Go Slowly, Come Back Quickly

...Of war and glamour.

At the end of the 1930s, we're introduced to Stani, a Polish-American, who we follow into the '40s. During a stint in Britain, he takes up arms against the Germans which is something that ends up leaving a few lasting marks on his life. One of those marks is a climatic event which is strikingly depicted, and once the ordeal and its aftermath have passed, it's hard not to think, gee I wonder what's next? It is also during the war that he makes the acquaintance of a young lady whom he falls in love with. And her aspirations to become a film star leads them westward across the pond to Hollywood, back to the state Stani grew up in. This creates a stark contrast between the two parts of the story, emphasizing the show more distinct phases of their lives.
It took at little while for the book to gain momentum, so I could latch onto the proceedings and characters. With that being said, it increasingly gets better and better, and more immersive as it moves along. Mr. Niven's firm grip of the English language allows him to sprinkle in beautifully descriptive language at a whim, which brings the world and people to life with great efficiency. The globetrotting and varied scenery provide ample opportunity for that to shine though some early characters feel underdeveloped. And I would've loved to have heard more Mrs. Quansett-Fowles. At times, mostly in the first part of the book, it moved on too quickly from a conversation or scene, which would leave a slightly disjointed feel to the page. Generally, it has some truly funny moments that had me laughing out loud, but also a few moments that didn't stick the landing. As the story progresses Stani's girlfriend takes more of the spotlight for periods of time. These shifts have immense benefits in building up their personalities, conveying the love between them, and almost makes their bond a character in and of itself.

The story draws upon David Niven's experiences during the war and in Hollywood. For example, the trip to South America is from one motion picture he worked on himself, and is a definite highlight. This amalgamation is fertile ground allowing him to cherry pick inspiration for the book and its twists and turns. It also blurs the line between fiction and reality which adds some mystery that works as an enhancing quality. Furthermore, he had such a knack for picking titles for his books that not only stands out, but is also intertwined with the book itself. And this is no different. I simply adored the way it was elegantly woven into the story multiple times.

"In Chicago, on the return trip, he was surrounded by Polish Americans, who forced him to make amends for is inability to speak their language, by acknowledging many toasts in Polish vodka. So many, that by the end he couldn't even speak English."

The adventures in Hollywood really lets Mr. Niven display his knowledge of the industry. It opens up for more interpersonal intrigue, and bit by bit he lets you peek behind the glamour curtain and see the cutthroat ways of the business, which even when detracted from the story is incredibly interesting. And if you, like me, cherish the Golden Age of Hollywood there are small grains of gold plotted in the second part of the book. Historical nods to the time period, actors that show up, and when one evening, there's a screening of "Gilda", you know they're in for a good time. As mentioned, it is small grains, so it won't detract from your enjoyment if you're not familiar with the period, but I appreciated the extra spice.

"Go Slowly, Come Back Quickly" managed to stir up quite the emotional response in me as a result of a certain happening. It's not a big surprise that this thing happens, but there are two crucial aspects that cements its effect. The story and personal relationships are told with great integrity, and leaves a lingering element of disbelief that it actually will happen. Furthermore, the way the event unfolds with the guidance of Niven's pen is simply superb.
Sitting alone in the laundry room reading, I was utterly shocked by the transpiring events. I had to get up. My heart was pounding into my rib cage, and I started frantically pacing the floor, back and forth, almost panting. Part of me wanted to throw the book away, or at least put it on ice, as I almost felt personally betrayed! However, I stuck with it, deciding to I would not go to bed before I finished the book. And after my initial inner tremors subsided, a fleeting light bulb ignited above my head leading to the realization that I genuinely care about these characters.

Unfortunately, the book ends rather abruptly without tying up the story with a graceful bow which it so sorely deserves, which leaves it too open ended for my taste. Whether Mr. Niven intended there to be a second entry, I do not know. What I do know, on the other hand, is that I do not regret the time I spent with this enchanting tale. At the end, I truly felt like I had been on a journey with these people over many years, and they will stay with me for a long time. It is not without its shortcomings, but in spite of that, it is absolutely worth experiencing today, more than 40 years after its publication. show less

I still like David Niven, but found this to be a little more uneven than his nonfiction. It took a while for me to get into it, but there are some good LOLs in the middle, and it ends with a strange episode. As expected, the most successful parts dealt with Hollywood and acting.

Stanislaw Skolimowski – kallad Stani – reser till England för att vara med om sin mors bröllop. Han beslöt sig för att börja studera vid Cambridge men först måste han komplettera en del. Det gör han i London hos privatlärare. Under tiden bryter Andra Världskriget ut och Stani blir kvar i London. För att göra nytta i kriget anmäler han sig till pilotutbildning och hamnar i den polska divisionen i R.A.F.

Vid den tiden träffar han Pandora som är skådespelerska och drömmer om en roll i Hollywood. Vi får följa Stanis och Pandoras kärleksaffär under kriget och hur de upplever tider då de får vara tillsammans och då de tvingas vara åtskilda från varandra.

Efter kriget får Pandora möjlighet att komma till show more Hollywood. Stani följer med och får uppleva livet i filmbranschen med dess intriger och konflikter. Stanis och Pandoras relation sätts på svåra prov. show less

I read this book for the first time while cataloging the fiction section of my library. The story caught my interest immediately and I really enjoyed Niven's book. He writes knowledgeably of England during World War II and of Hollywood shenanigans in the years right after the war. The only complaint I would have is that the story ended too soon and a little abruptly. A very interesting and entertaining book.

4.Μια ιστορία αγάπης που είναι αληθινή και αντέχει και τυφώνες.
" Σε ικετεύω Θεέ μου άσε τη να ζήσει ότι κι αν είναι εγώ θα τη φροντίζω , μόνο άσε την να ζήσει "