The Time Of Your Life
My rating:
add to my books
Loading...
The Time Of Your Life
A programme text edition published in conjunction with the Finborough Theatre to coincide with the centenary of the birth of William Saroyan, The Time of Your Life runs from 26 November - 20 December.
'In the time of our life, live - so that in that wondrous time you shall not add to the misery and sorrow of the world, but shall smile to the infinite delight and myste...more
Paperback
Published
by Methuen/Rsc
(first published 1939)
There is a good chance some of your friends read this book. Sign in to see!
sign in »
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
149)
I only read this because my father's directing a production of it and it sounded intriguing. I really liked the general message of this play, reminding me a great deal of John Steinback's Cannery Row, which is one of my favorite books, but I felt the plot was just a little too shapeless, and that the characters were not fleshed out enough, especially the male lead. It has a lot to recommend it, but is not, in my opinion, a great play. The part I really enjoyed were Saroyan's essays coming before...more
All of humanity comes through this bar and they all come before Nick, who helps everyone. This is a well crafted story of somewhat mythic proportions, of a somewhat impotent god and of the 20th century. Saroyan's brilliance at creating atmosphere makes up for the somewhat dated dialog and plots in this nearly perfect play. It is a play, however, can't escape this. Everything happens in one day, on one set, in one place. By the end, one feels exhausted but somehow hopeful.
I really wanted to like this play (it was suggested to me as a kind of west-coast "Iceman Cometh", which is of course an ill fitting narrative comparison) and, while it has many strengths, it has not faired well with the passing of time. I normally love these kinds of plays, but in order for them to work their situation must be exciting or informing enough to make up for the loose narrative structure and keep us focused. These characters are indeed familiar but presenting them in this ...more
view 1 comment
Excellent! Really fascinating characters.
Hoping to read this play or see it. I think there is a film version. His other plays are great, especially "The Beautiful People."
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulitzer Shut Down! | 1 | 4 | Apr 10, 2007 03:42pm |
William Saroyan was an American - Armenian author. The setting of many of his stories and plays was Fresno, California (sometimes under a fictional name), the center of Armenian-American life in California and where he grew up.
Saroyan was born in Fresno, California to Armenian immigrants from Bitlis, Turkey. At the age of three, after his father's death, Saroyan was placed in the orphanage i...more
More about William Saroyan...
Saroyan was born in Fresno, California to Armenian immigrants from Bitlis, Turkey. At the age of three, after his father's death, Saroyan was placed in the orphanage i...more
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“In the time of your life, live—so that in that good time there shall be no ugliness or death for yourself or for any life your life touches. Seek goodness everywhere, and when it is found, bring it out of its hiding place and let it be free and unashamed.
Place in matter and in flesh the least of the values, for these are the things that hold death and must pass away. Discover in all things that which shines and is beyond corruption. Encourage virtue in whatever heart it may have been driven into secrecy and sorrow by the shame and terror of the world. Ignore the obvious, for it is unworthy of the clear eye and the kindly heart.
Be the inferior of no man, or of any men be superior. Remember that every man is a variation of yourself. No man's guilt is not yours, nor is any man's innocence a thing apart. Despise evil and ungodliness, but not men of ungodliness or evil. These, understand. Have no shame in being kindly and gentle but if the time comes in the time of your life to kill, kill and have no regret.
In the time of your life, live—so that in that wondrous time you shall not add to the misery and sorrow of the world, but shall smile to the infinite delight and mystery of it.”
—
47 people liked it
Place in matter and in flesh the least of the values, for these are the things that hold death and must pass away. Discover in all things that which shines and is beyond corruption. Encourage virtue in whatever heart it may have been driven into secrecy and sorrow by the shame and terror of the world. Ignore the obvious, for it is unworthy of the clear eye and the kindly heart.
Be the inferior of no man, or of any men be superior. Remember that every man is a variation of yourself. No man's guilt is not yours, nor is any man's innocence a thing apart. Despise evil and ungodliness, but not men of ungodliness or evil. These, understand. Have no shame in being kindly and gentle but if the time comes in the time of your life to kill, kill and have no regret.
In the time of your life, live—so that in that wondrous time you shall not add to the misery and sorrow of the world, but shall smile to the infinite delight and mystery of it.”
“In the time of your life, live - so that in that good time there shall be no ugliness or death for yourself or for any life your life touches. Seek goodness everywhere, and when it is found, bring it out of its hiding-place and let it be free and unashamed...In the time of your life, live - so that in that wondrous time you shall not add to the misery and sorrow of the world, but shall smile to the infinite delight and mystery of it.”
—
7 people liked it
More quotes…
