I've been eagerly sniffing the air for Barbara Amiel's upcoming memoir, Friends and Enemies, due out on Oct. 13
It's 608 friggin' pages.
The Toronto Sun editor traveled in far fancier, odder circles than her three years as The Black Queen of King Street.
She was exotic. Mysterious. Fascinating.
But the Sun was just a blip on her celebrated career in journalism and high society. And the marriage. And Conrad's trial. And the decades-long trail of controversial columns, articles, that charmed, infuriated, enlightened or challenged readers.
She often rivaled Blatchford for Longest Lead.
Bono and I kept score.
Of her 1983-1985 stretch in charge of the Little Paper, there's no clue in an early publicity volley.
Shinan Govani's chat with Amiel offers a take on an amazing life, writing the weighty book and how--despite its publisher's claim it is "not a book of vengeance"--there are more enemies than friends.
Now, as then, a sharp wit and self-awareness seems to soften the memoir's name drops and nostalgia.
"Social media and celebrity wardrobes had not yet taken hold..." she writes. "In terms of shallow display, I was ahead of my time and behind in the number of handbags."
I think Amiel got a tough go in her three years at the Sun. I wouldn't be surprised if she had more satisfying work experiences.
But in a life fully lived, sometimes a lot of grump and fury fades. Maybe not for rats.
Late in the book, Govani says Amiel writes:
"I had stardust ... but not enough."
His interview appears in the new issue of Zoomer, the six-issue a year mag for geezers like me. Link below, boomers....
Amiel book interview by
Shinan Govani at ....
https://www.everythingzoomer.com/zed-book-club/2020/07/15/barbara-amiel-memoir/
Amiel in 2012
Jessica Darmanin/Maclean's
Pre-orders at the usual places
Aren't most mentioned in this book now pushing 80?
Honey? Can you help me lift this book?
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