Book Review #795 - Wonderful Tonight by Pattie Boyd

Boyd breaks a 40-year silence as she tells the story of how she found herself bound to two of the most addictive, promiscuous musical geniuses of the 20th century and became the most famous muse in the history of rock and roll.

My Rating: 2/5

I borrowed this book from my local library because searching through their catalogue it was the only 'Beatles' related book I had yet to read.

If you don't know who Pattie Boyd is, she was a model/actress but is more widely known for being the first wife of George Harrison whom she left for his best friend Eric Clapton.

I was only really interested in reading the Harrison chapters but decided to read the entire book as I am not the type of person who can read 2 chapters and say they have read the book.

For the most part, I found this book quite boring. It was mainly just her telling us all the famous people she used to hang out with. Had I grown up (or even been alive) during that era it may have interested me but I honestly had never heard of anyone mentioned other than the four Beatles.

Before reading this book I knew absolutely nothing about Eric Clapton and this book does not portray him well at all. It chronicles his massive drug addiction problems (so much that he took to wearing a spoon around on a necklace) and how he would have affairs in the house with Pattie knowingly in the house. The worst thing he did however was joyfully tell her his mistress was pregnant knowing that Pattie struggled with infertility and expect Pattie to be happy for him about it.

Overall, I feel like had I been older this book would have been a fun, nostalgic read but because I'm not I found it boring with so many references flying right over my head.

Book Review #791 - I, Me, Mine by George Harrison

Cherished by fans and collectors since its first publication in 1980, I, Me, Mine is now available in paperback. The closest we will come to George Harrison's autobiography, it features George in conversation with The Beatles' spokesperson Derek Taylor, discussing everything from early Beatlemania to his love of gardening. The lyrics to over 80 of his songs, many in his own hand, are accompanied by his uniquely intimate and humorous commentary. Fifty archival photographs of George with The Beatles and solo capture a journey of creative and spiritual transformation. Brimming with the wit, warmth, and grace that characterized his life, and with an introduction by his wife, Olivia, I, Me, Mine is a treasured portrait of George Harrison and his music.

My Rating: 4.5/5

This is the closest book out there to a Beatles autobiography and so on my quest to read as many books about my favourite band I had to read this one.

The reason I say this is the closest to an autobiography is because even though this book was written by George Harrison, the whole book is not autobiographical.

The book is split into three parts. The autobiography, although definitely my favourite part was by far the shortest section of the book which considering how much George hated talking about himself I guess we are lucky we even got a section at all. The writing style was straight to the point and very dead pan in humour.

The second section was photographs. This was equally as short as the autobiographical section but there were quite a lot of pictures I had not seen before especially from his childhood and early Beatles era.

I especially liked the photo of the chocolate box that inspired George to write Savoy Truffle as all the lyrics were right there on the box.

The third section was George's handwritten lyrics for all his songs along with narration of how he came to write the songs.

This was by far the most extensive part of the book and took up more than half the book on its own. 

I have read so many books breaking down Beatles lyrics but they mainly deal with the Lennon/McCartney songs so it was good to see George's songs given the proper attention and also to hear about their meanings straight from the source. 

Book Review #772 - A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan

A Visit from the Goon Squad captures the moment where lives interact, and where fortunes ebb and flow. Egan depicts with elegant prose and often heart-wrenching simplicity, the sad consequences for those who couldn't fake it during their wild youth - madness suicide or prison - in this captivating, wryly, humorous story of temptation and loss.

My Rating: 4/5

I read this book for my 1001 Book Challenge and it is also the third book I have read that has won the Pullitzer Prize.

This is the most unique styled book I have ever read. It is so unconventional but it has a really engaging story and realistic characters that make it work.

When I first picked this book up I was really confused and put it down after two chapters however when I picked it up and started from the beginning the very next day I flew through it.

The nonlinear style frustrated me whilst reading it but once I finished it all kind of clicked and I completely understood that it could not have been written any other way.

There aren't any main characters in this book. There is more an ensemble of amazing characters all of whom have such distinct, unique individual voices and I found it amazing that they were all written by the same author.

Music is one of the main themes of the book (time being the other major theme) and is the conduit used to show the passing of time or reversal of time in each story.

This is the first modern book I have read from the 1001 Books list and whilst I had to struggle through it at times I definitely do not regret finishing it.

One thing that I didn't like about this book was the fact that it jumped back and forwards in time with no warning or awareness of what direction it did. I would have liked chapter headings to stipulate this. I know the author used this to surprise the reader as to the passing of time but this would have eliminated the majority of my confusion and frustration whilst reading.

Just when I thought this book could not get any more unconventional, chapter 12 was told entirely in powerpoint and also told from the future both of which I liked and found an intriguing method for an otherwise contemporary book.

Book Review #755 - How to Build a Girl by Caitlin Moran

The New York Times bestselling author hailed as “the UK’s answer to Tina Fey, Chelsea Handler, and Lena Dunham all rolled into one” (Marie Claire) makes her fiction debut with a hilarious yet deeply moving coming of age novel.

What do you do in your teenage years when you realize what your parents taught you wasn’t enough? You must go out and find books and poetry and pop songs and bad heroes—and build yourself.

It’s 1990. Johanna Morrigan, fourteen, has shamed herself so badly on local TV that she decides that there’s no point in being Johanna anymore and reinvents herself as Dolly Wilde—fast-talking, hard-drinking Gothic hero and full-time Lady Sex Adventurer. She will save her poverty-stricken Bohemian family by becoming a writer—like Jo in Little Women, or the Bröntes—but without the dying young bit.

By sixteen, she’s smoking cigarettes, getting drunk and working for a music paper. She’s writing pornographic letters to rock-stars, having all the kinds of sex with all kinds of men, and eviscerating bands in reviews of 600 words or less.

But what happens when Johanna realizes she’s built Dolly with a fatal flaw? Is a box full of records, a wall full of posters, and a head full of paperbacks, enough to build a girl after all?

My Rating: 3.5/5

I found this book in a store that was having a closing down sale and had some vague memory of hearing of it before so I picked it up and I am so glad I did as this book was unlike anything I have previously read.

I loved the family dynamic in this book especially between Johannah and her siblings. 

This book was a little crude at times and sometimes I found this hilarious and other times it made me cringe. For example, after reading the opening paragraph I questioned whether to keep reading but I am happy I did because I enjoyed this book so much more than I thought I would.

There were so many music references in this book which apart from The Beatles ones most went straight over my head. The references to The Beatles though were constant and really well done and I loved that there seemed to be at least one reference to them per chapter as they are my favourite band of all time.

Book Review #744 - Living in a Material World: George Harrison by Olivia Harrison, Mark Holborn, Paul Theroux and Martin Scorsese

Drawing on George Harrison’s personal archive of photographs, letters, diaries, and memorabilia, Olivia Harrison reveals the arc of his life, from his guitar-obsessed boyhood in Liverpool, to the astonishment of the Beatles years, to his days as an independent musician and bohemian squire. Here too is the record of Harrison’s lifelong commitment to Indian music, and his adventures as a movie producer, Traveling Wilbury, and Formula One racing fan. The book is filled with stories and reminiscences from Harrison’s friends, including Eric Clapton, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and many, many others. Among its previously unpublished riches are photographs taken by Harrison himself beginning in the mid-1960s. It is a rich tribute to a man who died far too young, but who touched the lives of millions.

My Rating: 4.5/5

I had just finished watching the documentary on Netflix that this book is a companion to when I discovered this book at my local library so of course I had to borrow it.

Firstly, George Harrison is my favourite Beatle and as I was quite young when he died and he is in no way as prevalent in pop culture as John Lennon I really enjoyed learning more about him the person rather than the quiet Beatle.

I loved that the book seemed to cover all aspects of his life without delving into the personal stuff and through that we got to see the many layers to his personality.

Book Review #728 - Ed Sheeran: A Visual Journey by Ed Sheeran and Phillip Butah

Ed Sheeran is the soulful singer-songwriter from England who has captivated American audiences. "Ed Sheeran: A Visual Journey" will reveal his early childhood experiences and the various musical influences that have helped him become the musician he is today. It's an intimate book that will give fans a look at the musings, dreams, and hopes of this very private artist.

With close to 100 photos and illustrations by well-known illustrator Phillip Butah, who has worked with Ed Sheeran to create the artwork for his huge hit album "+," this is a book that all Ed Sheeran fans would love to own and cherish!

 

 

My Rating: 5/10

 

 

I got this book from my local library and decided to read it the day I went and saw Ed Sheeran in concert for the third time.

 

This book only touches on the musical journey of Ed and is in nowhere near a memoir which makes it a very light and fast read.

 

The writing was very genuine and definitely felt like Ed plus the artwork by his lifelong friend complimented the writing very well.

 

I really enjoyed the insight into the struggles Ed went through to get to the level he is at now and even though it doesn't divulge anything new, it was refreshing to hear it in Ed's own words.

 

Book Review #723 - The John Lennon Letters by John Lennon and Edited by Hunter Davies

A lifetime of letters, collected for the first time, from the legendary musician and songwriter.

John Lennon was one of the greatest songwriters the world has ever known, creator of "Help!", "Come Together", "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", "Strawberry Fields Forever", "Imagine", and dozens more. But it was in his correspondences that he let his personality and poetry flow unguarded. Now, gathered for the first time in book form, are his letters to family, friends, strangers, and lovers from every point in his life. Funny, informative, wise, poetic, and sometimes heartbreaking, his letters illuminate a never-before-seen intimate side of the private genius.

This groundbreaking collection of almost 300 letters and postcards has been edited and annotated by Hunter Davies, whose authorized biography The Beatles (1968) was published to great acclaim. With unparalleled knowledge of Lennon and his contemporaries, Davies reads between the lines of the artist's words, contextualizing them in Lennon's life and using them to reveal the man himself.

 

 

My Rating: 8.5/10

 

 

John Lennon died more than a decade before I was even born however my dad being the massive Beatles fan that he is ensured that I knew all about him and the amazing music that he created.

 

This book however adds so much depth to the person John Lennon was. Each postcard, most of which were supplied by fans who had bought them at auctions, shows massive insight on John's life over the years before Beatlemania up until his tragic death.

 

I loved that each of these postcards were included with context added with the editor's narration of John's life. The postcards weren't just randomly put together.

 

I also loved that this book seemed to contradict some rumours I have heard about John such as him not having any contact with his eldest son Julian as this book has numerous letters showing otherwise. Plus he sends Julian a letter with lyrics from 'Beautiful Boy' long before the song was even released as people assume the song is about Sean as his name appears in the song.

 

I also loved the quirky illustrations that John always added to his letters. Sometimes they were quite elaborate while others were simply lazy doodles.

 

Overall, I loved that this book was told somewhat directly through John as I thought that this was likely the best way for me to begin my Beatles book reading journey.

 

If anyone knows any other Beatles related books worth reading please leave a comment below.

Book Review #607 - I'll be There (I'll be There #1) by Holly Goldberg Sloan

My Rating: 3/5

Source: Scholastic Australia

Buy: The Book Depository


Goodreads





Everyone whose path you cross in life has the power to change you.

Emily believes in destiny. She's waiting for the moment her real life begins.

Sam wishes he could escape. He's spent his life being dragged from place to place by his father. But he could never abandon his little brother. 

Then everything changes. Because Sam meets Emily.

This tender story of star-crossed love is both romance and thriller, and a compelling exploration of the power of human connection.

The concept for this book was interesting and unique, but the execution was poor. 

The fact that this book is told from the third perspective caused so many problems for me. First, I felt distanced from the characters and thus didn't connect to any of them as much as I was supposed to have. Secondly, I felt like I was experiencing everything second-hand. Like I was being told what was happening rather being shown. 

I found Emily (the main female character) rather annoying. She was obviously bored and lonely and waiting for a boy like Sam to come along so she could finally break away her too perfect family. 

Overall, this held my attention whilst I was reading it but is not a book I would read again. Very solid for a debut novel, will definitely check out her further books to see her writing develop. 

Book Review #573 - More Than Exes (Chasing the Dream #0.5) by Elizabeth Briggs

My Rating: 2.5/5

Source: iBooks

Buy: The Book Depository

Goodreads

Keyboardist Kyle Cross may look like a bad boy with his tattoos and piercings, but he’s really the good guy who’s always stuck fixing his band’s problems and never gets the girl. His band is competing in a college Battle of the Bands, but when their bassist doesn't show, Kyle must track her down with the help of the person he least expects: his ex-girlfriend Alexis Monroe. 

Kyle hasn’t seen Alexis since she dumped him in high school, and she’s dropped her preppy image for fiery red hair and a bold new attitude to match. With only hours before his band goes on stage, Kyle has to be a little bad if he wants to win both the Battle and the girl he's never gotten over. But when their old problems resurface, the good guy might just get his heart broken all over again.

A stand-alone novella that launches the Chasing The Dream series - all about finding love on reality TV!

This is a short novella set before More than Music which I had never heard of let alone read. 

All the characters seemed really one dimensional and didn't develop at all. 

This story is based on one night, the night of a battle of the bands tournament. Kyle, the protagonist has a lot of issues to solve in order for his band to perform smoothly. His girlfriend who dumped him 3 years prior turns up suddenly with his enemies band. 

Jared (Kyle's brother) was the most annoying character. He was simply just a massive jerk although he was a really good and supportive brother to Kyle. 

Even though I am still relatively new to the New Adult genre, I would have to say that this would be my least favourite of the books I have read in that genre. 

Book Review #478 - Where She Went (If I Stay #2) by Gayle Forman

If you had a second chance at first love... would you take it?

It's been three years since Adam's love saved Mia after the accident that annihilated life as she knew it... and three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Julliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future-and each other.If you had a second chance at first love... would you take it?

It's been three years since Adam's love saved Mia after the accident that annihilated life as she knew it... and three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Julliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future-and each other.

My Rating: 4/5

This is the sequel to If I Stay which I read and reviewed in 2011.

This book is told from Adam's perspective which I surprisingly preferred to that of Mia's in If I Stay.

Like with Mia in If I Stay, Adam's life is in complete disarray. However, it felt like Adam was more in tune with his emotions and delved a lot deeper into them than Mia.

Whilst in If I Stay, it is about Mia's relationships with the different members of her family and Adam, this book focuses primarily on Mia and Adam's relationship which was something that I enjoyed. 

This book is set three years after the accident and in all that time Adam hasn't seen Mia at all, not by his choosing. When they finally meet they both realise that whilst Mia may carry the physical scars of the accident, both of them carry the emotional ones. 

The first book is primarily set in the hospital so it was refreshing to see the characters in a much more normal and less stressful environment.  

Book Review #475 - Broken Strings by Maria Farrer

It is the story of a brilliant young violinist, her determination and struggle to achieve her dreams and the discovery that she is at the centre of an extraordinary secret that has pulled apart her family for two generations. Jess, a talented 17-year-old violinist, suffers from stage-fright as she auditions for a place at a prestigious music school. Her family do not have enough money for her to continue to study so when she fails, she vows not to play again. Until her wealthy grandmother - estranged from her family since Jess's mother fell pregnant - shows up at their doorstep and promises six months of tuition in exchange for Jess moving to live with her. Once ensconced in her grandmother's rich, but empty, life she starts to uncover the mystery of why her grandmother never spoke to her mother again, and the secret which tore her family apart.

My Rating: 3.5/5.

I received this book for review from Scholastic Australia.

I studied music for a short period of time and really disliked it so I was actually a little hesitant to read a full length novel on the subject.

From the outset, this book was massively predictable and offered very little throughout in terms of plot twists and surprises.

Being set in London, I felt like this book could have used that as a massive advantage instead Jess was constantly stuck inside the house.

Jess/Jessica, the protagonist was one of the most dislikeable characters I have come across in a very long time. She was incredibly immature and made excuses for just about everything. As much as I disliked her, she somehow manages to get herself in the middle of a love triangle.

I always have mixed feelings about love triangles. I think there is only a small margin of error to keep them from being trashy.

The two male characters in this book Charlie and Stefan were surprisingly very friendly, warm characters.

Book Review #397 - Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith

Things you earnestly believe will happen while your parents are away:

1. You will remember to water the azaleas.

2. You will take detailed, accurate messages.

3. You will call your older brother, Denny, if even the slightest thing goes wrong.

4. You and your best friend/bandmate Lukas will win Battle of the Bands.

5. Amid the thrill of victory, Lukas will finally realize you are the girl of his dreams.

Things that actually happen:

1. A stranger calls who says he knew your sister.

2. He says he has her stuff.

3. What stuff? Her stuff.

4. You tell him your parents won’t be able to—

5. Sukey died five years ago; can’t he—

6. You pick up a pen.

7. You scribble down the address.

8. You get on your bike and go.

9. Things . . . get a little crazy after that.*

*also, you fall in love, but not with Lukas.

Both exhilarating and wrenching, Hilary T. Smith’s debut novel captures the messy glory of being alive, as seventeen-year-old Kiri Byrd discovers love, loss, chaos, and murder woven into a summer of music, madness, piercing heartbreak, and intoxicating joy.

 

 

My Rating: 4/5

 

 

I received this book for review from Hardie Grant Egmont.

 

 

This was a very interesting book, and one that I am finding it hard to review as I'm not completely sure what I thought about it.

 

I found Kiri very fascinating. She was completely different to me in very single and I couldn't help but find her interesting. 



Her relationship with her family members was practically non-existent. The scars of her sister Sukey's death still lingers everywhere and nobody feels the need to confront this.

 

Kiri sees her sister in a very objective manner. She practically worships her. For this reason, her parents lied to her about how she died. When Kiri discovers the truth, her life starts to unravel.


Because they never discuss Sukey's death, they all carry around the unnecessary baggage. Denny, Kiri's brother admits to being scared towards the end of the book because he feels that Kiri is beginning to go down the same path he watched Sukey take.

The whole mental illness thing was unexpected as the blurb doesn't allude to that at all. I really did enjoy that whole dark side of the story though.

 

 

I felt like Kiri's piano teacher, Lukas's mother and Lukas himself especially really let Kiri down. They failed to listen to her or even try to understand her when she desperately needed them.

I was not able to understand Kiri's parents at all. They had already lost one child, but then just completely shut themselves off from the other two.

 

Skunk was the most dynamic character. Like Kiri, he is deeply flawed. His relationship with Kiri although a little too fast paced, was able to allow both of them the support they needed and lacked everywhere else.

 

Book Review #354 - The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

Love is all you need... or is it? Penny's about to find out in this wonderful debut.

Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating. So she vows: no more. It's a personal choice. . .and, of course, soon everyone wants to know about it. And a few other girls are inspired. A movement is born: The Lonely Hearts Club (named after the band from Sgt. Pepper). Penny is suddenly known for her non dating ways . . . which is too bad, because there's this certain boy she can't help but like...

 

 

My Rating: 3.5/5

 

 

Beneath the massive amounts of Beatles references, this book has a very interesting plot. The references always had an explanation with it for non Beatles fans like myself.

 

 

I knew I was going to love this book when I discovered that I was unable to put it down. The short nature of the chapters and the writing style were the reason behind this.

 

 

At first I thought that Penny's club was a little immature and was just her way of getting over a heartbreak.

 

 

Although by the end of the book the different reasons why girls joined and the ways that being a member of the club helped them grow changed my mind.

 

 

There were some parts I thought were unrealistic, like Penny and Diane not talking for 4 years and then suddenly becoming best friends again almost instantly.

 

 

I also thought that the principal's reaction to the club was unrealistic and was only written that way for a further plot twist and also as an antagonist.

 

 

Given the plot, I was surprised by the amount of male characters. Although not very many of them were portrayed in a positive light.