Jian Ghomeshi grew up listening to David Bowie, and 1982 is his biography/coming of age story. I grew up listening to Moxy Fruvous will I delivered flyers in Bowness. Now I love listening to Q. I also love reading Canadian biographies. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book.
I even listed it in the top five books I would bring to an island (a conversation from the other day). The Toronto public library had sent me the email that my hold was in. That was Tuesday. 1982 is that short of a read. And as for the desert island...well, I'll need kindling.
1982 is entertaining enough, but it's not really what I expected. The title promises that we are going back in the day, and we do. Fair enough. I wanted a full biography with details of Ghomeshi's adult life too. Or at least a bit more about how he came to do Moxy Fruvous and Q. This book is very much about Jian's formative years and less about his successes. Fine -as a reader, I don't get to pick what the book is about - fair.
My main disappointment is over a couple of passages in the book. One was a game of road hockey, the other sneaking into a movie. Ghomeshi introduced both of these stories and then starts up about them again a chapter later like they haven't been mentioned. Yes, "Cat People" . Thanks. I recall from 20 minutes ago. It just doesn't flow. It reminded me of chapter 2 in the first Harry Potter* book, where Ron Weasley is once again introduced as Harry Potter's best friend. It's fair in HP1 though - HP1 is written at a grade 5? 6? reading level. If a brain patient says "yes, we know Jian, you just mentioned", then I think it's safe to say you are repeating yourself.
Ghomeshi does do a great job of sharing his obvious love of music. David Bowie might sell a lot of tracks on iTunes to people who just read 1982.
It's a decent book. I wanted a great book.
2.5/5**.
*I'm not trying to trash HP at all. All three of us choosing books to take to an island picked HP4.
**I'm still going to listen to Q all the time.
3 comments:
Lol at the kindling remark. So what are your 5 books for an island? Sounds like another blog entry =) Jen
That's a shame, I was hoping to read the book at some point. But I thougth the book was more about his love for music in 1982 instead of a momoir.
Perhaps I am being a bit harsh on Jian. I may have been influenced a little too much by the neon yellow BIOGRAPHY sticker across the cover, but that's the library, not Jian. It's still worth a read (on the subway).
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