Thomas Stamper

Forgotten Classic

Revisado: 08-05-18

Sparky's book on the Yankees 1978 season is a forgotten classic. Like Ball Four, Bronx Zoo is funny and insightful about struggling as a major league baseball player. The main difference is the Sparky is one of the gang so his comments aren't from the snarky outsider that overpowered Bouton's book. This is a star on a world championship team with appreciation for most of his teammates.

The first plus is that Lyle is observant and understands the game. He appreciates key players Munson, Chambliss, and Randolph. He tolerates quirky guys like Rivers who he understands are essential to the team. But he doesn't mind pointing out the foibles of Reggie Jackson. He gladly does so. But he is not above praising Jackson when he starts to hit. He just wishes Jackson could learn to talk less. What he likes about Billy Martin is that Billy treats his players like men. By the end of the season with Martin gone in favor of Bob Lemon, Sparky says that Billy is the reason the team can win, although he's not knocking Lemon. He likes Lemon. And he doesn't always like Martin, but he understands enough about baseball to put aside his irritations to evaluate the situation.

While it's a known fact that Sparky Lyle taught Ron Guidry the slider that turned Guidry into a Cy Young winner in 1978, Lyle downplays his involvement saying he may have given some instructions, but all pitchers really have to learn it on their own. He is proud of Guidry early in the season and then in awe of him. He reports two of Graig Nettles classic comments, about being a kid and wanting to join the circus and play professional baseball, and getting to do both with the Yankees. Of the Sparky Lyle situation he says that Lyle went from Cy Young to Sayonara. He is full of praise for Nettles as a hitter and third baseman. He recounts a game where Nettles says he is going to hit the ball over a sign a fan puts up in right field. He does so. Then he hits a homer later in the season and tells Paul Blair he will hit another one in the game and does that also.

Bucky Dent missed something like 40 games during the season and he was often pinch hit for. But with Randolph down Bucky was the guy hitting with 2 on in the 7th inning of the playoff game against Boston. The first pitch is a slider that Dent fouls off his foot. Dent hobbles around and tells the third base coach if Boston pitcher Mike Torrez throws that again he is putting it in the net. Torrez does and then Dent does. The Yankees win that game and then the World Series, which is just an epilogue in the book.

The tone of the book is that of an irritated and funny veteran who had the time to think about the game because he wasn't playing enough. The narration on audible is done by Sparky himself and he is great at it. I wish he had written a book for every year he spent in the majors.

I gave a book report on this in the 10th grade and the kids in class laughed quite a bit. A few even came up afterwards to offer praise. I thought I was so funny. And now reading it again I can see how easy it would have been to describe Lyle's practical jokes and bring the house down. The book is that well done.

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Charming Presentation

Revisado: 02-25-17

Would you try another book from Bill Marx and/or Bill Marx?

His stories might all be exhausted.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Growing up in the proximity of the Marx Brothers is everything to this story.

Which character – as performed by Bill Marx – was your favorite?

Harpo Marx. Since we really don't know what Harpo sounded like, I figure Bill's impersonation has to be a very close approximation. Because his impersonation also sounds like Groucho it sounds authentic to me.

What else would you have wanted to know about Bill Marx’s life?

I wish he would have spent more time talking about being in the presence of Chico and Groucho.

Any additional comments?

This is one of the most produced audio books I have ever heard. There are plenty of music cues and other audio enhancements that work for the most part although a few can be discordant and some are louder than Bill's voice. Bill has a great voice. I wish he read books professionally.

Highlights
His story of meeting Buddy Rich
The circumstances which led to his adoption and the backstory of his birth parents.
His musical ability and career
The kindness of Harpo Marx and how well thought of he was in Hollywood.

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Steyn Scores Again

Revisado: 01-03-17

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Any friend who can find humor in our dysfunctional political system.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Uncle Sam

What about Mark Steyn’s performance did you like?

He says things in a funny way.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not that kind of book.

Any additional comments?

A follow-up to Steyn's eye-opening, America Alone, After America chronicles the decline of the last best hope on earth. If it lacks the American optimism you might expect from a conservative, it's because Steyn was born in Canada and he sees America as a firewall to all the mistakes of the west. And he sees that firewall decline albeit at a slower pace than Europe. He reminds the reader that America is not great because of geography. It's great because it's an idea and has a culture that nurtures that idea. Whereas people all over Europe protest over a cut in their services, Americans protest the government doing too much. But Steyn thinks it's a last whimper rather than a lasting stand. The flood of immigration is more inclined to side with the statists than the traditionalists. And countries like Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran are pouncing on our weaknesses. The biggest trouble in Steyn's view is that a majority of Americans are either indifferent to the decline or actively cheerleading it. Steyn is often funny and during his insight, but after you laugh you kind of want to cry.

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Buckley reads his life stories

Revisado: 10-30-16

Would you listen to Miles Gone By again? Why?

Yes, anytime I need to hear the voice of Bill Buckley to remind me of the sanity that seems lost in his absence.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ken Galbraith. . .just kidding. William F Buckley

What about William F. Buckley’s performance did you like?

That it's William F. Buckley so that his words match his thoughts.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I listened on a commute over a few weeks after having read the book 10 years ago. It would be one day if you tried to do it uninterrupted.

Any additional comments?

I own copies of 30 Bill Buckley print books and this was the only Buckley audio book I could find that was read by the author. That alone made it worth the purchase.

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A Story I Am Glad He Tells

Revisado: 10-30-16

If you could sum up Raised Eyebrows in three words, what would they be?

Steve Meets Groucho

What other book might you compare Raised Eyebrows to and why?

I can't think of another book about working for a showbiz legend where our author has nothing but praise for the legend.

Which scene was your favorite?

Steve meets SJ Perelman one night at Groucho's house and the conversation is insightful and inspiring.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me laugh quite a bit. It also made me respect the decency of Steve Stolliar and the thrill of living his moments inside Groucho's house with him. I came away feeling the author was a personal friend.

Any additional comments?

I read the original book 20 years ago so I can't speak to how thorough his revisions are for this audio edition. A lot of it seems like new material. I tend to like the books where the author reads it himself, if he has the ability. Stolliar does a good job pulling off the story and the delivery, be it comic or serious. I would call this book a bridge between old time show business and our modern perspectives.

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Baseball, Politics, & a Seriel Killer in 1977 NYC

Revisado: 10-30-16

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book for anyone who has an interest in the history of New York City.

What other book might you compare Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx Is Burning to and why?

Because it's episodic it reminded me of Bill Bryson's book on 1927. Both books follow multiple story lines and skip back and forth between them.

What about David Ledoux’s performance did you like?

His performance seemed to capture the absurdity of the and the seriousness simultaneously.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

New York City is finished. . . or is it?

Any additional comments?

If you saw the ESPN mini-series it was 80% about baseball. This book splits almost evenly among the 1977 mayoral election, the Son of Sam Killer, and the Yankees, with a commentary on the blackout for good measure.

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How the Citizen can Overcome the Instrusive State

Revisado: 10-30-16

Would you consider the audio edition of By the People to be better than the print version?

I think the book would work either way.

What was one of the most memorable moments of By the People?

The full understanding of how unelected officials run the government.

Have you listened to any of John H. Mayer’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is my first Mayer.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The way the system works frustrates me. Murray has a viable option to wrestle back freedom, but I have my doubts that people would band together in time to make a difference,

Any additional comments?

Like anything Murray writes, it's original and thought provoking. It was a great listen during my daily commute to work.

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Become an expert on the Best Pictures of 1967

Revisado: 12-17-15

Where does Pictures at a Revolution rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

At or near the top.

What other book might you compare Pictures at a Revolution to and why?

You could call it a prequel to Easy Riders Raging Bulls by Peter Biskind although Harris doesn't seek out the salacious nor the snark and yet it's every bit as entertaining.

What about Lloyd James’s performance did you like?

There is nothing not to like. He seems a master in this medium.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The Movie behind the Movies is even better.

Any additional comments?

I hope Mark Harris spends the rest of his life telling me about the people who makes the movies.

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Through look at Star Wars and its Creator

Revisado: 12-11-15

If you could sum up How Star Wars Conquered the Universe in three words, what would they be?

Entertaining Compelling History

What did you like best about this story?

The struggle in creating the first film.

Which scene was your favorite?

The surprise by everyone at what a hit it became.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It's funny in places without being comedy.

Any additional comments?

I had always wondered what Leigh Bracket's contribution was having been a big fan of her work with Howard Hawks. This is the first story that I know that explains her first draft of Empire Strikes Back and how Lawrence Kasdan went a different direction in later drafts.

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A great approach to the directors that went to war

Revisado: 11-14-15

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys film history or likes to read about World War II from different perspectives. The book could have easily been mediocre in the wrong hands. You come away knowing these people as distinct individuals.

What other book might you compare Five Came Back to and why?

It's reminiscent of Harris book Pictures at the Revolution in the way he gives deep background on characters to set you up for the story to come.

What does Andrew Garman bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Like any good performance he interprets events that makes some moments more poignant that they might be otherwise. You can argue that Garman gave the reader a deeper understanding than a first time reader might get.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

George Stevens witnessing German concentration camps in person and how that shaped the rest of his life is so moving I want to reads a book just about Stevens.

Any additional comments?

I wish Harris could churn these out at Stephen Ambrose rates because both of his books are modern classics in the film history genre.

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