1) "SHY" by Mary Rodgers and Jesse Greene--After hearing raves about this book I immediately sent away for it. I knew a little about Mary Rodgers such as being the daughter of Richard Rodgers, that she had written the successful musical "Once Upon A Mattress" and book "Freaky Friday" and even more successful movie version of that book. I, also, knew that she was the mother of Adam Guettel who had won Tony awards for "The Light in the Piazza".
I learned a few things from this book: a) I don't like Mary Rodgers who is a complainer, whiner, really didn't care or like people and never seemed to forgive Stephen Sondheim for being gay and not marrying her 2) Whoever had the idea of Jesse Green and millions of footnotes, of which 5 may have been relevant to the reader, should never be allowed near a book again but there was one positive and that was I became familiar with Rodgers & Hart's "He Was Too Good To Me"--here's 2 different versions:

https://youtu.be/pNtYO0KOLeg Nina Simone and https://youtu.be/I_lEm4xl7WU Barbara Cook

I had a hard time getting through this book and don't recommend it.


2) "Lord knows at least I WAS THERE Working with Stephen Sondheim" by Paul Ford. Ford makes Rodgers look like the most positive human being alive. He is the stereotypical gay man who hates himself and other gays! He was raised under the same circumstances than I was but, oh man, I am so glad I am not like him! He, like many others, are using Sondheim's name and death to sell a book. He does talk a lot about Mandy Patinkin and his being the pianist for so many of the former's show. He does sound very bitter about a career many would kill for and about anyone more famous and/or successful than he is. Unless you want to enjoy a man's moaning and groaning about everything I don't recommend reading this.


3) "I WAS BETTER LAST NIGHT a memoir" by Harvey Fierstein. I only know Fierstein from the many shows, movies and TV programs I have seen him in or leading the march for rights for gay people. I first saw him off-Broadway doing one act of what was to become a big hit on Broadway "Torch Song Trilogy." The reader feels as he is being talked by the man he is, telling his stories, his hits, his misses, his loves, sex, his life. He is a man who is proud of who he is and what he has accomplished. I loved reading about his years of cruising the same bars, docks, trucks and places I did.
Yes, he dishes now and then but it is quick and goes on to dropping a name just because he admires them like Kathleen Chalfant. He talks about doing drag, writing and/or acting in shows and movies like "Kinky Boots", "Fiddler on the Roof", "La Cage Aux Folles", "Hairspray", "Mrs. Doubtfire" to name just a few. He has won 4 Tony awards and a total of 10 of the 20 awards he has been nominated for.
When he talks about his life today you feel as if you are in his home in Connecticut and the two of you are exchanging private thoughts while it is snowing outside and the fire is glowing inside.
After reading this book I feel I have always known Harvey Fierstein and am proud to call him a friend! Be sure to read this!