Overall rating: 8/10.

Lies: A Diary: 1986-1999 is the collected diary entries of talented American composer Ned Rorem (whose main genre is setting words to music as in art songs, operas, oratorios, etc., but who also has various instrumental works to his credit). He's been a famous diarist/writer ever since he published his first diaries back in the day (The Paris and New York Diaries). They are very candid, honest, and brutally sincere. He disses dead people (Beethoven) and alive-and-kicking people (a whole host of composers) with what seems to be alarming disrepect. Though upon closer inspection, he's merely being honest in a diary in a way none of us are outside such an initimate context.

As you can tell by the title, Lies is Rorem's most recent collection of entries. I haven't read anything else by Rorem so it's hard to place this in the context of his earlier works (I hear they're more risque and intriguing since he was really at the center of the musico-cultural world in Paris...and sexual escapades galore). The book as it stands by itself is definitely worth a read. The content is no doubt more interesting to people in the know about the music circles, but even more refershing is Rorem's honesty. He's obviously well read and thinks through his thoughts before standing by them. At its best, the diary is intimate conversation with an intelligent soul.

It is also a sad account of the decline of his partner, Jim Holmes. His descriptions are startlingly blunt sometimes, reducing AIDS to a bag of symptoms. But these are all the more sad and poignant when juxtaposed with more touching and intimate accounts of his love for JH and his feelings of frustration at not being able to save the one he loves the most. It is a sad volume overall.

I don't think Lies is a must read for everyone but it is a rare opportunity to dive into a talented mind.