Talking Heads |
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Alan Bennett
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Pages: 256 (Paperback)
ISBN: 184607259X
Pub: BBC Books
Pub date: 2007-07-05
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 37474
Editorial Review:
Alan Bennett's award-winning series of six television monologues, Talking Heads, may have been first aired in 1988, but over a decade later it is still impossible to read these deeply moving and affectionate scripts without hearing the voices of the actors who played them. Maggie Smith as the alcoholic vicar's wife finding a semblance of happiness in an affair with an Indian shop owner, Patricia Routledge as the poisonous neighbour, Julie Walters as the over-the-hill dolly bird auditioning for a porn film and of course Thora Hird as Doris, the old lady alone in her home having fallen and broken her hip. All great performances and all made possible by Bennett's wonderfully observant and poignant scripts. Bennett rightly notes in his introduction to the pieces that, maybe apart from Doris, his narrators are artless in that they "don't quite know what they are saying and are telling a story to the meaning of which they are not entirely privy". But through their artlessnes they reveal more about Britain today and the stresses and strains placed upon ordinary people, than any number of docu-soaps that now claim to show us real life. --Nick Wroe
Reader Reviews:
Oh Lonesome me (0/0 people found this helpful)
I first 'saw' these series of short stories on TV in Englamd. They were presented as a series of weekly monodramas. When I had a Toastmasters project to present a monodrama to my fellow club members, 'Talking Heads' sprung to mind.
I love Alan Bennett's writing style, tinged with sadness and very reflective of a life which has passed by. The characters are very much of their era in Britain at that particular time as regards their situation but the themes are eternal. In some respects I was reminded of Amercan writer Raymond Carver's book Where I'm Calling from: Selected Stories. Although most of his characters are losers, Alan Bennett's are of people who are getting by but have missed the boat, they don't quite fit.
The particular piece I read to the group was an extract from 'A Woman of No Importance' and the group was rapt their attention never waivered. It is quite a meloncholy story of minor office politics and of someone who is always on the outer but does not realise the fact.
I would thoroughly recommend this 'can't put down' book.
talking books (0/0 people found this helpful)
Yes I know its book and not an audiobook but I can hear his voice in the written words and it brings the book to life. The delivery service was excellent as always.
Amazon is wonderful (0/0 people found this helpful)
This is more a review about Amazon - I ordered the Alan Bennett for a Christmas present and was told it would not arrive until after Christmas. However it arrived on the 23rd December and I was really impressed with the service. Well done Amazon. Sylvia Stanhope
Talking Heads 2 (0/0 people found this helpful)
I've been listening to this on tapes for years, so it was good to ged a CD ...now I can listen all day long! I have enjoyed Alan Bennett's work for some time and these monologues are fantastic, though some have a sad message he tells them in a witty tone, very insightful. His work is timeless and I still find news things each time I listen,
Miss Fozzard Finds Her Feet with Patricia Routledge .... is soooooo funny and Patricia Routledge can't get much better
The Hands of God with Eileen Atkins...Great
Playing Sandwiches with David Haig ....sad story told so well
The Outside Dog with Julie Walters ....dark but humorous
Nights in the Gardens of Spain with Penelope Wilton ...Listen yourself..dark ...but fantastic
Waiting for the Telegram with Thora Hird. ....so poignant..Thora, even in her later years is the best
This is a must, along with Talking Heads 1
FAULTY disc (0/2 people found this helpful)
i enjoyed listening to the stories until the second set the first disc in the set gets too the end then skips back five minuets then finishes normally, the second story starts after five minuets then skips back to beginning had replacement same problem faulty batch
Similar Products
Talking Heads - The Complete Talking Heads [DVD]
Talking Heads 2
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Categories
Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Subjects -> Music, Stage & Screen -> Film -> Film & TV Scripts
Books -> Subjects -> Music, Stage & Screen -> Film -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Music, Stage & Screen -> Performing Arts -> Plays & Drama
Books -> Subjects -> Music, Stage & Screen -> Performing Arts -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Music, Stage & Screen -> Television -> TV & Film Scripts
Books -> Subjects -> Music, Stage & Screen -> Television -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Poetry, Drama & Criticism -> Drama -> Film & Television Screenplays
Books -> Subjects -> Poetry, Drama & Criticism -> Drama -> General AAS
Books -> Refinements -> Language (feature_browse-bin) -> English
Books -> Refinements -> Format (binding_browse-bin) -> Paperback
Books -> Refinements -> Font Size (format_browse-bin) -> Regular Size