- Hardcover: 1 pages
- Publisher: Dutton (Nov 1 1991)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0525933743
- ISBN-13: 978-0525933748
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 14.7 x 4.1 cm
- Shipping Weight: 726 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,687,695 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Giuliano ( Dark Horse: The Private Life of George Harrison ) offers a disparaging biography of former Beatle, Wings founder and solo musician McCartney. The book criticizes the star's inability to deal with grief in terms of his mother's untimely death and John Lennon's murder; rehashes the Beatles' evolution, sexual shenanigans, drug use and breakup; and chronicles the performer's romance with British actress Jane Asher. Disapproval creeps in as McCartney weds Linda Eastman: he becomes a "sometimes annoying perfectionistic musician" with an "almost neurotic need to have Linda by his side," and she is a "rather frumpy looking bride-to-be." The couple's heavy marijuana use is stressed and myriad injustices to collaborators compiled, rendering ex-Wings guitarist Laine's cheery introduction ironic. Despite the damning evidence against McCartney, fans will recoil from Giuliano's mean-spiritedness and, especially, his excessive sympathy and praise for Laine, on whose information the book is largely based. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
This biography by Beatle insider Giuliano ( Dark Horse: The Private Life of George Harrison , Dutton, 1990) presents a complex and often disturbing image of McCartney and his milieu. Giuliano relies on extensive interviews with McCartney associates, and the resultant portrait of the most famous pop legend of our time is filled with contradictions. McCartney is revealed as a self-indulgent, penny-pinching entrepreneur, yet at the same time he's portrayed as a doting father, faithful husband, and committed friend of the Earth. Giuliano is refreshingly frank in assessing McCartney's creative output, particularly in the Wings and post-Wings era, though at other times his subjectivity intrudes. Overall, the book is a quick, entertaining read, and there is quite a bit of new material. However, those interested in detailed descriptions of the music itself will be disappointed.
- Larry Lipkis, Moravian Coll., Bethlehem, Pa.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
- Larry Lipkis, Moravian Coll., Bethlehem, Pa.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Glad to hear the truth!!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Blackbird (Paperback)
Finally an author who didn't see the need to act like Paul was a God or saint or something. I think there needs to be more books like this about Paul that don't hide the real him or whom he marries etc.
1.0 out of 5 stars
Modified character assassination,
By
This review is from: Blackbird (Paperback)
Geoffrey Giuliano seems to be deeply conflicted about Paul McCartney. On the one hand, he acknowledges Sir Paul's awesome musical genius by commenting favorably about a number of his songs in the book. On the other, he seems determined to trash his subject's reputation by seeking out and quoting at great length two people he knows will "dish dirt" -- whether true or not is a matter of opinion -- about the ex-Beatle; that is, Denny Laine and Jo Jo Laine.A few of the incidents in the book also have a "made up out of whole cloth" feel about them, such as John Lennon's supposedly smashing a window in Paul's house on one occasion, and ripping a painting from the wall and demolishing it on another. In neither case, as Giuliano tells it, does McCartney do anything to retaliate or get back his own -- just stands there in frustrated impotence. Is this intended to make McCartney look like a weakling -- not quite a "real man" -- and Lennon to appear as a daring, macho "tough guy?" Remember, the book Giuliano wrote about Lennon was titled "John Lennon, My Brother," which might lead one to believe he idolizes Lennon and wants to tear down McCartney as a definite threat to that idol. If you hate Paul McCartney, you'll love "Blackbird."
1.0 out of 5 stars
One star is being awfully generous...,
By Katie Dalton (Oceanside,California) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Blackbird (Paperback)
For a book that is as rotten as Mr. Giuliano's. Um, if you hate McCartney,and his late wife Linda(god rest her soul)so much then why'd you write a book about them?It sufferes from the biases of several people who have been associated with the McCartneys(Denny and ...JoJo Laine.Linda comes off as being a it-rhymes-with-witch at times. But then again, JoJo Laine has a lot to gain(it rhymes!)by expressing her(negative)opinion of the McCartneys. She claims that they were drug users. Interesting given the story in the book about JoJo selling spare tickets she stole to get drug money, Tsk tsk. Giuliano also drags out Paul's former stepmother and stepsister who lost out on the McCartney millions once Paul's father died and that Paul didn't help them out Giuliano also manages to get in digs at Yoko Ono(granted, she isn't high on Beatles' fans lists of favorite people)but he stoops pretty low just the same.If you've read any of his books you know that Mr.Giuliano wishes that he were some sort of music insider,which he obviously isn't(read any of his other books on the Beatles-of which there are many)for proof of this.And more than that, it's just BORING!!and there's stuff in there that I'd read a zillion times before, in other, better, Beatle bios.The one good thing about this book is that there are some great pictures in it.Otherwise,it'd be a waste of your money.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
|
Most recent customer reviews |
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Biographies & Memoirs
- Books > Entertainment > Music > Instruments & Performers > Voice
- Books > Entertainment > Music > Musical Genres > Rock
- Books > Entertainment > Pop Culture > Music > Beatles
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
