Wednesday, January 13, 2010

February Not Fiction Book Discussions

In Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life, Steve Martin, a true original and icon in the world of comedy, says of his years as a stand-up comedian, "I was seeking comic originality, and fame fell on me as a by-product. The course was more plodding than heroic: I did not strive valiantly against doubters but took incremental steps studded with a few intuitive leaps. I was not naturally talented--I didn't sing, dance, or act--though working around that minor detail made me inventive. I was not self-destructive, though I almost destroyed myself. In the end, I turned away from stand-up with a tired swivel of my head and never looked back, until now. A few years ago, I began researching and recalling the details of this crucial part of my professional life--which inevitably touches upon my personal life--and was reminded why I did stand-up and why I walked away." The quiet humor, surprising honesty, and economy of this passage are characteristic of what Martin calls his "biography" of himself during those early years. We learn that the "wild and crazy guy" was a carefully constructed persona, the result of both intellectual inquiry into the nature of comedy and skills honed through hours of study and practice. However, Martin also managed to be in the right places at the right times in his early career. We learn that Martin is actually a complicated guy. So what are the secrets of his success? Innate talent, in spite of what he claims? Simple hard work? The good fortune to be born into a culture that was developing a taste for the kind of comedy he offered? A few lucky breaks?

We hope you will join our conversation--Tuesday, February 2 at 7 p.m. at Main Library, Thursday, February 18 at 11 a.m. at West Ashley Branch Library, or here on the blog--about what Jerry Seinfeld says is "One of the best books about comedy and being a comedian ever written" (GQ).

To learn more about Steve Martin's books, films, and Grammy nomination for his album of banjo tunes titled The Crow visit http://www.stevemartin.com/.