Full Disclosure: I loved the band Queen, and always will. I have been listening to their music for 35 or so years, so I have a bit of a love for their talent and outrageousness. So that said, here is my "unbiased" review of this new book by Martin Popoff, known for his books about rock bands of the era.
Having just seen the film “Bohemian Rhapsody” this week, I was delighted to be invited to be among the first to read and review this retrospective book on Queen’s 15 studio albums. The book is arranged where each album is discussed by a panel of experts on Queen and rock music of the era, and even includes Sir Paul McCartney. The interview style lends itself to the feeling that you are involved in a conversation with Queen experts, rock journalists, musicians, music industry people and superfans put together by author Martin Popoff. I loved the style and all the photographs and ticket stubs from concerts were so great to see. Having grown up on Queen, I could put myself back in time, where listening to the latest Queen album made for a great Saturday night. This book is a great choice for any Queen fan, with all of the pictures and commentary of the music experts and fans. I want to go back and see the movie again now that I have read through this book. If you are a Queen fan, or simply a rock fan of the era, this one will be a hit. This book is such a great tribute to a groundbreaking band. Thanks to #NetGalley, author Martin Popoff, and the publisher for an advance e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 5 stars for this one!
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attempt to give each book I read a fighting chance. I read until around 100 pages even if I struggle with it. With advanced reader copies, of which this was one, I really try to read the entire book. As a potential writer myself, I feel this is only respectful to do. Sugar Run by Miesha Maren was given those same chances.
That said, I struggled so much with this book to finish and find some way to keep reading. I simply couldn’t . I found myself re-reading passages, flipping back to see what I might have missed, and yet, couldn’t keep track of who is who and what is going on in the story. I found too much going on with the story to figure out the characters and what drove their actions. Jodi and Miranda did not draw me in. I couldn’t connect with the characters, nor the community in which they lived. Thanks to #NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. I regret that it was not for me. Quite possibly the best new book I've read this year, Gone So Long will stay with me for a long while. Written by the same author as House of Sand and Fog, this novel creates characters that live and breathe for the reader, who aren't well liked, but relatable. Andre Dubus III writes characters that are human and messy, complete with their own meatiness and depth. I couldn't put this 480 page novel down and consumed, yes, consumed it in a day! "Daniel Ahearn lives a quiet, solitary existence in a seaside New England town. Forty years ago, following a shocking act of impulsive violence on his part, his daughter, Susan, was ripped from his arms by police. Now in her forties, Susan still suffers from the trauma of a night she doesn’t remember, as she struggles to feel settled, to love a man and create something that lasts. Lois, her maternal grandmother who raised her, tries to find peace in her antique shop in a quaint Florida town but cannot escape her own anger, bitterness, and fear." -Goodreads synopsis from the publisher While this is the essence of the book, the book is so much more. Told from the eyes of the three characters, Daniel, Susan and Noni, it shows us grief and regret and so much more. The author also gets the locale of the novel correct, depicting the hard scrabble area of the Massachusetts shore, as well as little Arcadia, Florida. The towns become additional characters in their own right. Having read the author's book, House of Sand and Fog, when it was released years ago, I can say this book is even better. I highly recommend this book for someone wanting a more dense read and a model for character development. 5 Stars! Thanks to #NetGalley and the author for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. If your library, or piles of books, or rooms of books, looks overwhelming, take time to organize, if even in your mind, how you can lessen both the visual clutter, but also the mental clutter of owning so many books that remain unread. There are tons of reading challenges to meet your interests, your ability to read just a few or hundreds, reading harder, reading to others, authors of color, or anything else you can imagine. I have personally joined a few and achieved some. I like Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge, which encourages you to stretch to different genres than what you will likely read. As of this posting, I have read 258 books and completed Read Harder and Goodreads book challenge of reading 80 books. I still haven't finished one that requires a book of fantasy to be read. I just don't read fantasy, even after picking up a few books at the library. Couldn't do it. Next year, I will . join in a few more. There is a group on Goodreads which addresses this. You pick and commit to a certain number of books and keep track of these as you read them. Challenge Levels: Pike's Peak: Read 12 books from your TBR pile/s Mount Blanc: Read 24 books from your TBR pile/s Mt. Vancouver: Read 36 books from your TBR pile/s Mt. Ararat: Read 48 books from your TBR piles/s Mt. Kilimanjaro: Read 60 books from your TBR pile/s El Toro: Read 75 books from your TBR pile/s Mt. Everest: Read 100 books from your TBR pile/s Mount Olympus : Read 150+ books from your TBR pile/s Personally, I will be challenging myself to Mt Kilimanjaro and then donating the book to my local library for their book sales. When you post anywhere, such as Goodreads, Litsy, or LibraryThing, use the hashtag, #MountTBR so you can keep track and other will see your accomplishment. I will read 60 books in 2019, which should be pretty easily accomplished. How about you???? Leave a comment if you plan to join in. |
AuthorReader, Traveler, Reviewer. Come join us as we travel the US in our RV. I review books. Archives
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