As it began ' or any other books

That’s so funny Katy!! Im refreshing too stared to read it on e-book. Now happy to have it in my hand.

Amidds, MHZ, and Katy— well said! I agree about catching more details after learning more.

I’ve been distracting myself with other things. Haha. Looking forward to getting back in to this one while we are all reading it.

Katy- you can be sure that I will be smiling every time I see that reference. Screech. :-))

Also- so interesting about Rudi. Thank you for that update!! I’m a bit out of the loop - no Twitter, no instagram :-)

Katy, I was trying to figure out what might have bugged you and I wondered if that was it! When I read that it always just makes me laugh. Forgive me if you already understand, but Phoebe’s use of that phrase in reference to Freddie as the Royal “we” is funny to me. It makes me wonder if that is a phrase his friends/workers used when he wasn’t around, or if they joked with him in person like that. Or maybe that is just something Phoebe came up with later. It would be a fun question to ask Phoebe!

The one reference that always gets me is his describing things as a commode. As far as I know, in the US a commode is a toilet. So when Phoebe has said there were commodes on either side of Freddie’s bed, I was picturing toilets by the bed! Later he used the term commodes for things in the sitting room and kitchen, and then I figured out that he must mean some kind of small cabinet. I had a good laugh at that!

You guys are hilarious! Though I agree Katy, that gets a little grating. I've always kinda wondered if that was some sort of inside joke or something between the boys when Freddie would have his angry moments???

Was wondering what you guys thought of Phoebe's comment on "the last songs that Freddie wrote". I'll include a little extra for reference but, basically, he was talking about Freddie and his bad luck with boyfriends, how the drama affected his work and how he needed that plus a little anger to fuel him:

In London it was well-known that Morgan was seeing the dancer Philip Broom-head who was also a friend of Freddie’s. It seemed to be a curse which dogged him, that of his lovers seeming to two-time him with younger and prettier boys. Although Freddie might have allowed himself to be unfaithful, others were not allowed that privilege.
The way Freddie functioned follows the long tail of genius born from pain…..And of course there were the last songs that Freddie wrote.

I'm not really seeing the point Phoebe is making but it's probably something obvious you guys can point out to me lol!

MHZ, I know the phrase Phoebe uses is the Royal we, but I feel that he overuses it. It's not a big deal, just a source of annoyance for me. I never thought about it perhaps being an inside joke. If you are right, it would make it easier for me to see it so often if it is a private joke. The use of commode confused me at first too. I saw two toilets too and realized that had to be wrong.

Amidds, I'm not sure of the point Phoebe is making either when he says, "The way Freddie functioned follows the long tail of genius born from pain…..And of course there were the last songs that Freddie wrote. " We've been told Freddie needed conflict for creativity to flow. Maybe he means that some of the last songs were born of the pain of his illness. What do the rest of you think? I really don't know. I find it interesting when Phoebe says Freddie's lovers cheated on him with younger and prettier boys. Younger maybe, but prettier? Hmmmm……..

Kinda re-thinking it now. It comes on the tail of Phoebe discussing Freddie’s relationships so I thought that was what he was referring to. After re-reading, I agree Katydyd, that the pain came from his illness vs a bad break-up or something. I am almost disappointed in myself for not catching that. I even started to consult Complete Works, trying to relate his last songs to relationships and just couldn’t see what Peter was saying.

Regarding the younger and prettier, I feel as if Phoebe was referring to Freddie’s insecurities and not a statement of fact? Kinda like that royal we thing....writing with a tendency towards a familiarity that may not be there?

Phoebe was asked on his blog about Freddie's appearance. Here's what he said:

Ray wondered if I thought Freddie was attractive.
I’m sure you all know the old saying… beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What is beautiful to one person is ugly to another. I was lucky enough to spend 12 years in Freddie’s company, so was able to learn about the person inside the skin. Freddie hated his teeth, he wished he was a few centimetres taller, he would have liked a more defined body, he loathed his double crown, all these things were on the outside. As a friend, Freddie was the warmest, most loving person you could ever wish to meet and I’m sure you could ask anybody who knew him through work or his social life and they would agree with me. I saw the things Freddie listed as his drawbacks, but his personality shone past anything physical, so to answer the question, yes, I think Freddie was beautiful.

That sums up Phoebe's view pretty well. Personally I think he was physically beautiful too. Most people see and maybe place too much importance on their own flaws and Freddie was no different. The teeth are obvious but I think they are such a part of Freddie that they don't bother me. Oddly, I am fascinated by his height. When I first began this obsession and watched concert videos, I thought he was very tall and powerful. It always surprises me that he wasn't .

He was 5 9. Not short for a man of his generation,maybe slightly above average.

Ha...on the commode thing I remember thinking “maybe it’s a rich person thing...they want to crawl out of bed and be able to relieve themselves and crawl back in? Or a throwback to the old chamber pot days?” I was really trying to picture what that looked like, lol!

On the pain for musical or performance inspiration, I think you guys are right about what Phoebe is saying. I’m not sure if it’s 100% accurate though, I just feel like Freddie was kind of high strung in relationships and was prone to fights while in them. That’s just based on all I’ve read. Even when he was supposedly happy and settled down with Jim they seemed to have massive fights at times. Were they always timed to when he needed “inspiration”? I guess we can’t ever know. I suppose with all the time Phoebe spent with Freddie he probably has the best insight on it!

On the younger and prettier boys, I always kind of felt like Phoebe was saying that from Freddie’s perspective, and that Freddie was insecure about his looks and age, once he passed 30 or so. I’m sure prettier meant someone youthful with great hair and body, etc. Don’t we all kind of worry about that as we age? I’m sure the trophy wife term has that in mind!

I am wondering about the term “double crown” that Freddie said he had. For me the crown is on the top rear part of the head, so I can’t picture what that would look like. I’m thinking he means that he has both sides receding on his forehead by the double crown comment? Anyone know?

MHZ, you can Google "double crown hair" and it will show you a picture. I asked my stylist about it once and she said it's very difficult to work with a double crown. The Google article confirms that. Every once in a while you'll see a picture of long-haired Freddie and there will be tufts sticking up in the back.

As for Freddie's height, you often see pictures where he is the shortest in the group being photographed. I think his very slight build contributed to him looking smaller. Plus I've read frequently that men tend to add an inch on to their height when asked. : )

Not just on height

Wow!!! Great conversations. I need to re-read these posts again to have good input. So many good details there!

After first read, I agree with all of you, at least from reading the quote here” that the quote about songs written during Illness was separate.

Could someone tell me what page n the paperback version that quote is on so I can see it in context.

And, I wonder if the younger and hotter was a Freddie young-n-cheek-ism. :-))

I actually made myself go back and read from the very beginning and, as I’m sure most of you know well, I probably knew this but forgot... so interesting on page 1 of Chapter 1 that Freddie was so struck by the ceiling in the Rainbow Room thatit “influenced the designs of some of the ceilings in his future home”

Wow!!! Great conversations. I need to re-read these posts again to have good input. So many good details there!

After first read, I agree with all of you, at least from reading the quote here” that the quote about songs written during Illness was separate.

Could someone tell me what page n the paperback version that quote is on so I can see it in context.

And, I wonder if the younger and hotter was a Freddie young-n-cheek-ism. :-))

I actually made myself go back and read from the very beginning and, as I’m sure most of you know well, I probably knew this but forgot... so interesting on page 1 of Chapter 1 that Freddie was so struck by the ceiling in the Rainbow Room thatit “influenced the designs of some of the ceilings in his future home”

Haha. Tongue. Not young. But kinda ties in... ha

The way Freddie functioned follows the long tail of genius born from pain…..And of course there were the last songs that Freddie wrote

Had to go back In posts for the exact quote. It will be good to read what leads up to this. Sounds almost like a commentary on what Phoebe witnessed as Freddie’s life experiences, inner pain, etc and creative process intersecting...how some are driven, maybe, and able to create not in spite of but using and because of struggles? Maybe too deep but another thought?

Amidds, would be interesting conversation if you have the opportunity to mention this to Phoebe as part of your question list. :-)