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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Freddie in his own words. What could be a better biography than that? I love all the insights and contradictions of himself Freddie expounded upon. All the insights and details of his thought process. He talked so much about how important Queen was to him on so many differing levels throughout his career. And it seems to always come down to how important music was for him.
Aside from having to basically guess what time period he said certain things, which isn’t too hard, I have zero criticism of this compilation into a narrative.
Aside from having to basically guess what time period he said certain things, which isn’t too hard, I have zero criticism of this compilation into a narrative.
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Freddie Mercury: A Life, In His Own Words is a collection of interviews that have been painstakingly gathered and compiled into different themed chapters to make up this small but insightful book.
"Let's face it, darlings, we're the most preposterous band that's ever lived."
Freddie, like any of us, had very differing opinions on various topics depending on what stage of his life he was asked about it. For that reason, I found this book a little physically difficult to read. I wish it had been in chronological order, because sometimes the Freddie at the end of the chapter is notably different to the one at the start of the chapter and it was a little hard to navigate.
If you just take it at face value for what it is - a very well compiled record of interviews - and don't expect an in-depth memoir, I'm sure it's something any Queen fan will enjoy.
He was incredibly self aware, and not afraid to acknowledge that he could be a difficult person to love at times. How he spoke about his loneliness and desire to love and be loved was really heartbreaking:
"You can be loved by so many thousands of people, yet still be the loneliest person."
"I'd like people to recognise that I'm a human being."
"No-one loves the real me."
Thankfully, he DID find a partner to settle down with, and Jim Hutton remained at his side until his early, untimely death in 1991 at the age of 45 from AIDS.
Hutton has also written a book, it's about his life with Freddie, but I feel a bit icky about reading it. If anyone has read it, do let me know if you think it's worth a look.
The pair who produced this book, Greg Brooks & Simon Lupton are well known names among Queen circles - Brooks is their official archivist and Lupton is their TV/DVD producer & director. I understand their decision to not want to interject with any of their own commentary, but I think the book would have benefitted from a little bit of extra editorial info here & there.
A lovely little book to have, but don't expect a cohesive biography, because that's not what it is.
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
Un libro con un buon potenziale, ma tradotto in modo terribile. Il risultato è stato un libro che non vedevo l'ora che finisse, ma che ho comunque letto fino in fondo per rispetto del protagonista. Molti spunti interessanti e un tuffo nella vita di un grandissimo artista, quindi non mi sento di dare meno di tre stelle, ma il tutto risulta poco leggibile.
Interesante para conocer un poco más a Freddie. No es tanto una biografía al uso donde se cuenten cosas como dónde nació, donde fue al cole o cómo empezó en la música, sino una recopilación de testimonios, declaraciones y respuestas a entrevistas que dio a lo largo de su vida. Por eso a veces el formato se hace un poco pesado de leer (porque es todo texto seguido, un poco repetitivo). Pero aún así me ha gustado :)
I love Freddie Mercury and I learned some interesting things from this book. However, I found it repetitious in certain parts and wish it had been written more cohesively.
fast-paced