TT Book Discovery and a Mark Mini Pic Spam

[przed]

A few weeks ago, I finally broke down and got a used copy of Take That In Private on the Amazon UK marketplace. I've had it for a few weeks, but I only just noticed today that it came with a bit of a bonus tucked into the back cover:



Yep, that would be an actual 45 RPM single of Babe, Mark's first lead song with the band back in the day. Also, if you squint, you can see that at the top of the back flyleaf the previous owner has recorded when TT split up. I feel like I'm the keeper of a little piece of someone else's history.

In celebration of this little discovery, I thought I'd put up a quote from the book, with a few illustrating Markie pics. Because one can never have too many pics of Mark Owen. Srsly!

First, the quote, wherein the writer describes Mark taking a bath. (Really. I could not make this stuff up.):

"He's thin – all of Take That worry that he's too thin. His ribs are showing as he stretches across to reach the soap, but his legs belong to a footballer."

First of all, awww for the other boys worrying about Mark. But now let's investigate the rest of that quote.

Here's Mark, in a bath – though not taking a bath, darn it – and yep, looking a bit on the skinny side.


The wilderness years, and he's still almost alarmingly skinny, though with nicely buff arms I definitely appreciate.


Then there's that last bit. Does he have legs that belong a footballer? Let's check:


Yes. Yes, he does. Is it hot in here?

Comments

[forthewistful.livejournal.com]

First, the quote, wherein the writer describes Mark taking a bath. (Really. I could not make this stuff up.):

"He's thin – all of Take That worry that he's too thin. His ribs are showing as he stretches across to reach the soap, but his legs belong to a footballer."

I'm reading In Private right now, but didn't get to this quote yet. I'm sure it would have attracted my attention anyway, but now that you have pointed it out, I will keep an extra eye out for it.

A quote that has definitely stuck to me though was the one with Mark forcing Jason to eat some chocolate before a show because all the guys feared that Jay totally lacked the energy to go on stage (due to his rather extreme eating habits back then). Awwww. (This calls for fiction.)

[przed.livejournal.com]

That quote does rather jump off the page. I'm sure you would have noticed it. *g*

As for Jason, I'm betting he still has rather extreme eating habits (which totally call for fiction *g*), though hopefully they're a bit more balanced now. But there's still not an ounce of fat on the man.

[forthewistful.livejournal.com]

Since I have some sort of kink for eating disorders and other food related stuff, I might very well come up with a story centering on Jason and Mark because Mark's rather protective streak when it comes to Jason and his eating habits triggers me. In a good way.

(Thanks for using that lovely icon. Those three = ♥)

[przed.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a very intriguing idea for a story. I'd definitely read something like that!

I might have started out as a Mark/Robbie gal, but increasingly I like throwing Mark with Howard or Jason or both.

[forthewistful.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'll see what I can come up with. Given what I have heard and read about Jason's eating so far, he might 'suffer' from something akin to Orthorexia Nervosa. This might indeed be an interesting topic.

(I like that a lot, I must admit. Mark, Jason and Howard make such a fascinating triangle.)

[przed.livejournal.com]

I have to say, that condition sounds frighteningly like a certain Mr Orange's behaviour. It would make a totally interesting topic, especially with Mark getting all protective of him.

Mark, Jason and Howard make the best triangle. In part because they'd mostly look out for each other. Add Rob or Gary into the mix and there's lots of jealousy and acrimony and negative emotions. Which can make interesting for stories, but sometimes you just want comfort fic.

[forthewistful.livejournal.com]

It does, doesn't it? I only hope his extreme ways are not what keep him from finding a partner for life. It just makes me rather sad to see thim run in and out of relationships again and again when he truly seemed to be one to want to settle down and have kids at some point. But then he's most likely not the easiest of guys to have a love relationship with, given all his quirks...
His talking about his sleeping problems on For the Record and that there's something inside him that's willing him to fail is rather heartbreaking. Considering.

The triangle is a harmonic one indeed, although even Howard sometimes seems a bit exasperated by Jason's pickiness. Or am I imagining things?