Nov 23, 2023

Billy's Books 81: George Harrison: The Reluctant Beatle

Back to the Beatles! Here's the new biography George Harrison: The Reluctant Beatle by Philip Norman. George is the most paradoxical of Beatles -- the most cosmic yet most down-to-Earth, the nicest and the meanest, etc.

I gotta say, when the book gets into the '70s, George does not come across well. If you don't want to be discouraged by cynical or cruel behaviour, maybe don't read it after all...

One last factoid: The remastered All Things Must Pass (2000) outsold the original, going seven times Platinum. Dang.

As always, thanks to Saint Louis Public Library for the book. Support your local library!

Nov 4, 2023

Save KDHX: The Album

I wrote "These Two (Got to Go)" with Anthony Brescia for this compilation.

The KDHX story is a sticky one, and ongoing. Follow the links for a better understanding of the issues:

Nov 2, 2023

Billy's Books 80: The Buried Giant

Today I review a normal, fictional novel, The Buried Giant, by the Nobel Prize-winning British writer Kazuo Ishiguro. It seems to be set in England during the Middle Ages.

As always, thanks to Saint Louis Public Library for the book. Support your local library!

Oct 26, 2023

Billy's Books 79: Return of the Jedi (POV)

Yay Star Wars! From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi is the third in the POV book series harking back to the original trilogy. It's a collection of short stories surrounding the characters and circumstances associated with the movie. Lots of pathos and action, and a bit of humor, set on Tattooine, Endor, the second Death Star, and even Dagobah.

"From a certain point of view" itself comes from Obi-Wan's (in)famous quote in the movie. It's his answer to Luke's asking why he didn't say Vader was his father. It's in the movie; it's in the book.

Here's a scene I didn't mention in the video. It's just before the Battle of Endor. Admiral Piett has been promoted by Darth Vader, to replace force-choked Admiral Ozzel. Piett thinks back to his childhood on a depleted mining planet: 

When he was sixteen, he told his mother he was enrolling in the Imperial Navy. She hadn't responded. She continued sweeping the floor, making no progress. "If your father were here," she muttered. She didn't finish the thought. Piett had burned with shame for a reason he didn't quite understand. 

"She continued sweeping the floor, making no progress." 

Also, Admiral Piett brings his warship into orbit early, and notes in his log that it goes unappreciated. 

As always, thanks to Saint Louis Public Library for the book. Support your local library!

Sep 14, 2023

Billy's Books 78: Inside The Yellow Submarine

Back to the Beatles! Inside The Yellow Submarine tells the story of the making of the 1968 Yellow Submarine movie, as told by its makers.

 

As always, thanks to Saint Louis Public Library for the book. Support your local library!

Aug 20, 2023

Billy's Books 77: The Big Sleep

I just finished a classic novel, The Big Sleep, by Raymond Chandler. It was made in to the classic Bogey-Bacall move of the same name. By the end, I was definitely hearing Humphrey Bogart's voice in my head.

As always, thanks to Saint Louis Public Library for the book. Support your local library!