9:36am Monday 12th April 2010
By Rosie Clarke
One of our earliest pleasures is surely being read to – relaxing and focusing as someone brings a tale to life.
As part of Brighton’s City Reads programme, which this year is exploring Ian Fleming’s book From Russia With Love, journalist and playwright Damian Barr is acting as a “reader in residence” in the glamourous penthouse at Myhotel.
Small groups can join him for a 45-minute session of reading and discussing the book in this sophisticated environment.
An ancient wooden carousel horse canters in the centre of the room, deep red curtains hide a freestanding bath tub, and four crystal orbs gleam from atop the four-poster bed.
A softly-spoken Scotsman, Damian welcomed us into this luxurious lair, clad in designer pyjamas and dressing gown. He took care to point out the floor-to-ceiling windows should we need to make a daring escape from any villains.
Each session begins with a carefully mixed martini, accompanied by an explanation of the cocktail’s development by resident barman, Cam.
As we settled into comfortable chairs, Damian introduced the main characters from the book he loves, reading short excerpts, then commenting on them and opening up the text for discussion.
We compared the two- dimensional female characters, from thoroughly evil Rosa Klebb to thoroughly beautiful “and, for a KGB spy, rather thick” Tatiana Romanova.
James Bond is depicted in the book (as opposed to the film version) as an obsessive-compulsive, occasionally cold, antihero.
Damian’s enthusiasm had worked its magic – however trashy the book might be, I now have to read it.
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