2006-12-04
Paul Simon
Author: Laura Jackson
Paul Simon: The Definitive Biography of the Legendary Singer/Songwriter starts out with a kind of fawning admiration that warns the reader this won't be a completely unbiased biography. The author is clearly on her subject's side when discussing things like the Simon & Garfunkel relationship or the making of Graceland. Still, there is a lot of information that was new to me as a casual fan.
After an introduction the book proceeds in chronological order through Simon's life. It takes a little over half of the pages to reach the professional breakup with Art Garfunkel, then events from 1970 and the eponymous solo debut album through the book's publication in 2002 require only ninety pages. The cutoff point is around Simon's inclusion on The Wild Thornberries soundtrack -- the fact is noted in the discography but not part of the text.
Reading this book you won't learn exactly why Simon and Garfunkel broke up, then continuously teased at a comeback that never could happen. You will, however, get enough clues that it appears Jackson has her impression of why even though she doesn't want to say it quite so neatly. As I said, this is a sympathetic biography, so you'll get a favorable impression of that event and others. What pop star really warrants a scholarly biography? This book is meant to be fun reading for existing fans, and succeeds completely.
Paul Simon: The Definitive Biography of the Legendary Singer/Songwriter starts out with a kind of fawning admiration that warns the reader this won't be a completely unbiased biography. The author is clearly on her subject's side when discussing things like the Simon & Garfunkel relationship or the making of Graceland. Still, there is a lot of information that was new to me as a casual fan.
After an introduction the book proceeds in chronological order through Simon's life. It takes a little over half of the pages to reach the professional breakup with Art Garfunkel, then events from 1970 and the eponymous solo debut album through the book's publication in 2002 require only ninety pages. The cutoff point is around Simon's inclusion on The Wild Thornberries soundtrack -- the fact is noted in the discography but not part of the text.
Reading this book you won't learn exactly why Simon and Garfunkel broke up, then continuously teased at a comeback that never could happen. You will, however, get enough clues that it appears Jackson has her impression of why even though she doesn't want to say it quite so neatly. As I said, this is a sympathetic biography, so you'll get a favorable impression of that event and others. What pop star really warrants a scholarly biography? This book is meant to be fun reading for existing fans, and succeeds completely.
