?"
Favorite revelations:
1. Avoid penetration if you don't want an STD
2. Probably the only Pulitzer Prize winner to discuss the subject of pubic crab lice removal.
2. "I've had a wonderful & terrible life & I wouldn't cry for myself. Would you?"
Williams admits that he barely addresses his work in these memoirs. And what good writer doesn't focus more on his sex life than his writing? Gain insight into his nomadic life--what he doesn't say speaks volumes. Pair this with a viewing of Suddenly, Last Summer.
The further I got into this book the more I yawned. It just seemed self-indulgent and a little confusing with the sudden jumps to the present. I read about 30 percent of the book and then decided to move on to better reading.
If anyone is a fan, I’m selling my copy of Tennessee Williams’s Memoirs on ebay. It is signed by director John Waters, who wrote the introduction.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261012307801?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261012307801?
Let's all get drunk and laid like Tennessee Williams! Dude had an awesome time, well, drinking, screwing and writing. The John Waters intro is also incredible.
This is one of the best memoirs I've ever read. Tennessee was really a trip, and I would've loved to hang out with him.
Not done yet but so far so good!
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Thomas Lanier Williams III, better known by the nickname Tennessee Williams, was a major American playwright of the twentieth century who received many of the top theatrical awards for his work. He moved to New Orleans in 1939 and changed his name to "Tennessee," the state of his father's birth. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for A Streetcar Named Desire in 1948 and for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof...more
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“Time doesn't take away from friendship, nor does separation.”
—
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“Since that day, when people have spoken to me of "genius", I have felt the inside pocket to make sure my wallet's still there.”
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Jul 10, 2012 01:59pm