Matters of Vital Interest: A Forty-Year Friendship with Leonard Cohen

News about Leonard Cohen and his work, press, radio & TV programs etc.
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AlanM
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Re: Matters of Vital Interest: A Forty-Year Friendship with Leonard Cohen

Post by AlanM »

I have written three attempts to recommend this book and each has disappeared!
Read it!
Copy of my Amazon review:
This is the story of the two dear friends on their journey through 40 years of life. It reveals the "other" Leonard Cohen without being intrusive, i.e. the man rather than the artist. Relevant but minimal comment is made on his professional career, his legal problems and his women. The main emphasis is just two regular guys who happen to be known to the world. Although the end was known before I read this book, I found the writing style captivating and I read the last quarter at one sitting.
This book should interest readers who are not very familiar with Leonard Cohen, as well as his many fans.
Last edited by AlanM on Sun Feb 10, 2019 12:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
Too much Leonard Cohen is never enough.
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vlcoats
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Re: Matters of Vital Interest: A Forty-Year Friendship with Leonard Cohen

Post by vlcoats »

AlanM wrote: Sun Jan 20, 2019 4:37 am Read it!
Yes sir! :-D
anny
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Re: Matters of Vital Interest: A Forty-Year Friendship with Leonard Cohen

Post by anny »

it's on my list thks for reminding
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HugoD
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Re: Matters of Vital Interest: A Forty-Year Friendship with Leonard Cohen

Post by HugoD »

Got my copy in the mail yesterday. Looking forward reading it :D
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Heather1969
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Re: Matters of Vital Interest: A Forty-Year Friendship with Leonard Cohen

Post by Heather1969 »

Already on second read, this book is wonderful. Buddhism, red wine, snacks, ice lollies and a deep and lasting friendship, perfect.

My only wish is that I was sat at that table in Tremaine too.

Read it.
Heather
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lizzytysh
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Re: Matters of Vital Interest: A Forty-Year Friendship with Leonard Cohen

Post by lizzytysh »

I need to order it.
And what a beautiful review of it that Marie posted. Don't know who wrote it. My phone won't cooperate in following the link.
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Deena
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Re: Matters of Vital Interest: A Forty-Year Friendship with Leonard Cohen

Post by Deena »

I was given this book for Christmas and just finished reading it a week or so ago. I was completely overwhelmed by the intimacy of the book. It was fascinating and moving to get a glimpse of the man behind The Man. At times I felt like I was sitting at that kitchen table with the two of them. It was funny in places - laugh out loud. And also, as astranger points out, intense at the end, even somewhat painful to read. So, a book that made me laugh and cry...I cried so much at the end. And I too, Heather, wish that I could have been at that table in Tremaine...
Heather1969
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Re: Matters of Vital Interest: A Forty-Year Friendship with Leonard Cohen

Post by Heather1969 »

I’m not sure if this has been posted before. A nice little piece anyway.

http://www.oldiesmusicblog.com/an-inter ... biography/

Heather
The Brucester
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Re: Matters of Vital Interest: A Forty-Year Friendship with Leonard Cohen

Post by The Brucester »

~~ comments withdrawn ~~
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LisaLCFan
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Re: Matters of Vital Interest: A Forty-Year Friendship with Leonard Cohen

Post by LisaLCFan »

Heather1969 wrote: Sun Feb 10, 2019 12:30 pm I’m not sure if this has been posted before. A nice little piece anyway.

http://www.oldiesmusicblog.com/an-inter ... biography/

Heather

Thanks, I enjoyed that. I particularly liked this bit:

There’s nothing to disagree with or dispute in the book.
You can open it and enter the room and join us.
Or you can close the book and leave.


Perfect attitude towards pretty much everything!
MargRz
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Re: Matters of Vital Interest: A Forty-Year Friendship with Leonard Cohen

Post by MargRz »

Now you got me interested... I wasn’t going to order it for fear it was just another production from someone trying to capitalize on LC’s passing. Your recommendations convinced me, so I will buy it.

Cheers,
Marg
MaryB
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Re: Matters of Vital Interest: A Forty-Year Friendship with Leonard Cohen

Post by MaryB »

Thanks to everyone for your wonderful reviews. Have just placed my order.
1993 Detroit 2008 Kitchener June 2-Hamilton June 3 & 4-Vienna Sept 24 & 25-London RAH Nov 17 2009 NYC Feb 19-Grand Prairie Apr 3-Phoenix Apr 5-Columbia May 11-Red Rocks Jun 4-Barcelona Sept 21-Columbus Oct 27-Las Vegas Nov 12-San Jose Nov 13 2010 Sligo Jul 31 & Aug 1-LV Dec 10 & 11 2012 Paris Sept 30-London Dec 11-Boston Dec 16 2013 Louisville Mar 30-Amsterdam Sept 20
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ForYourSmile
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Re: Matters of Vital Interest: A Forty-Year Friendship with Leonard Cohen

Post by ForYourSmile »

Image
Hi,

Somewhat late I have received the translation into Spanish, which is not my language but I know well. (I don't like this translation).
I really enjoyed this reading, absolutely interesting for me. It talks about those matters of vital interest to Cohen, Lerner and me. Among other things we can intuit, for example, what was Mount Baldy.
It's about a friendship, a special, subtle and polite relationship.
It is not a biography, neither it is source of much new information; perhaps there are more things about Lerner than Cohen.
For mythomaniacs and pilgrims there are some places. I will not return to LA, nor to NYC, the Mayflower bar no longer exists, but I would like to go to Montreal, for onetime.
Reading the book I felt at that table in Tremaine, but, even at that time if I could express myself in English, I would not know what to say more than thanks for all this, thanks for the dance.

In the film Kiss the Sky two friends continue to deal with matters of vital interest,
they are other characters on the run. The film complemented the book.
MaryB
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Re: Matters of Vital Interest: A Forty-Year Friendship with Leonard Cohen

Post by MaryB »

This is a must read for every LC fan. It gives such an intimate portrait of the man. I wish I could a been 'a fly on the wall' froe every bar and conversation they had, but I felt as if I had been there. Outstanding!
1993 Detroit 2008 Kitchener June 2-Hamilton June 3 & 4-Vienna Sept 24 & 25-London RAH Nov 17 2009 NYC Feb 19-Grand Prairie Apr 3-Phoenix Apr 5-Columbia May 11-Red Rocks Jun 4-Barcelona Sept 21-Columbus Oct 27-Las Vegas Nov 12-San Jose Nov 13 2010 Sligo Jul 31 & Aug 1-LV Dec 10 & 11 2012 Paris Sept 30-London Dec 11-Boston Dec 16 2013 Louisville Mar 30-Amsterdam Sept 20
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