Rain With Scattered Showers (of laughter & tears)
I wanna go to Baltimore.
I don’t even know anything about Baltimore. I know it’s a city in that big US of A, but that’s all I know. I’m an Englishman, and I live nowhere near Baltimore – I live here… England. There are no Baltimores here.
But still I want to go visit Baltimore.
Is it not the case for you, as it is for me, that every once in a while we finish reading a book and we want more? We don’t want it to end where it has. That book was more than just an enjoyable read. It moved us or touched us in some way.
Well that’s why I wanna go to Baltimore.
When I read Jack London’s ‘White Fang’ I wanted to take his hand and shake it till it fell off (or mine fell off, whichever happened soonest). I wanted to ask him: “Mr London, please, I NEED to know… how on earth did you come up with such a powerful story as you did? Where did it come from, Mr London?”
When earlier this year I reread my trusty old copy of ‘Watership Down’ by Richard Adams (afterwards I wrote a rather crude review ) the old ‘I need more – please don’t end – where did this story come from’ was still there. I had never fancied the idea of turning up at the front door of Mr Adams’ Hampshire cottage and shaking his hand until it fell off. He has long since retired now and is in his 90’s.
The last thing he needs is a smuck like me banging on his door setting off his dogs and alarming his gardener. Instead, I posted him a copy of my review of his magical book along with the many comments readers had left underneath it. And to my surprise and utter delightment, he replied.
So I want to go to Baltimore.
‘Jokes My Father Never Taught Me’ is another one of those books for me… don’t end there I need more.
The way she tells the story, drawing from her own observations growing up, is heartbreaking, hilariously funny and terribly moving, and sometimes all in the same paragraph! “It was easier to love him if you didn’t know him”, she writes. Her mother, by the way, was a Jewish go-go dancer, and her father was black.
I can’t stand it that this book just ends – I need to hear more – there MUST be more.
I want to go to Baltimore, because that is where she lives. I hope her hand is strongly attached to her arm!
‘Jokes My Father Never Taught Me’ is available on Amazon, and I have found it for you here.
It is written by a mother, comedienne, actress, theatre director and all round stand up kinda gal – it is written by Rain Pryor, daughter of the greatest comedian that has ever lived… Richard!
October 22, 2015
A short clip of Rain on NBC today, in case you missed her.
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/comedienne-rain-pryor-talks-race-stereotypes-bill-cosby-n447186
October 9, 2015
This is a wonderful review Danny, I love the angle you come at it. You’ve now made me want to read not only ‘Jokes My Father Never Taught Me’, but ‘Watership Down’ and ‘White Fang’ (I can’t believe I’ve never got round to either!).
Don’t ever change, keep writing from your heart and the readers will follow. Wonderful. :0)
October 18, 2015
Thank you Dreya.
Thought this one had died within moments of its airing. Then our great leader resuscitated it on Facebook. Then Rain herself favoured it as a Tweet a few days ago.
Strange, this writing business!
Kindest regards.
December 18, 2014
Great reviews. Thanks for sharing.
December 19, 2014
Thanks for your continued support.
I’m really happy to be here and a part of this.
December 18, 2014
Danny, after reading this, I feel like I want to shake your hand until it (or mine) drops off! I know too well the feeling you refer to, about needing more after you finish a book. We have questions, and each question seems to lead to another question, and so on and so on. If we could sit down and talk to the writers we admire, wouldn’t it be wonderful? But then, nobody would have time for the necessities of life would they? I love your writing style, and enjoyed this article very much. All the best to you!
December 19, 2014
Oh wow thanks, Nancy.
I’m new to writing. I can’t say that it comes naturally to me because I don’t feel that it does. I know that I want to do it, and be good at it. I know I make mistakes with grammar.
I don’t even ‘feel’ a style yet coming from my fingertips – just a mad surge comes over me to tell a story, or make a statement about something. The result it what you read, kindly.
Anyway, that’s quite enough from me.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Nancy.
December 18, 2014
I want to go where you live, Danny. I love reading your reviews!
December 19, 2014
Bless you, Susan.
And I was lurking around your website a few evenings ago, as you know.
Now YOU can write!