|
Post by Mutagen on Nov 6, 2005 21:03:12 GMT -4
Bumping to ask if anybody's read Bob Spitz's recently released, gi-frickin-normous Beatles biography. The Amazon rating is four and a half stars, not too shabby considering fans' possessiveness and some serious errors (people have screamed about some of the photo captions). Personally, I've been skimming it whenever I go to the bookstore; it's engagingly written and certainly hums along if nothing else. The story about George going completely ballistic during his drug bust was illuminating. Also, the cover art is very nice.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 14, 2024 16:04:30 GMT -4
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2005 23:01:37 GMT -4
I just read some of it in the bookstore; I skimmed the first few chapters.
I caught a couple of obvious errors, but as a Beatlemaniac from way back I'm impressed with how he delves into their Liverpool backgrounds: more in-depth than any book I've seen so far. He paints a very vivid portrait of (John and Paul's anyway) childhoods. Also, it's not only very long, but has very tiny font! It's more formidable than a lot of regular history books (and I'm a grad student).
OTOH, there are a lot of very stupid errors, especially in the photo captions. That upsets a lot of fans and really, there is no excuse for that. OTO(other)hand, it's very well written and there is some top-notch research, and I've been studying the group for about ten years.
The big revelation for me was Spitz's apparent discovery that Paul McCartney's mother was first diagnosed with cancer when he was six year old in 1948, not 1956 as most biographers thought (which is when she died, when Paul was 14: most writers claimed she had died within months of being diagnosed). Via her sister-in-law, Spitz also describes what must've been one of the most horrific, drawn-out breast cancer deaths I've ever heard of. Jesus. To witness that as a child and then have your wife die of the same disease many years later...I don't know how Paul is not in a friggin' mental institution.
|
|
vegasusa555
Blueblood
Posts: 1,501
Mar 6, 2005 0:15:13 GMT -4
|
Post by vegasusa555 on Nov 7, 2005 23:07:53 GMT -4
Since we're on the topic of Beatles books, as a new fan, are there any books I should dive into first to learn more about them?
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 14, 2024 16:04:30 GMT -4
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2005 23:28:54 GMT -4
I like Mark Hertsgaard's "Day in the Life," as it's a good primer and one of the first I read. Fans sometimes bitch about it, though. Hunter Davies biography (the only one done at the time they were together) is invaluable.
As long as you stay away from the two G's (Geoffrey Guilano and Albert Goldman) you'll generally be fine.
|
|
vegasusa555
Blueblood
Posts: 1,501
Mar 6, 2005 0:15:13 GMT -4
|
Post by vegasusa555 on Nov 7, 2005 23:53:32 GMT -4
Cool, thanks poorfrances! I think i'l head over to Borders this weekend and skim through those books if they have them.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 14, 2024 16:04:30 GMT -4
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2005 23:57:19 GMT -4
If you can find the book "The Love You Make" by Peter Brown (former fab four gofer) and Steven Gaines, buy it.
It makes the 856 page book irrelevant because it mentioned everything the new book has.
|
|
vegasusa555
Blueblood
Posts: 1,501
Mar 6, 2005 0:15:13 GMT -4
|
Post by vegasusa555 on Nov 8, 2005 0:25:46 GMT -4
Thanks nedsdag. Damn, I love this site! You guys answer questions quickly ;D!
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 14, 2024 16:04:30 GMT -4
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2005 0:41:31 GMT -4
"The Love You Make" was one of the first I read, but now, after I became more of a fan, I grew to dislike it. There are many errors and Peter Brown's biases shine through. I can sum up the book thusly:
John: "I'm a prick! Come 'ere, I'll hit you!"
Paul: "Cor blimey! I'm a manipulative prick! Please hold on while I bang another groupie."
George: "I hate John and Paul."
Brian Epstein: "I'm gay. And tragic. Also, very gay."
Ringo: "..."
|
|
|
Post by Mutagen on Nov 8, 2005 8:49:44 GMT -4
Tony Bramwell's Beatles bio (if I'm thinking of the right book!) is interesting for the first 50% or so. Then Yoko Ono shows up and everything is written through a red haze of haaaaaaatred for her.
poorfrances, that is hilarious.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 14, 2024 16:04:30 GMT -4
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2005 11:06:27 GMT -4
"The Love You Make" was one of the first I read, but now, after I became more of a fan, I grew to dislike it. There are many errors and Peter Brown's biases shine through. I can sum up the book thusly: John: "I'm a prick! Come 'ere, I'll hit you!" Paul: "Cor blimey! I'm a manipulative prick! Please hold on while I bang another groupie." George: "I hate John and Paul." Brian Epstein: "I'm gay. And tragic. Also, very gay." Ringo: "..." It was pretty close to the truth unlike "Shout."
|
|