Memoirs of an Amnesiac
by Oscar Levant
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Book Summary Information
Author: Oscar LevantEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1990-01
ISBN: 0573606986
Number of pages: 320
Publisher: Samuel French
Book Reviews of Memoirs of an Amnesiac
Book Review: A Memoir That's Unforgettable
Summary: 5 Stars
When I was in college back in the 1970s, I began listening to my mother's 78s on a tall Victrola that was relegated to a spare bedroom at the back of the house. I was just beginning to learn about Classical music and was always on the lookout for something truly unique among all the artist. Upon hearing Gershwin's Concerto in F, I was immediately fascinated by the pianist, Oscar Levant, who played it far better than anyone I had ever heard before. My mother told me that he was her favorite pianist and that he had written three books. Though they were out of print, I managed to find them at some of the used bookstores in Uptown Whittier.
"Memoirs" is among the most important biographies in my substantial library of nonfiction books. Levant was an amazing raconteur with genius in many areas besides music. With a near-photographic memory and an acerbic wit, literally every page is filled with nostalgic anecdotes exceeding the realm of sheer entertainment. Levant's style of writing is laconic, acerbic, insightful, and genuine. He is never boring.
The primary fault of "Memoirs" is its lack of organization. It is a hodgepodge of information that seems to have come from Oscar off the top of his head. His first book, "A Smattering of Ignorance," was much more detailed and far better organized. Then again, "Smattering" was written before Oscar had gone off the deep end, mentally; before his series of mental breakdowns. Perhaps, a more accurate title for this book could have been, "A Scattering of Indignants" because of Oscar's cynical view of the world.
This is NOT a book of gossip, but it IS riddled with scandalous tidbits of information about some very significant people over four decades of Levant's extraordinary life. It was through this book that I learned about various members of The Algonquin Round Table. "Memoirs" is like the seed of which eventually branched into an entire library of books of its genre. Aside from being entertaining, it is both intellectual and highly educational; a book that I have read again and again and use for reference. If you are truly a lover of nostalgia and a student of seemingly useless knowledge, this book is definitely for you.
To those who wish to compare Levant's "Memoirs" to "Harpo Speaks!" please remember that the latter wasn't written by Harpo Marx himself, but by Roland Barber, a professional writer. Harpo, having literally been "dropped" out of the 2nd grade {some bullies threw him out of the classroom window and he never went back to school}, it would have been impossible for him to write such a book on his own. {"Harpo" happens to be my all-time favorite book, by the way.} Oscar Levant, even though a high school drop-out, would have never used a ghostwriter, and I'm glad he didn't. What you get, for better or worse, is pure Levant.
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