I'm enjoying a great book at the moment.
A biography of Alan Alda.
You know, Binky, 'Hawkeye' from M*A*S*H.
He's been a bit of hero of mine since I was a kid and I followed the adventures of those wacky Doctors at the Four Oh Seventy Seventh week in week out.
I was attracted to the character of Hawkeye in a big way.
Not attracted in any physical way, but in a kind of hero worship way.
I liked his anger, his rage against the machine (in this case the madness of the korean war), his sarcasm and his way out sense of humour.
The character always rang true to me.
And I guess, in some small way he was the kind of man I hoped I would be some day.
But I'll let you be the judge of that.
After the Goodbye, Farewell and Amen he went onto other stuff such as 'The Four Seasons' and 'Sweet Liberty' and of course 'Crimes and Misdeamours' but Hawkeye still resonnated.
And continues to do so.
For me anyway.
Reading the book is like peeling away the layers of an onion, or perhaps seeing a picture in colour for the first time.
He's had quite a ride, beginning in the burlesque shows of the thirties and forties and coping with his mothers mental illness, through to the hip sixties and the crazy seventies, when M*A*S*H hit the big time.
All throughout his love of books and writing shines on through.
He writes with a witty self deprecating style that is underpinned with an optimistic outlook on life.
I'm thouroughly enjoying reading about this great man and briliant character actor.
Pick it up if you so desire, you won't regret it.
23/02/06 @ 01:53