Mervyn’s review of George Harrison: The Reluctant Beatle > Likes and Comments
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I'm about to give up with this drivel. Philip Norman considers himself to be some kind of biography expert who meticulously researches his subject matter. So how did he not know that Patti Page is PAGE, not Paige! That was in the first 50 pages and I almost threw my Kindle across the room.
Yes, it's not a very impressive piece of work. Feels like it's been thrown together in about five minutes. I for one am going to pass on the Mal Evans book that's just been published. Even if there are new things in it, you don't know if they're true or not.
I agree. I was disappointed as well. This author seems to view George as an afterthought as well, just like Paul and John, haha. He seems to be a very complex person and I was looking for some insight into him but this isn't the book for that. I read both his biographies of John and Paul and thought they were much better in that department.
I too found some dubious "facts" in the book. A 104 degree fever during the first Ed Sullivan appearance? Have you ever had a fever that high? You're delirious! He wrote that John never told the others that he was meeting with Klein. In the recent "Get Back" film there's a scene where he's telling them about it. He tells the same old stories about John and Yoko which have nothing to do about George. Was he just filling space?.....oh well.
Having read both of Philip Norman's bios on Paul and John, I was expecting something a bit better. I have only started to skim at this stage, but it does seem a bit light on. I think the reality is that Philip Norman is a huge John Lennon fan, and thus no other Beatle is going to be as good. Still George Harrison did deserve better than this.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Seems like the last thirty years of George’s life just got a quick overview. We all know the story of the Beatle years inside and out. George is so interesting and this (how is it 440 pages!?) bio barely scratches the surface.
Thanks for your comment, Daniel. Yes, it's underwhelming, alright. Maybe he thinks he has to write a biography on all four of them. God help us if he writes a Ringo one! You're right about Harrison - the most interesting Beatle by far.
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Susan
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Dec 08, 2023 12:30PM
I'm about to give up with this drivel. Philip Norman considers himself to be some kind of biography expert who meticulously researches his subject matter. So how did he not know that Patti Page is PAGE, not Paige! That was in the first 50 pages and I almost threw my Kindle across the room.
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Yes, it's not a very impressive piece of work. Feels like it's been thrown together in about five minutes. I for one am going to pass on the Mal Evans book that's just been published. Even if there are new things in it, you don't know if they're true or not.
I agree. I was disappointed as well. This author seems to view George as an afterthought as well, just like Paul and John, haha. He seems to be a very complex person and I was looking for some insight into him but this isn't the book for that. I read both his biographies of John and Paul and thought they were much better in that department. I too found some dubious "facts" in the book. A 104 degree fever during the first Ed Sullivan appearance? Have you ever had a fever that high? You're delirious! He wrote that John never told the others that he was meeting with Klein. In the recent "Get Back" film there's a scene where he's telling them about it. He tells the same old stories about John and Yoko which have nothing to do about George. Was he just filling space?.....oh well.
Having read both of Philip Norman's bios on Paul and John, I was expecting something a bit better. I have only started to skim at this stage, but it does seem a bit light on. I think the reality is that Philip Norman is a huge John Lennon fan, and thus no other Beatle is going to be as good. Still George Harrison did deserve better than this.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Seems like the last thirty years of George’s life just got a quick overview. We all know the story of the Beatle years inside and out. George is so interesting and this (how is it 440 pages!?) bio barely scratches the surface.
Thanks for your comment, Daniel. Yes, it's underwhelming, alright. Maybe he thinks he has to write a biography on all four of them. God help us if he writes a Ringo one! You're right about Harrison - the most interesting Beatle by far.
