The Moon's a Balloon
Discussion
Another 10 here.
Saw him on the tv in the week and that decided revisiting my bookshelf for this as my holiday reading. You won't be disappointed with the sequal ' Bring on the empty horses '
His empathy for his mates including Robert Newton and Flynn suggests he was a great bloke to share some fun.
As an aside to another thread, his was proper spoken English. Delightful.
Saw him on the tv in the week and that decided revisiting my bookshelf for this as my holiday reading. You won't be disappointed with the sequal ' Bring on the empty horses '
His empathy for his mates including Robert Newton and Flynn suggests he was a great bloke to share some fun.
As an aside to another thread, his was proper spoken English. Delightful.
When watching any of his films, check out whether he uses the name Trubshaw. You'll remember the name as his best mate in his Army training days (they went to a party as goats, dropping currants on the floor as faeces). He tried to drop it into the narrative of his films whenever he could, sometimes ad-libbing and momentarily changing the script. I recall one rom-com with Ginger Rogers in which he made believe she was Swedish, and talked in pidgin Swedish dropping in the word Trubshaw in one sentence.
One of the very funniest autobiographies ever, and I reckon actually written by him rather than a ghost author.
One of the very funniest autobiographies ever, and I reckon actually written by him rather than a ghost author.
8Ace said:
Just started reading David Niven's autobiography. Having never really been aware of his work I didn't know what to expect but it's an absolute masterpiece. I woke Lady Ace up twice last night because I was laughing so much.
Please, please read this book.
Read it when I was a kid as I had run out of devouring all my dad's science fiction and Readers Digest Please, please read this book.
Utterly brilliant and the one autobiography I recommend to everyone.(Note to fellow PHrs, I am not the Lady to which Mr 8Ace is referring.
)I remember being given a paperback of this in my early teens. I loved reading it - being something of an innocent it was quite revelatory as well as a fascinating look at a different world. There's a really well presented Folio edition which I might look for now that I've been reminded.
Trophy Husband said:
Yes, utterly fab. My father made me read it when I was in my early teens. A great reminder for me to pick it up again as I still have the aquamarine cloth covered hardback in my library (of books), not a dedicated room, I wish!!
I think if you have a look at the prices being asked for hardback copies of TMAB on Amazon, you might consider keeping the book in a bank vault rather than on your shelf!I remember reading The Moon's a Balloon and Bring on the Empty Horses when they first appeared as paperbacks, both hugely entertaining; it was due to David Niven's mention of the place that I visited San Simeon when on holiday in California.
I see there's a third volume, one that I haven't come across before: Go Slowly, Come back Quickly. Has anyone read it?
I see there's a third volume, one that I haven't come across before: Go Slowly, Come back Quickly. Has anyone read it?
Both my parents were teachers and we used to camp in the summer holidays in the South of France. They used to earn extra money marking exam papers while my brother and I played in the Dordogne.
To keep us entertained on the journey down we used to have story tapes - I remember 'Ludo the Star Horse'.
However my favourites were both of David Niven's books read by the man himself - such fond memories.
I'm off to Amazon to buy the books and relive it all !
To keep us entertained on the journey down we used to have story tapes - I remember 'Ludo the Star Horse'.
However my favourites were both of David Niven's books read by the man himself - such fond memories.
I'm off to Amazon to buy the books and relive it all !
Both my parents were teachers and we used to camp in the summer holidays in the South of France. They used to earn extra money marking exam papers while my brother and I played in the Dordogne.
To keep us entertained on the journey down we used to have story tapes - I remember 'Ludo the Star Horse'.
However my favourites were both of David Niven's books read by the man himself - such fond memories.
I'm off to Amazon to buy the books and relive it all !
To keep us entertained on the journey down we used to have story tapes - I remember 'Ludo the Star Horse'.
However my favourites were both of David Niven's books read by the man himself - such fond memories.
I'm off to Amazon to buy the books and relive it all !
Both my parents were teachers and we used to camp in the summer holidays in the South of France. They used to earn extra money marking exam papers while my brother and I played in the Dordogne.
To keep us entertained on the journey down we used to have story tapes - I remember 'Ludo the Star Horse'.
However my favourites were both of David Niven's books read by the man himself - such fond memories.
I'm off to Amazon to buy the books and relive it all !
To keep us entertained on the journey down we used to have story tapes - I remember 'Ludo the Star Horse'.
However my favourites were both of David Niven's books read by the man himself - such fond memories.
I'm off to Amazon to buy the books and relive it all !
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