It was my birthday a week ago. Just one more year… and I’ll be 30.

If my sister reminds me of that one more time… well….

There wasn’t a lot that I really wanted for my birthday. The only thing I didn’t get that I really want is that damn Rodgers & Hart compilation CD that I”ve mentioned before.

I’ve also been on the hunt for books again. I got a copy of Jackie Cooper’s autobiography and I just finished it yesterday. I found his view of working as a child actor extremely interesting but definitely a touch bitter. I can see why… pushed into the industry by his mother and then he felt that his he didn’t enjoy a satisfying film directing career.

I also bid on an auction by the book on child stars by Dick Moore: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. I was fortunate to find a US seller who went to the post office to find out how much it would cost to send it to me in New Zealand. I’m part-way through it and it’s been amusing to find out more about some stars I already know (eg. Donald O’Connor) and learn about others I know nothing about.

I think though in the next few weeks… I”ll definitely be watching a few more films. I’m going house-sitting for 4 weeks and I’ll only have dialup access for that time so I don’t know how often I’ll want to be logging on.

I went back to the same bookstore last Friday and found a couple more books.  This time paperbacks of Gene Tierney’s & Jane Russells autobiographies.  I’m now on Jane Russell’s book which I saved until last.

I’ve also watched season 3 of Full House and I’m watching season 3 of Bewitched now.  I definitely enjoyed this season of Full House more than the previous 2 seasons… and I’m only up to about episode 4 of Bewitched so it’s too early to comment. However watching episodes filmed in colour as opposed to colourised makes a big difference.

But back to the books.

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I got these two books today for $20 from a local second-hand store. I just went in for a minute, ended up hunting for the biographies section, and was in luck. The guy at the store looked at the Ginger book and I’m sure he thought it was worth more than $10 (I’m not 100% sure as I was listening to my iPod) but he couldn’t change the price. But I definitely will visit in a couple of weeks to see what else turns up!

I’m reading the Lana Turner biography first… and I’ll see how that goes. I like the idea of buying star biographies but do try to keep in mind that some things noted may not be entirely true. For instance… like lying about their age or denying certain scandalous events took place.

Oh yes and two cents about those Columbia films…

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As well as non fiction, I love to read a bit of chick-lit too. Not too much, but enough to make me smile. Especially Marian Keyes - I have several of her books. So when I went to Whitcoulls on Thursday looking for the special edition King Kong set and saw her new novel…. I had to get it.

One thing I have always loved about her books is the ones she writes about the Walsh Family. I read Rachel’s Holiday first and that is still my favourite so it was really nice to see a bit more written about her character this time, even though she was sort of in the background. And getting to know one character at a time has been fun. Especially with later books as you get a pre-conceived notion about them… then the book changes that.
(and it’s not available on amazon.com until June 1? hmmmm…)

No passing go. No collecting $200.00.

Now back to plotting how I can get my hands on those eight songbook CD’s that Ella recorded in the fifties and sixties….

Tardy… tardy…. tardy.

The Marjorie Main biography that I won recently arrived last week. And it came with a little surprise… namely Children of Hollywood: Accounts of Growing Up as the Sons and Daughters of Stars. It’s been a rather pleasant introduction to Michelle Vogel’s books.

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