tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2960772098173697898.post2015576069897036312..comments2024-03-22T14:01:26.256-07:00Comments on Just Backdated: THE WHO - A Couple of Book ReviewsChris Charlesworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05459094285776329847noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2960772098173697898.post-48274415228064648692014-06-24T03:55:44.067-07:002014-06-24T03:55:44.067-07:00I have been a Who fan since the very beginning, an...I have been a Who fan since the very beginning, and was thrilled when Pete's book was published. But I agree with everything you've said -- it was a catalog of the boats he bought and the beautiful women he cheated on his wife with. The big "shocker" was his molestation as a child, but I read and re-read the chapters on his early life, and really couldn't find anything so terrible or life-changing. What a wasted opportunity for a man whose songwriting was (and continues to be) so brilliant. SaraShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09299233122422577572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2960772098173697898.post-46777659411615834692014-06-23T11:57:40.633-07:002014-06-23T11:57:40.633-07:00I'm pretty sure a great deal was edited out. P...I'm pretty sure a great deal was edited out. Publishers are sometimes reluctant to put out very long books as they feel their size might put people off, but speaking from experience it didn't prevent Dear Boy or Life from doing very well nor, for that matter, Mark Lewisohn's Tune In from exceeding its publisher's expectations. Anyway, thanks for your comments Richie.Chris Charlesworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05459094285776329847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2960772098173697898.post-56594503439610144622014-06-23T10:32:19.357-07:002014-06-23T10:32:19.357-07:00Chris,
First I want to say how much I enjoy you s...Chris,<br /><br />First I want to say how much I enjoy you sharing your stories, recollections, insights and wit on this site. It's always an enjoyable read.<br /><br />I am driven to comment regarding Who I Am. Like you, I was disappointed by the book. I confess that I never read the book. Instead I got the audio version and I had Pete read the whole thing to me over the course of time. After I was done I considered if I liked the book or not and/or what I wanted out of it.<br /><br />Pros:<br /><br />I loved having Pete read the book.<br />I love hearing him speak and telling his story.<br />Many of the stories I had heard in one way or another thru the years. There are others that I never had heard of course.<br /><br />Cons:<br />It sounded often as if he was transcribing his diaries.<br />Skipped over many years, tours, events or short changed telling the stories in greater detail.<br /><br />Biggest peeve:<br />For myself, I hoped that parts of the book would deal with the songs. The writing of them. The meanings of them. The actual creative process. For one of the most creative artists ever, he shared very little of that and whatever he had was as I recall, previously told tales.<br /><br />I think for many of us, the songs are what draw us to The Who or Pete specifically. I want to know more of what influenced or created them. He told some of those stories, Sensation, Sally Simpson, Who Are You, Cache Cache, but I wanted more.<br /><br />Anyway, I could go deeper, but I figured I would comment with my own high level critique. I liked Who I Am, but I am left wanting more. I wonder if it was in the hundreds of pages that were edited away...<br /><br />Rock on,<br />Richie RJKaplan66https://www.blogger.com/profile/16315229993118529528noreply@blogger.com