Facts and Fancies vs. Pure Drivel vs. Woody Allen's Prose
Posted Thu Oct 5 13:23:51 BST 2000 by Dr. Hackenbush
I have recently been lying in bed with flu reading the first two of the above books (by Armando Iannucci [it's like that, subbes] and Steve Martin respectively.
It's amazing how similar they are in style. Martin in particular seems to have been very heavily influenced by both Woody and Armando.
Compare "Defending The Right to Choose (Albums)" (AI) with the "100 Best Books I Have Ever Read" in the paperback edition of Pure Drivel.
Also, look at the introduction to F&F (pub. 1997) where he has a bit about "negotiat[ing] the publishing rights of each letter of the alphabet" and compare to "A Word from The Words" in Martin's book (pub. 1998).
"The Paparazzi of Plato" in Pure Drivel is obviously heavily influenced by Allen.
I'm not saying that there is any plagiarism involved, just that it is clear that IA read Allen and Martin must have read both the earlier books.
Also, "Lolita at 50" (SM) is similar to Umberto Eco's "Granita" which is better because he manages to capture Nabokov's prose.
Phew, I feel better now. Anyway, let's get back to important topics, like our breasts.
Subject: Re: Facts and Fancies vs. Pure Drivel vs. Woody Allen's Prose
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Posted By 'Peter O' on Thu Oct 5 22:35:15 BST 2000:
Another one of these style overlaps is Armando and Clive James. I was reading Clive's thing about the Olympics in the Independent on Tuesday, and the "reading voice" in my head was quite comfortable adopting Armando's nice soft scottish voice.
Try it for yourself:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/Sport/Olympics/clivejames/clive031000.shtml
Subject: Re: Facts and Fancies vs. Pure Drivel vs. Woody Allen's Prose
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Posted By Ewar Woowar on Fri Oct 6 13:15:02 BST 2000:
> Armando's nice soft scottish voice.
MMmmmmmmmmmmmmm....
Of course, he's a very talented man. Yes, I particularly admire his talent. Ahem.
Subject: Re: Facts and Fancies vs. Pure Drivel vs. Woody Allen's Prose
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Posted By 'Jon' on Fri Oct 6 13:30:53 BST 2000:
He did a quite funny documentary for R4 in 1994 about the way work was changing in the 90s, or something, but it involved him trying to interview Andrew Neil (Sunday Times ed.) as an example of a busy man. Halfway through the interview, Neil had to ring someone else up to do a short interview with them, making media history for the 1st 'interview-within-an-interview', Ianucci claimed. Something like that.
Subject: Re: Facts and Fancies vs. Pure Drivel vs. Woody Allen's Prose
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Posted By Justin on Fri Oct 6 22:32:48 BST 2000:
That was In Excess, a documentary series for Radio 4 in 1993. The one Jon mentions also featured a failed attempt to interview Esther Rantzen about how busy she was, but only because she was really really busy...
Excellent series. There was a second run of it in 94, but I didn't hear it because I was at work during the day.
Subject: Re: Facts and Fancies vs. Pure Drivel vs. Woody Allen's Prose
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Posted By subbes on Sat Oct 7 13:55:56 BST 2000:
[*tips head* Ewar, stop stealing my lustbunnies.]
Subject: Re: Facts and Fancies vs. Pure Drivel vs. Woody Allen's Prose
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Posted By 'kinder surprise' on Sat Oct 7 14:14:58 BST 2000:
Tip you head a bit further subbes and I think you'll find no one has stolen them. They are as safe as ever flagellanting by your elbows.
Subject: Re: Facts and Fancies vs. Pure Drivel vs. Woody Allen's Prose
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Posted By subbes on Sat Oct 7 14:43:55 BST 2000:
[but i don't want to share iannucci. next thing i know you'll be declaring your love for Angelina Jolie, and then i shall get worried.]
Subject: Re: Facts and Fancies vs. Pure Drivel vs. Woody Allen's Prose
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Posted By 'Al' on Sat Oct 7 21:43:38 BST 2000:
Oh I can steal that one. I think Angelina Jolie is loooveely!
Subject: Re: Facts and Fancies vs. Pure Drivel vs. Woody Allen's Prose
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Posted By subbes on Sat Oct 7 22:27:12 BST 2000:
[I think most everyone does. Doesn't they?]
Subject: Re: Facts and Fancies vs. Pure Drivel vs. Woody Allen's Prose
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Posted By 'Jon' on Mon Oct 9 13:47:40 BST 2000:
"Of course, he's a very talented man. Yes, I particularly admire his talent. Ahem"
In some cultures baldness is seen as a mark of increased virility. Does that match your experience, Ewar?
Subject: Re: Facts and Fancies vs. Pure Drivel vs. Woody Allen's Prose
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Posted By Ewar Woowar on Mon Oct 9 14:37:27 BST 2000:
Do you mean "Have you shagged a lot of baldies, Ewar?"
Er, no.
subbes - I refuse to agree with you on any matter and have therefore ceased to fancy anyone.
Except Justin, obviously.
Subject: Re: Facts and Fancies vs. Pure Drivel vs. Woody Allen's Prose
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Posted By subbes on Tue Oct 10 01:53:24 BST 2000:
i think justin's lovely.
Hah!
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