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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
Beware, though the ending is one of the best parts, it will make you sob like there's no tomorrow.
This was a hard book to read because its topic is so devastating. It’s also a great book. And like many biographies, not everything is perfectly factual, however I think they really did these subjects justice.
Freddie Mercury worked his ass off with Queen to make and make it they did. They became one of the biggest groups in the world, selling out huge stadiums and garnering awards for their music. Freddie also happened to write most of Queen’s top hits, he created their insignia, he helped create their music videos and band look. He was a larger than life presence, a lover of life, a hugely versatile singer and loved ballet, art and opera. He lived his life to his own dictation. And even though he never talked about his sexuality, he never fully hides it. He’s out at gay clubs all around the world, wears shirts from gay clubs while out in about. The authors look at Bohemian Rhapsody as a coming out song, if only in musical form. And I buy it. Plus, Good Old Fashion Loverboy is really great song and also wonderfully gay. Freddie was a genuine and unique rock god.
He also loved drugs and lots of sex. Lots of unprotected sex with men, in the 80s, the likes of which became his killer. In time where AIDS was rampant and little was known about it, about its prevention, Freddie’s lifestyle made it almost inevitable he’d get the disease. It’s heartbreaking because you know he dies of AIDS and yet I still kept hoping he’d escape it.
Along with the rise of Freddie as a rock icon, these authors track the rise of HIV/AIDS. They go into the history from Africa, to Haiti into the US. They discuss the myths, rumors and fear the media created. They take from many articles and books written about the disease. It’s informative as it is depressing.
I highly recommend this to anyone intrigued by Freddie Mercury, the legend that he is.
Freddie Mercury worked his ass off with Queen to make and make it they did. They became one of the biggest groups in the world, selling out huge stadiums and garnering awards for their music. Freddie also happened to write most of Queen’s top hits, he created their insignia, he helped create their music videos and band look. He was a larger than life presence, a lover of life, a hugely versatile singer and loved ballet, art and opera. He lived his life to his own dictation. And even though he never talked about his sexuality, he never fully hides it. He’s out at gay clubs all around the world, wears shirts from gay clubs while out in about. The authors look at Bohemian Rhapsody as a coming out song, if only in musical form. And I buy it. Plus, Good Old Fashion Loverboy is really great song and also wonderfully gay. Freddie was a genuine and unique rock god.
He also loved drugs and lots of sex. Lots of unprotected sex with men, in the 80s, the likes of which became his killer. In time where AIDS was rampant and little was known about it, about its prevention, Freddie’s lifestyle made it almost inevitable he’d get the disease. It’s heartbreaking because you know he dies of AIDS and yet I still kept hoping he’d escape it.
Along with the rise of Freddie as a rock icon, these authors track the rise of HIV/AIDS. They go into the history from Africa, to Haiti into the US. They discuss the myths, rumors and fear the media created. They take from many articles and books written about the disease. It’s informative as it is depressing.
I highly recommend this to anyone intrigued by Freddie Mercury, the legend that he is.
emotional
informative
slow-paced
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
I want to give this book a better rating I just can’t. It was a very slow read for me. I had to force myself to finish it. There were days I just didn’t want to read it. I told myself I would finish it before the end of January and I put it off to the last minute.
The over all concept was literally just a bunch of statements and statistics about how much AIDs affected the Gay community in the 70s - present day and how it became a human transmitted virus. It did go into some detail about Freddie and Queen but I would have rather read more about them and less about the AIDs Epidemic. I understand that AIDs awareness is a Major thing but I honestly feel this book wasn’t the place for it. It wasn’t the only thing Freddie was. It was only his life for the last 10 years or so of his time on Earth. What about what happened in the other 35 years of his life. I would loved to have seen more of his relationship with Mary or even more of the relationship with the guys in the band.
I will say the videos and performances I’ve seen of Queen online this book hit dead center of Who Freddie was. He was an extraordinary performer who knew who and what he wanted and he wasn’t taking NO for an answer. There will never be anyone else quite like Freddie in terms of how he performed and sang.
I feel like if he were still alive today Queen may still be making music together or at least doing things Solo. This book did make me cry and get into my feelings but it wasn’t until the last 100 pages or so. Like I said I want to rate this higher I just can’t.
Very much Mature material. It made me feel uncomfortable at times and I’m in my 30s.
TW: of Sex, Drugs, Alcohol, and infidelity (basic rock n roll stuff from the 70s)
The over all concept was literally just a bunch of statements and statistics about how much AIDs affected the Gay community in the 70s - present day and how it became a human transmitted virus. It did go into some detail about Freddie and Queen but I would have rather read more about them and less about the AIDs Epidemic. I understand that AIDs awareness is a Major thing but I honestly feel this book wasn’t the place for it. It wasn’t the only thing Freddie was. It was only his life for the last 10 years or so of his time on Earth. What about what happened in the other 35 years of his life. I would loved to have seen more of his relationship with Mary or even more of the relationship with the guys in the band.
I will say the videos and performances I’ve seen of Queen online this book hit dead center of Who Freddie was. He was an extraordinary performer who knew who and what he wanted and he wasn’t taking NO for an answer. There will never be anyone else quite like Freddie in terms of how he performed and sang.
I feel like if he were still alive today Queen may still be making music together or at least doing things Solo. This book did make me cry and get into my feelings but it wasn’t until the last 100 pages or so. Like I said I want to rate this higher I just can’t.
Very much Mature material. It made me feel uncomfortable at times and I’m in my 30s.
TW: of Sex, Drugs, Alcohol, and infidelity (basic rock n roll stuff from the 70s)
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
The only beef I have with this book is that the authors used wildly outdated research on homosexual promiscuity at the very end of Chapter 27, which was obtained from a 1995 book that debates homosexuality. It was written by a Christian man and published by a religious publisher. Why the authors chose a 1995 "study" from a book debating gay people in their work published in 2016 is beyond me. Surely there was a more recent and less biased study to use?
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Amazing. I love that it's both history of Freddie and Queen and also the HIV virus.
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
“… the Freddie Mercury story is also one of the human conditioning for survival and the joy of life: he fought to the bitter end. And while he couldn’t survive, his legacy most certainly did.”
Any opportunity to read about Freddie’s life, his music, and his journey right until his last day is a privilege to me.
This was a very easy read in the sense it was written simply and factually, however content wise it is far from light. Anyone who knows anything about Freddie would know this going in, but this biography definitely focuses more on the AIDS epidemic that swept across America during the ‘80s and how it came to be in Freddie’s life. There was a lot of information to absorb. The way in which this particular part of his history is written really gave a glimpse into how frightening the fight for survival must have been.
As someone who is fascinated by all aspects of Freddie’s life, this gives a great basic overview of his career and personal endeavours. However, if you’re looking for a more intimate biography I’d absolutely look into Lesley-Ann Jones’ book titled simply ‘Mercury.’ I read this in high school and still feel its impact and it’s even on my list of rereads this year (something I never do!). I’m also going to be reading Freddie Mercury: His Life In His Own Words at some point soon too as this seems like the best way to really connect more deeply with him.
I still cried, and I still wanted the ending to be different while reading Somebody To Love, and the portrait painted here is as with every account I’ve ever heard my entire life. Freddie was shy and quiet, but full of life and a cracking sense of humour. He was generous beyond measure and sought love and loyalty right until his dying day. He loved his cats, he loved lavish parties, art, opera & ballet. And above all, he loved making music.
You will never regret any time spent reading about Freddie Mercury.
Any opportunity to read about Freddie’s life, his music, and his journey right until his last day is a privilege to me.
This was a very easy read in the sense it was written simply and factually, however content wise it is far from light. Anyone who knows anything about Freddie would know this going in, but this biography definitely focuses more on the AIDS epidemic that swept across America during the ‘80s and how it came to be in Freddie’s life. There was a lot of information to absorb. The way in which this particular part of his history is written really gave a glimpse into how frightening the fight for survival must have been.
As someone who is fascinated by all aspects of Freddie’s life, this gives a great basic overview of his career and personal endeavours. However, if you’re looking for a more intimate biography I’d absolutely look into Lesley-Ann Jones’ book titled simply ‘Mercury.’ I read this in high school and still feel its impact and it’s even on my list of rereads this year (something I never do!). I’m also going to be reading Freddie Mercury: His Life In His Own Words at some point soon too as this seems like the best way to really connect more deeply with him.
I still cried, and I still wanted the ending to be different while reading Somebody To Love, and the portrait painted here is as with every account I’ve ever heard my entire life. Freddie was shy and quiet, but full of life and a cracking sense of humour. He was generous beyond measure and sought love and loyalty right until his dying day. He loved his cats, he loved lavish parties, art, opera & ballet. And above all, he loved making music.
You will never regret any time spent reading about Freddie Mercury.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Infidelity, Sexual content, Terminal illness
Moderate: Homophobia