Fab MP3 CD – MP3 Audio, December 29, 2015

I found the first part of this book intensely interesting from a musical viewpoint, but the second half less so in that regard. The music Paul wrote post-Beatle doesn't have nearly the draw for me, but I was still very keen to read about his family life, and for those rare glimpses into Paul's private world, I was indeed fascinated. The girls in particular have always interested me and I occasionally check out their FB pages to see what they are up to. As far as I can tell, Mary has no Facebook page, and Stella's page is of course centered around her work as a famous fashion designer. In his book, Soundes devotes the most ink by far to Heather, whom he repeatedly describes as a troubled and unhappy child. Yet when you check out Heather's FB page, virtually every picture is one of her childhood, growing up with her famous father. There is almost nothing about her pottery and not one picture or mention of her biological father. Being Paul's adopted daughter now seems to define her identity. If Sounes' description of her is true, she certainly seems to have come round 180 degrees.

I have been reading about the Beatles/John Lennon and/or Paul McCartney for over 30 years now in some shape or form...interestingly, as I read through each chapter reading information that I was already aware of, I kept wanting to read more! I kept telling my husband "I have to read what happens next!", as if I didn't already know what happened next...I was actually intrigued and there were details that I had not been aware of prior to reading this bio...this bio is not a "love story" by an author who adores Paul, but I did feel that it was likely a fair representation of a man, of a human being...lots of yucky stuff in here that is hard to hear about "my beloved Paul", yet I felt that there was a great deal of warmth and neat-o things about Paul in here as well to balance him out as a decent human being...a man who just happens to be incredibly famous...I actually really enjoyed this bio of Paul, keeping in mind, I've been saying since I was aged 5 that "someday I'm going to marry Paul" (and yes, my husband is also aware of this!)...I would recommend this book to any Paul fan, or fan of the Beatles who wishes for a wee bit more...

I personally loved Sounes' approach in FAB and I am amused by the (very few) negative reviews here that criticize the author for not falling into the trap of merely being cheerleader for Paul. Paul - just like the rest of us - has his faults and Sounes is just as likely to point these out in FAB as he is to trumpet his successes. What else would you want from an author of a biography?Is Howard at fault for stating the obvious - that much of Paul's post-Beatles work is sub-par and he truly misses John as his contributor and sounding board? Is Howard off the mark in saying Paul has an itchy trigger finger when it comes to firing staff? Or was completely blind in marrying Heather Mills? Should he omit Linda's groupie past and that it was clear she aimed to bag herself a Beatle?To me this is a must read for fans of Paul even if you've read the countless other Beatles literature out there (guilty). I wouldn't call this a smear job in the least...you get an even handed account and very thorough look at Paul's life and I especially appreciated FAB is more up to date and includes a look at life post-Linda which my other Paul books have not provided. Speaking of which, I'm sure Heather is still swearing a blue streak if she's given FAB a read!

What I like about this biography is its equal emphasis on Paul's Beatles and post-Beatles years, and its inclusion of fresh anecdotes from people who knew/worked with him. As a longtime Paul fan, I appreciate the new stuff: It's hard to find a McCartney bio that doesn't just regurgitate old information I've read hundreds of times.What I don't like is the author's failure to properly evaluate the quality of Paul's post-Beatles work, trashing such as albums as "McCartney" and "Ram," which contain some wonderful songs. You get the feeling the author suffers from tone-deafness. Pity for him, and for anyone who reads this book.What's missing altogether from this biography -- and from all other Paul bios -- is the year or so that Paul and Linda separated back in the '80s. That's right, they were separated. I distinctly remember an interview Paul gave in the mid-'80s in which he openly talked about it (I only wish I could remember in what magazine; I believe it was People or Us).Specifically, Paul said that he and Linda had been separated for about as long as John and Yoko (18 months), but unlike their widely publicized split, no one had even noticed he and Linda's (which presumably was over by the time he gave the interview).Two things struck me back then: First, that Paul's rivalry with John was so high-pitched it extended to marital separations and press coverage thereof. Second, that I had missed a window of opportunity to pursue a temporarily available Paul (as if I ever had a ghost of a chance).In the years since that interview, Paul must have switched course. Instead of being annoyed with the press for ignoring his split with Linda, he decided to sweep it under the rug. Amazing that no biographer has sniffed it out, and that the people close to the McCartneys during the separation have stayed mum for lo these many years.All you get now is the dreamy picture of Paul and Linda joined at the hip every day for 29 years -- except during Paul's brief stint in a Japanese prison. I'm sure they had a great marriage overall, but it wasn't perfect. Whose marriage is? After the Japanese bust, John's death and other bad stuff Paul faced in the early '80s, it doesn't surprise me that he and Linda spent some time apart.I keep waiting for a biographer to discover this long-hidden facet of the McCartney story. But maybe lips won't loosen until after Sir Paul is gone, in which case I hope word of the separation stays confined to this Amazon review for many years. Long live Paul!

good

I normally get frustrated when I read one star book reviews that only discuss the item and not the content but I was so disgusted by what I received from Amazon, I felt compelled to post a “Buyer Beware” review. This paperback is not a publisher quality edition, it’s a cheaply produced Amazon reprint on bad quality paper. The photos are really blurry and look like something from a 1980s fanzine done on a school photocopier. Even the RRP shown on the back cover is less than I paid (£12.99, not £14.52). Just don’t risk it. I’ll be buying a replacement from a bricks and mortar bookshop once my refund has been processed!

POSITIVES: The book does give equal space to Macca's Wings / solo years, unlike most which tend to dwell on the Beatles years only. And, if you're fairly new to his work, there are a lot of details here you might not have heard about.NEGATIVES: If you've followed Macca throughout his career (as I have), and especially if you've kept all the press and magazine clippings, then you're not likely to find much here you don't know already. The reviews are disappointing in as much as the writer seems simply to agree with whatever the media said "at the time" about each album release. Consequently, old critical opinions which were often flavoured by "thumbs aloft" cliches from the "hip" music press, go unchallenged. (If anyone's superb body of work is in need of public re-assessment it's Paul McCartney's. For example, the masterpiece "Ram"). These reviews more than anything give the book a "cut and paste" feel rather than be a work of fresh insight.RECOMMENDATIONS: Try and get a copy of "The Unknown Paul McCartney" by Ian Peel. It takes an independant look at Macca's more obscure, avant-garde works. Well worth a read.

I am a massive Beatles/Macca fan.This is simply the best book I have read on the subject because it is by FAR the most informative.It details his life from birth up to the end of 2009 - not from '62 to '66.For the people who says it tells us "nothing new" I would love to see the books they have read,because I consider myself pretty knowledgeable,and have learnt a lot from this book.Where else would you read about behind the scenes at the press to play recording sessions due to an interview with the producer?(this is but one tiny example of the detail contained)Details on his family life are here too - something that you don't normally get much of in a Paul biography.I think it is well balanced - neither sycophantic,or a hatchet job.I don't understand the criticism by others re the writing style.I found it to be a total page turner.The complaints about Ringo/Ritchie etc. seem a bit churlish to me.In short - if you are interested in Paul Mccartney,I don't see how you could fail to enjoy this book.

Haven’t finished the book yet, most of the content I already knew but there was still a few facts that opened my eyes about Paul’s career and personal life. There were quite a number of people whose only purpose was to rip him and the rest of The Beatles off. Great book, I also read it on Kindle.