The New Adventures of Mr Stephen Fry » Topic: Moab Is My Washpot

The New Adventures of Mr Stephen Fry » Topic: Moab Is My Washpot http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/moab-is-my-washpot Just another bbPress community en-US Sat, 25 May 2013 02:12:23 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 <![CDATA[Search]]> q http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/search.php april101 on "Moab Is My Washpot" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/moab-is-my-washpot/page/22#post-277303 Sat, 15 Oct 2011 17:46:17 +0000 april101 277303@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ I have read lots of books and found them to be interesting. but Steven fry as won me over by is charm and skill. I would compare his writing to that of late Charles dickens or to a musical masterpiece. after reading his autobiography I was tempted to read more so pick Moab is my washpot, that will become my favorite book for a long time and just ordered more can't get enough of this charming graceful man. I like his intelligence his humor and frankness. the most thing that appeals to me is his bravery I don't think that I have ever been brave like this and I want to. I liked moab is my washpot, because it speaks to me a lot and helps me to deal with issues in my own life.how free I feel when reading it.but really i believe Steven fry as opened a new door to me in the reading world and I seam to love it more and want to read more i also love is books because of the good grammar and English, I think i would be able to write better too as I read.can't wait.I already have a great passion for learning, but not very good writing skills.I wish that he would write something for the adult that's learning in English and maths, I am so desperate to learn . Mandala on "Moab Is My Washpot" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/moab-is-my-washpot/page/22#post-270975 Sat, 04 Jun 2011 16:04:18 +0000 Mandala 270975@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ I just started listening to Moab a few weeks ago after workouts. The philosophical parts are great to just zen out. Alan Watts is also fun for this. The Moth readings too, which I think are also podcasts. I wish I had known of Fry's writing before, though I don't think it would have helped. Sometimes the past is corded off with good reason, and only two settings of "bad" and "much worse." The good always gets taken for granted. Listing to someone insightful share all is a treat. Even if I had been roundly educated I'd have missed a lot and appreciated less. But it's always great to be reminded there are so many good artists and writers who have an amazing take on philosophy and art. I get so busy but I'm glad I took the time to listen and check out this forum. Happy Hunting! cousin_jack on "Moab Is My Washpot" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/moab-is-my-washpot/page/22#post-270327 Wed, 18 May 2011 17:36:01 +0000 cousin_jack 270327@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ I'm doing this backwards. 'Chronicles' for Christmas led me to 'moab' which I borroowed from the local liby. Discussing songs in the chapter 'Falling in', Stephen asks about the comic song 'Ballad of Bethnal Green' and hopes someone will tell him who did it. My nomination for this is Paddy Roberts who was a middle aged baldish man who played the piano with a ciggy in one hand and a pint of beer perched on the corner of his old upright. He sang hundreds of such songs through the late fifties, early sixties. I have an EP of his called 'Paddy Roberts strikes again' which contains 'The Belle of Barking Creek', 'Tattooed Lady', ( not the Groucho Marx one) 'I love Mary', and 'Why did it all begin'. The humour is dry and saucy. An aunt of mine had a full LP called 'Strictly for Grown ups', long since lost. There are very few references to him nowadays which is a pity. I would love to hear more of his stuff. I still don't have a clue what the Moab quotation is all about! Mycroft-The-Meddler on "Moab Is My Washpot" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/moab-is-my-washpot/page/22#post-269807 Mon, 02 May 2011 15:58:57 +0000 Mycroft-The-Meddler 269807@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ Because I haven't said anything about it yet, I feel I must. To sum it all up: It's a fantastic book. I read it around a year ago, when I was 14/15. (I know, I know. I'm much later than everyone else!) I could really relate to it, and it's written in such a beautifully personal way. It made me feel as if I could become successful, without being what I think everyone describes as 'normal'. Thank you, Mr Fry for giving me a lovely read that is currently nestling gently between some Wodehouse and some le Carre. Tabascofanatikerin on "Moab Is My Washpot" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/moab-is-my-washpot/page/22#post-268611 Sun, 10 Apr 2011 09:18:06 +0000 Tabascofanatikerin 268611@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ I recently finished "Moab is my Washpot". And I think it's the best Stephen Fry book I have read so far. Yes, his novels are wonderful and "The Liar" pretty much reads a lot like the autobiography since there are many parallels. But, like "Making history", this one touched me very often and deeply. Fry talks to the reader about his childhood, life in schools, his teenage years and love in an exciting and affecting way. I think - like everyone who read this book - I could spot some similarities between mine and Fry's youth: problems with school grades, problems with other pupils, adaptive difficulties, the fear of a parent (in my case it's the mother), suicidal intents, the feeling of being a loser after not getting a proper job right now (I could sing an opera about that)... ...which made me even more understand, of course. You would hardly think this kid would turn out to be THE Stephen Fry we know today (not meant to be an insult!). This makes the stories even more interesting. Thumbs up, it's another excellent and remarkable autobiography among my books I would read a second time <img src="http://www.stephenfry.com/bb-content/plugins//bb-smilies/default/icon_smile.gif" title=":)" class="bb_smilies" /> dexter vandango on "Moab Is My Washpot" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/moab-is-my-washpot/page/22#post-255929 Thu, 02 Dec 2010 16:06:58 +0000 dexter vandango 255929@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ Just begun listening to the audio version of Moab. Stephen loves, adores the English language with the same relish that.. oh.. Roman Polanski might evidence when he's screening Shirley Temple movies in the privacy of his flat in Paris. Stephen, however, chooses to share his passion with us, for which we all grateful. He even shares some stories scatological from his early school days. I believe I have a topper. In 1954, when I was 5 years old, I was dropped off at kindergarten by my mother. At the time, our small Rocky Mountain town of Rock Springs, Wyoming hadn't yet received TV broadcasting, so as a 5 year old I had only heard about schools but had never seen the insides of one as we had no TV and I had never been to the movies. So all I knew was that schools were places kids learned to read and write. On the first day I scrambled to find a seat next to Robert Zotti, a boy from down the block who I knew vaguely. We sat together at an old-fashioned for-even-then 2-person bench desk with a tilt-up top that you could put your books under, and a hole on the top for a bottle of ink. After listening to our new teacher for a few minutes I sensed that my bench mate, Robert was getting antsy and I whispered "What's the matter?" He hissed back in some discomfort, "I have to go to the toilet." We had no idea that schools had toilets as we had only used the ones at home and we didn't think to ask as everything was so foreign and overwhelming. After about 20 more minutes of squirming and sweating I noticed my bench-mate was now clenching and making soft grunting sounds. Then he surreptitiously reached into the back of his pants, scooped something out, raised the desk top slightly and deposited the contents of his hand in the desk. Then he whispered to me as he pointed to a desk across the room, "Tomorrow we sit over there.." That was my first day of school and I often wonder whatever became of Robert Zotti. welshconnection on "Moab Is My Washpot" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/moab-is-my-washpot/page/22#post-251143 Mon, 18 Oct 2010 11:46:48 +0000 welshconnection 251143@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ I have always considered myself a fan of stephen fry and his ramblings. I own all of his books, however until last week the only one which I had read was The Fry Chronicles. "Some fan" you might say, but whether it was for fear of disliking what I read or because of a 'too cool for school' attitude; believing I didn't have time to read, I just hadn't turned a single page of the pristine library gathering dust on my shelves. I do however own an iPod; more battered and fed up of the same old music than Mr Fry's collection of hardware i'm sure but still enough space in the memory for an audiobook. I downloaded MIMW and shut myself away with earphones on buses, trains and park benches, listening to the words from the horse's mouth (never an insult intended). Loved it! what else is there to say? made me feel happy to be alive (which is actually no exaggeration) made me realise that when life throws you lemons just keep making lemonade. and even if you get sick of lemonade yourself, someone out there is aways in need of refreshment. Thank you paigetheoracle on "Moab Is My Washpot" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/moab-is-my-washpot/page/22#post-247825 Thu, 16 Sep 2010 19:43:39 +0000 paigetheoracle 247825@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ I have never read this book but I was in the same hostel as Mr Fry and wondered if this or his new book, covered his time at Kings Lynn College of Arts and Technology? <img src="http://www.stephenfry.com/bb-content/plugins//bb-smilies/default/icon_idea.gif" title=":idea:" class="bb_smilies" /> amyl_nitrate on "Moab Is My Washpot" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/moab-is-my-washpot/page/22#post-244259 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:29:05 +0000 amyl_nitrate 244259@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ <blockquote><cite>Mengqi bitan <a href="//www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/moab-is-my-washpot#post-132625"">said</a>:</cite> Hi everyone, just registered. Random question here, but Stephen mentions somewhere in Moab a book about what I think was the art of card tricks and misdirection, but I cant remember what it was and cant now find it anywhere in the book. Annoying. Does anyone happen to know what it was?</blockquote> I'm in the middle of re-reading it and haven't found it yet. Will let you know as soon as I do <img src="http://www.stephenfry.com/bb-content/plugins//bb-smilies/default/icon_smile.gif" title=":)" class="bb_smilies" /> He mentions it more than once. First time I think was the bit where he he passed the fag test at Uppingham (i.e. questions about things like the chocolate block) and the guy who was testing him treated him to a huge slap-up meal of eggs, sausages and chips. Because he didn't like chips and the guy was going to sit there watching him eat every last bit he used magic trick techniques to trick him and hide the chips in a napkin on his lap. He later mentions it again in regard to stealing I think. I've re-read Moab again and it still holds a special place for me. here were moments that made me laugh, moments of great sadness and moments I could empathise with. I am eagerly anticipating the next one. I wonder if it will just look at the following twenty years and break off again and or go right up until the present day? Maybe if it was another twenty year chunk he could then write a third one of the next twenty? AC on "Moab Is My Washpot" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/moab-is-my-washpot/page/22#post-243911 Mon, 09 Aug 2010 07:08:43 +0000 AC 243911@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ I've found since I finished reading Moab back in the spring that I think about it an awful lot. It is so wonderfully written and funny and honest and heartbreaking all at once. I was shocked at how much Stephen reminded me of myself--not in all ways, of course, but in enough that it really struck me. It's hard to explain (maybe I'll find the words one day), but somehow I feel like I'm not quite the same person after reading this book that I was before reading it. CClear on "Moab Is My Washpot" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/moab-is-my-washpot/page/22#post-243873 Sun, 08 Aug 2010 22:01:00 +0000 CClear 243873@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ I write as a female suffering with depression (undiagnosed sadly to date) I do have a law degree but simply read Stephen's book because I love him on the TV and my boyfriend bought it for me. I have laughed and cried. It is one of the most beautiful autobiographies I have read. Reading some of your comments makes me think you have totally missed the some (not all of you). Go enjoy life and get out of your arses - Jennifer Coffey - I am going to buy everything he has written xx Jennifer Coffey on "Moab Is My Washpot" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/moab-is-my-washpot/page/22#post-242851 Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:33:37 +0000 Jennifer Coffey 242851@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ Moab is my Washpot moved me to the point of review, which, while not apporpriate for reprinting here, does in part state: "Stephen Fry...radiates in a light of his own making, his tender-hearted nature rendering him one of the finest individuals with whom I have ever spent seven magical and heartbreaking nights, laughing and crying and wondering throughout why he also, by times and along with that exuberance, hates himself so." I was so disheartened, having completed the book late last night, that I have come looking for him online. What a thrill to read that plans for more autobiographical detail are in the works. I have no idea what I'm going to read now. Nothing seems to compare. RonaK on "Moab Is My Washpot" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/moab-is-my-washpot/page/21#post-242533 Mon, 26 Jul 2010 08:50:43 +0000 RonaK 242533@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ Just finished "Moab is My Washpot" about 2 weeks ago. Its the first time I have ever read any of Stephen Fry's books, I loved his use of the English language and his way of describing the various incidences that happened in his earlier years. I cannot wait to read his next autobiography coming out soon. olivertWisted on "Moab Is My Washpot" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/moab-is-my-washpot/page/21#post-241185 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:54:06 +0000 olivertWisted 241185@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ I want to live in the world where exists only this "Moab" <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PjilcLP07w" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PjilcLP07w</a> & never existed that MOAB <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7tG7keSe-0" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7tG7keSe-0</a> You are making this world more better place, sir. AC on "Moab Is My Washpot" http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/topic/moab-is-my-washpot/page/21#post-221697 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:37:43 +0000 AC 221697@http://www.stephenfry.com/forum/ I just started reading Moab is My Washpot last night--got it from the library because I'm tired of always just reading for classes. I haven't read much yet, but I think it's just incredible. It's going to be tough starting Bleak House for my Dickens class when I could be reading Stephen's amazing book instead <img src="http://www.stephenfry.com/bb-content/plugins//bb-smilies/default/icon_wink.gif" title=";)" class="bb_smilies" /> Already looking forward to the sequel!