Mordecai Richler, still missing him.

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turns out there is a Mordecai thread from July/01, when he died, but it degenerated into something about proms.
Here's where we discuss the dude and his work.

Barney's Version is my favourite Canadian novel (not counting my own unfinished page-ripper, or is that bodice-turner?), and in my top 10 of all novels.
I also loved his columns.
In 2000 I traveled the barren tundra to see him speak at the U. of Sask. I was very glad I did. I didn't get my book signed though.
And when I lived in Mtl, I very nearly took an apt. I could afford because it was on St.Urbain.

Horace Mann (Horace Mann), Thursday, 5 June 2003 15:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I lived on St-Urbain once, right across from his old high school. If you think you miss the guy, you should read the Mtl anglo media--they seem to mourn him every week--and I guess rightly so, as he really represents the end of a certain era.

s1utsky (slutsky), Thursday, 5 June 2003 15:12 (twenty-two years ago)

five years pass...

Read in the newspaper this morning that Barney's Version is going to be made into a movie with Hoffman and Giamatti: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1423894/

I loved this book, so I'm very excited.

she started dancing to that (Finefinemusic), Friday, 29 May 2009 16:15 (sixteen years ago)

Oh man, that's sweet news - it would be nice to see a tried director take it on, though.

Simon H., Friday, 29 May 2009 16:32 (sixteen years ago)

and, uh, for that matter a tried screenwriter.

Simon H., Friday, 29 May 2009 16:34 (sixteen years ago)

I have a pieces of his in anthologies, and a great humor-writing anthology he edited, but no experience beyond that -- anyone want to tell me more about Barney's Version and whether I should read it?

nabisco, Friday, 29 May 2009 17:21 (sixteen years ago)

s/b "a few pieces" in anthologies -- now I'm remembering one column of his I really disliked, but in general I've liked what I've read

nabisco, Friday, 29 May 2009 17:22 (sixteen years ago)

i would recommend against googling it (like i did) and reading the start of the wiki page (like i started to) and finding out the ending (like i now know).

corps of discovery (schlump), Friday, 29 May 2009 18:08 (sixteen years ago)

that is exactly why I have stopped looking up books and movies on Wikipedia -- it usually reads like a 10-year-old's book-report summary w/ spoilers followed by trivia that's somehow more trivial than usual

nabisco, Friday, 29 May 2009 18:20 (sixteen years ago)

From what I've read about Barney's Version, it sounds a little like Sabbath's Theater et al as far as being about an old lovable/unlovable horny curmudgeony Jewish guy (writer?).

Eazy, Friday, 29 May 2009 18:50 (sixteen years ago)

everyone should also read duddy kravitz.

s1ocki, Friday, 29 May 2009 19:16 (sixteen years ago)

one year passes...

Didn't realize he wrote the screenplay for the Disney movie Fun with Dick and Jane.

tantalizing titles like “Hair” (Eazy), Saturday, 12 February 2011 21:46 (fourteen years ago)

two years pass...

^Well he's one of 4 credited writers, and it's the remake that was Disney, not the '77 one. I suspect he did a polish at the behest of Ted Kotcheff, who directed the film of Duddy.

Reading Duddy for the first time, and hey! his brother's name is Lennie. Kravitz.

ballin' from Maine to Mexico (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 14 May 2013 19:54 (twelve years ago)

two weeks pass...

saw the film tonight, didn't know it could look that good. Dreyfuss is hot to do a sequel?!? Ted Kotcheff said, "We coulda had a great sequel when Richler was alive."

ballin' from Maine to Mexico (Dr Morbius), Saturday, 1 June 2013 03:07 (twelve years ago)

(I guess I'll have to eat at Wilensky's when next in Mtl)

ballin' from Maine to Mexico (Dr Morbius), Saturday, 1 June 2013 03:08 (twelve years ago)

That's my corner, Morbs. I treat myself to an egg cream when I deserve it

flamboyant goon tie included, Saturday, 1 June 2013 03:58 (twelve years ago)

eggscellent.

ballin' from Maine to Mexico (Dr Morbius), Saturday, 1 June 2013 04:10 (twelve years ago)


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