Memories from a Hero

Today, as I often do when I go out and have free time, I found myself in a bookstore. I think my small car powerless to resist the sheer magnetism of the sign reading "Giant Book Sale Up to 80% Off!" I couldn't help myself. What can I say; it's a healthier vice than smoking. I wandered into the biography section, which I rarely do. I have discovered that most of the people I thought I wanted to read about greatly disappoint me in their real lives and I prefer to live in blissful ignorance of what they do in their personal time. Somehow today I found myself there, as I have said, practically by mistake. A book did however catch my eye. My Name Escapes Me: The Diary of a Retiring Actor by Sir Alec Guiness. It is an actual diary he kept from January 1995-June 1996. The man was in my opinion (don't take my word for it, there are loads of other people who think so,too) a genius. I bought the book and have been absorbed ever since I got home.

I had no idea what to expect from this great actor of whom I had heard little baring his extreme politeness and professionalism. As I mentioned, I am normally disappointed to read about people, especially actors, in their daily lives because they are in such stark contrast to the face they portray on screen or sometimes even to the public. The voice I see in this book only endears me to the man I grew up seeing as the great Jedi wizard, Obiwan Kenobi. It is sad perhaps, that my generation knows him only by this character. Apparently, however, some of Guiness showed through in the wisdom and quiet sophistication of that character. His writing is a joy to read and shows an appreciation for daily tasks. His devotion to his wife and his unique voice are refreshing to this young writer and actress who could never hope to achieve his height in this world. If you enjoy Shakespeare and simplicity, then I would highly recommend this book, so far. I haven't finished it yet, but I'll keep you posted.

I'll leave you with this quote in which he speaks of a friend he lost to cancer:

"More than anything else he taught me to trust Divine Providence and chuck away all notions of luck. Well, I go along with that these days; but I don't think Providence is in the least interested in my relationship with the National Lottery." (p.7)