Dreaming the Beatles

Interesting stories, but not quite as personal as his other books.

It's not the best book on the Beatles. It's a great book on the author's relationship with the Beatles. He's a John guy and makes no bones about it, which hampers some of the perspective (especially if you are a Paul person). Sheffield is a good writer and writes with a lot of passion. The book isn't completely factually accurate, so the hard core Beatles will object (I'm a step or two under hard core fan, but even I cringed a few times when Sheffield dropped something that's been well documented at not true). It's an enjoyable read and it does remind you a) how great a band the Beatles were and b) how happy they can make you feel.

Sheffield is always an entertaining writer, but I feel like I was sold a bit of goods in that the book promises to examine the Beatles' relationship to the world, and it's really more about the Beatles' relationship to Rob Sheffield. Which is okay, but not quite what I was expecting. Sheffield takes some well known Beatles history, adds his own conjecture and a lot of Beatles puns, and winds up with a quick read that sheds very little new light on the Fab Four. And although he spends a whole chapter denying it, boy does he not like Paul. According to Sheffield, John is the genius, George is underrated, Ringo is funny and affable, but Paul is a girl-crazy hack of a songwriter who needed John to give his songs any weight.

I will read almost anything about the Beatles, and I can't say I wasn't entertained, especially in the book's discussion of the strange journey of their music post-breakup (I remember the Blue collection and the Red collection, but had never heard of the Rock & Roll Music/Love Songs collections that were released in the 70s). But I was expecting a little more depth and breadth than Sheffield's recollection of the first time he heard Ticket to Ride.