When I started this blog in 2009, my idea was to have a modern day version of a Beatles fanzine from the 1970's. I used the fanzine "The Write Thing" as my model and I tried to sort of copy what Barb Fenick did back then, but with a 21st century flare to it. As the years went by I started adding more to this blog of things that I found in the fanzines: contests, reproductions of old magazine articles, fan stories and photos (obviously) and reviews. At first I reviewed books, concerts and movies now and then, but then I started to have more and more things to review and I decided to organize it so that those things were posted on Wednesdays. I have gotten great feedback from readers and authors like about my "Wednesday Reviews." I have reviewed close to 40 books and a handful of festivals, events, movies and concerts.
For the next two Wednesday I am going to share the top 15 best reviews on this blog in case you missed them the first time around or want to re-read them. The "best" reviews are the ones that had the most "hits" according to blogspot's data.
15. A Life in Parts (Book Review)
From January 23, 2013
388 views
I recently spoke in person to the author of this book about a woman who is an amputee and got a load of support from Heather Mills and met Paul along the way. This is the book that single handily changed my views on Paul's second wife and the author agreed with me completely. While this book doesn't have a strong Beatles theme, it is a great book about a woman with courage and a willingness to face life head on when faced with tragedy. The Paul stuff in the book is pretty amazing too---she went into Paul's house and saw his handwritten lyrics for Yesterday! It is worth reading for sure.
14. Who's the Redhead on the roof? (Book Review)
From June 17, 2015
396 views
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Who's the Redhead on the roof is the amazing story of Kevin Harrington, who worked at Apple and was Mal Evans right hand man. He is one of those faces Beatle fans have seen in the background of video and photos and never knew who he was until now! Kevin wrote a great e-book about his experiences with the Beatles and now it is available in a hard copy book! You can order it here!
13. Love me Do (Book Review)
From April 27, 2014
399 views
This classic Beatles book was a great read for the Beatles' 50th anniversary. I had never read it before, but was surprised how well it held up as a book so many years later. It is one that definitely should be on every Beatle fan's bookshelf.
12. Be My Baby (Book Review)
From April 29, 2015
415 views
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I didn't originally plan on reading this whole book or reviewing it for the blog. When I borrowed it from my local library, I just wanted to read the part about why Ronnie Spector didn't tour with the Beatles in 1966. However, I found her autobiography to be so compelling and full of Beatles tidbits, that I could not put it down and ended up reading the entire book cover to cover. A very good book for sure!
11. Yesterday: Memories of a Beatles Fan (e-book Review)
From July 22, 2015
464 views
One of the best Beatles books I have read. Seriously---this little e-book is in my top 20 best Beatles books of all times. It is the story of Margaret who was an early fan from the Cavern days. I loved reading her story of the Beatles' early days because it helped me fill in some gaps from that time period. Of course the fact that Marg is a John Lennon fan didn't hurt things for me either. Only available as an e-book, but one that every fan needs to read.
10. Desperately Seeking Paul McCartney (movie review)
From July 22, 2012
482 views
This was an interesting movie about a girl named Ruth that interviewed Paul McCartney at a press conference in 1966 where Paul asked he to marry him. The movie is about the adult Ruth trying to meet Paul McCartney again in 2007 and the camera follow her around as she tries to meet Paul one more time. Sadly much of this documentary seemed staged and fake and I disliked how Ruth was made fun for for being an over the top Beatles fan. The only genuine person in the movie was Ruth herself.
9. Friar Park A Pictorial History (book review)
From December 10, 2014
494 views
This is a must have book for anyone who is interested in learning about George Harrison's home, Friar Park. Lots of photos and information about the property. And while it has very little about George himself, it is interesting to see the place that George called home for 31 years.
8. The Guitar's alright as a hobby, John (book review)
From May 11, 2014
505 views
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This charming little book about John Lennon's aunt, Mimi Smith, is another great one. Aunt Mimi has been portrayed in films as somewhat of a heartless woman, but Kathy Burns shows Mimi in a much different light and shows the human side of the woman that raised John. Through Burn's book you can begin to understand more about Mimi Smith and the relationship she had with John's fans.
Stay tuned next Wednesday for the rest of the list and more Wednesday reviews in 2016! I would like to review more "classic" Beatles books from the 1970's and 1980's . If you have any suggestions, please let me know!
For the next two Wednesday I am going to share the top 15 best reviews on this blog in case you missed them the first time around or want to re-read them. The "best" reviews are the ones that had the most "hits" according to blogspot's data.
15. A Life in Parts (Book Review)
From January 23, 2013
388 views
I recently spoke in person to the author of this book about a woman who is an amputee and got a load of support from Heather Mills and met Paul along the way. This is the book that single handily changed my views on Paul's second wife and the author agreed with me completely. While this book doesn't have a strong Beatles theme, it is a great book about a woman with courage and a willingness to face life head on when faced with tragedy. The Paul stuff in the book is pretty amazing too---she went into Paul's house and saw his handwritten lyrics for Yesterday! It is worth reading for sure.
14. Who's the Redhead on the roof? (Book Review)
From June 17, 2015
396 views
13. Love me Do (Book Review)
From April 27, 2014
399 views
This classic Beatles book was a great read for the Beatles' 50th anniversary. I had never read it before, but was surprised how well it held up as a book so many years later. It is one that definitely should be on every Beatle fan's bookshelf.
12. Be My Baby (Book Review)
From April 29, 2015
415 views
11. Yesterday: Memories of a Beatles Fan (e-book Review)
From July 22, 2015
464 views
One of the best Beatles books I have read. Seriously---this little e-book is in my top 20 best Beatles books of all times. It is the story of Margaret who was an early fan from the Cavern days. I loved reading her story of the Beatles' early days because it helped me fill in some gaps from that time period. Of course the fact that Marg is a John Lennon fan didn't hurt things for me either. Only available as an e-book, but one that every fan needs to read.
10. Desperately Seeking Paul McCartney (movie review)
From July 22, 2012
482 views
This was an interesting movie about a girl named Ruth that interviewed Paul McCartney at a press conference in 1966 where Paul asked he to marry him. The movie is about the adult Ruth trying to meet Paul McCartney again in 2007 and the camera follow her around as she tries to meet Paul one more time. Sadly much of this documentary seemed staged and fake and I disliked how Ruth was made fun for for being an over the top Beatles fan. The only genuine person in the movie was Ruth herself.
9. Friar Park A Pictorial History (book review)
From December 10, 2014
494 views
This is a must have book for anyone who is interested in learning about George Harrison's home, Friar Park. Lots of photos and information about the property. And while it has very little about George himself, it is interesting to see the place that George called home for 31 years.
8. The Guitar's alright as a hobby, John (book review)
From May 11, 2014
505 views
This charming little book about John Lennon's aunt, Mimi Smith, is another great one. Aunt Mimi has been portrayed in films as somewhat of a heartless woman, but Kathy Burns shows Mimi in a much different light and shows the human side of the woman that raised John. Through Burn's book you can begin to understand more about Mimi Smith and the relationship she had with John's fans.
Stay tuned next Wednesday for the rest of the list and more Wednesday reviews in 2016! I would like to review more "classic" Beatles books from the 1970's and 1980's . If you have any suggestions, please let me know!