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Some books I've read 68

I Know This Much by Gary Kemp

About being a Blitz kid in London in the 80s and then his time in Spandau Ballet, before it fell apart and he was sued by the other members. They are reunited at the end of the book, but it didn't last that long. There are New Romantics bands I like better, but Kemp wrote a couple of catchy songs.

Revolver: How The Beatles Reimagined Rock 'n Roll by Robert Rodriguez

Still my favourite Beatles album. And this book makes a pretty good case for why it's better than Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. You can see the split between Paul songs and John songs. George has two great songs. And then there is Tomorrow Never Knows, whoah!

Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now by Barry Miles

I had read this before but wanted to compare it with the other Paul biographies. It's authorized, and Miles was a friend of Paul. So you will not find out McCartney is actually an asshole. Maybe he was a bit pushy in the second half of The Beatles when John lost interest / got into drugs / met Yoko. So they made Sergeant Pepper. And also Magical Mystery Tour. Oh, well.

Dreaming The Beatles by Rob Sheffield

A series of essays about the Beatles and then John and Paul's solo work. Well written, and in some cases makes you re-evaluate their songs. Sometimes. Not sure about his dislike of I Will from The White Album. 

The Act You've Known All These Years by Clinton Heylin

A book about the making of Sergeant Pepper and what else was going on in music at that point. So besides The Beatles we meet Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, Beach Boys and so on. Not bad, but Heylin's usual trashing of other music writers is annoying. 

Miracles of Life by JG Ballard

His autobiography. It's some time since I read it, so don't remember much. Except he was with his parents in the prison camps. Only in the novel / movie do they get separated. 

The De Palma Decade by Laurent Bouzereau

The writer goes through De Palma's movies from Sisters in 72 to  Blow Out in 81, including Carrie and Dressed To Kill. And the lesser ones, Obsession and The Fury. We hear from the director himself and also the actors. But there's a feeling of, Well, I got all this stuff, I guess it could be a book. There's a disappointing lack of depth.

Macanudo: Optimism Is for The Brave by Liniers

Bless Liniers! What true magic he creates! The only good strip left these days? There's already a new collection out. 

Daredevil by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee

Got 7 or 8 of their Daredevil books, mostly for the art. Samnee is a really good cartoonist. And storyteller. Beautifully colourized, avoiding the plastic look of many superhero comics. The writing is a bit up and down. Can be quite effective, but there's a softness as well. Will buy Batman & Robin Year One when it's collected.

RIP, Brad Holland

 

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