As it began ' or any other books

Steven,, one more thing. A lot of my interest in non-fiction books comes as a result of reading fiction, and wanting to know more. Several years ago I read "Widow of the South" and became fascinated by Carrie McGavock. http://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8313208/caroline-elizabeth-mcgavock
This is a Civil War site that would be a long weekend trip from my house and I hope to visit it someday.

Mhz, Thanks for doing research my eyes wont let me read for too long without going blurry thanks.You got me curious.

Mhz, That's me most of Queens concerts were in those 80s and I was too young so I have to talk to people that were old enough.I think I was old enough in 1990 but Freddie was already sick and had stopped touring.I turned 17 in June of 1990 .So I guess if their were concerts in 1989 I could've went .How old did you have to be I bet 18 since they werent in the US touring then.He passed when I was in my junior year in high school I still remember.

The quote I put on supposedly was directly from Brian's Twitter, but I know what you mean Katyd. When I get some time I'll do some more research and try to find if Brian really said that. Personally, I love Brian and I don't really understand the hate he can get, it makes me sad. But I know that it is a hot button so I try to avoid it as much as I can too.

I do think Freddie must have been capable of some physical violence, even outside of the Minn's incident, we know he threw things and broke mirrors, and it is a short walk from that to physical contact. It's so hard for me to think of Freddie not being able to apologize or acknowledge things he had done wrong, I so badly want to think of him as this sweet innocent person that would want to settle things with everyone. But there are so many instances of Freddie not confronting others when he was in the wrong or wanted to breakup with someone, I know that he's not that sweet person all the time. I'm not really sure which page I'm on yet, I have a Kindle so the page numbers are different, I think. It's ok to go ahead and mention things if you want, if I'm not caught up I will be shortly anyway.

Katy, we must not be too far apart, I'm up not too far from Ft. Wayne. Another place Queen played and I didn't go to the concert, ugh! ; )

Hope everyone's day is going well and you all are holding it together.I pray for you guys working from home but at least it keeps your mind busy.Mhz books are very fitting for times like these.My Dr put in a referral because with my condition I need to see a pain specialist again .They usually want to evaluate you since I havent been to a pain specialist in more than a year but they said just come get the referral over the phone.They want to minimize Dr .visits.My counseling is by phone as well.Speaking of my counselor and Elton John i was talking to him about how much I adored him.He said he saw him before he got rich and famous at a county fair in the state of Iowa .I thought that was pretty amazing.

MHZ, I mentioned in an earlier post another time when Freddie avoided something unpleasant. It comes at the end of the book when Ratty has made the decision to leave the band and go into photography. He was not able to pin Freddie down so that he could tell him of his decision though he tried several times. Freddie would just brush him off and tell him they could talk later. Eventually it became clear that Freddie knew Ratty was leaving and they did talk very briefly. Freddie was supportive. I think Ratty makes a good point when he says Freddie tended to push aside unpleasant things in the hopes they might go away. There is a similar incident in Phoebe's book where Freddie can't bring himself to tell Phoebe of his diagnosis. Phoebe feels as if both Freddie and the others in the house are pushing him away and makes the decision to leave. That's what prompts Freddie to tell him t he truth and to ask him to stay. I think all of this is part of what I think of as Freddie's abandonment issues. I believe it was easier to avoid issues he found painful rather than to simply confront them. I've already said that the first time I read Queen Unseen I wasn't even sure that Ratty really liked Freddie. With each successive read I become more sure that they had a deep and meaningful friendship. I've always loved Ratty's very last line in the chapter prior to the postscript. : ) No spoiler from me.

Like I tried to explain before Indians arent very open people and are not confrontational by nature especially fully bloods.I appreciate Ratty and phoebe's view on this matter but me knowing Indiams and being one all my life I think I will stick to my people on that one.Its the same with health matters when an Indian gets terminally I'll they tend to not discuss those matters.Indians unlike whites are extremely private people.

Indiams like to suffer with illness in private they accept their fate.They leave their lives in the hands of the God for healing and the prayer warriors.Indians are a tough clan of people they have been since the beginning of time.As far as abandonment issues yeah I'm sure he had them but that didnt shape his decision making on these matters these values werent learned from school they apart of his heritage his being as a person.

Katyd, I remember that from Phoebe’s book and also what Hince has said, plus I think a few other books have mentioned that Freddie didn’t do breaking up and other confrontations well and just avoided it. It’s an interesting characteristic from someone who is so caring and loyal to his friends, isn’t it? One would think that empathy would extend to confrontations and wanting to resolve thing easily too. The one relationship I can recall that he ended so impressively (and now of course I can’t remember the guy’s name!) was when his boyfriend was cheating on him, and Freddie flew him to New York only to tell him it was over and sent him back to England on the next flight! And Freddie kept the guy’s cat, too! I adore that breakup story....what every person wishes they could do to the rat that cheats on them, lol!

Chevy, when you say Indians keep to themselves, are you talking Eastern Indians? I am not sure Freddie falls in that category, really? I realize he was from the region, but with his parents religion and Persian background is that the same thing? I will admit my knowledge of the geography of that region and characteristics of their lifestyle is lacking. I do hate the thought of generalizing that all Indians would behave in a certain way just based on where they are born.

Mhz, yes I mean most persians have this characteristic as well as the native American Indians.Its just part of their culture.Think about after Freddie died that terrible article that man wrote saying Freddie deserved what he got because he was living a sinful life being gay.His mother in her grief never lashed out once all Indians no matter their region I noticed tend to avoid confrontation.They are peacemakers to the white man.I know it's hard to imagine Freddie as a full blood Persian Indian but I encourage anyone to do research on his parents faith and his upbringing and then maybe it will shred some light on this mind boggling question.

Persians practice sharing , love , hard work, and good deeds.I think Freddie in many ways was not religious but his Indian faith never left him if you listen to alot of his early music it's all over it.His colors he wore were of his faith.Eart, fire, and water.These are things of nature things he held dear from his child as a young boy.He was Freddie Mercury the entertainer but like he told his mom I will always be Freddie Bulsara .Its a very interesting history not all Indian values and religion are the same but they have some of the same basic beliefs as one another.They are very shy as well my father is a full blood wont talk till he real knows you.Indians have trust issues i dont know why.Freddie did too didnt he.

I finished the book, so I did read through the part about Ratty leaving, and at least in this case Freddie finally did make the first move and asked Ratty about his leaving....although he avoided the subject for a long time.

One thing I’ve always wondered about...and Ratty mentioned but didn’t elaborate on...was what happened with John Deacon in Munich. Ratty says John started smoking, grew his hair back out, and generally withdrew...leaving recording and only telling Ratty where he was going, not the band. It makes me wonder, was his marriage struggling...did he have an affair? Did his wife? Was he beginning to have some phobias about being social...or performing? Was he becoming an alcoholic (or other...) and that was the problem? It sure sounds like there was something there, and they have all kept quiet about it all these years.

I’m also amazed at all the struggles of crossing borders as they went from country to country...and all the under-the-table money that exchanged hands. I guess you know that stuff goes on, but it’s amazing how much of it really happened, and the danger those guys were in all the time. And it also amazes me how much they did cocaine and other drugs...the risk of getting it from people in other countries that they didn’t know....they easily could have gotten in trouble. I know those were the times, but it is incredible how they did that all over the world!

Mhz, I know he was hitting the strip club after Freddie died and picked up a dancing queen that was real young and bought her a car and stuff .Maybe he was creeping around back then too.He got married so young.I know from experience being married at 19 is tough and having children by the time I was 24 .None of my friends were married at that age they were parting their ass off.Its a hard pill to swallow the grass can all look better for a while and men are curious little creatures anyway.

MHZ, I've always wondered about John's disappearance too. Ratty gives a bit more detail but I think that's because he was the only one who knew John was leaving. I think I've heard Mack mention it briefly in an interview but without details. It's only speculation but I've always wondered if John had a bit of a mini breakdown and just couldn't deal with the band or the pressure for one more minute, so he took off. Whatever his reasons we will never know, but he seemed to return refreshed.

I agree with you that it seemed pretty risky to be getting drugs from unknown people in countries they didn't know well. Maybe I've seen too much Locked Up Abroad on the National Geo channel.

I'm kind of sorry you finished the book because I've enjoyed the discussion. I wish there were more books out there to discuss!

Chevy, I have heard that before, that John fell for a dancer (stripper?) and bought her a house and car and stuff....but I don’t know where that was reported from, do you know? I’d just like to know whether it’s rumor or if it is from a reputable source.

Katyd, the idea about a breakdown seems possible, and it is never clear when John takes off whether he went somewhere alone or if he had company...family or otherwise. I often wonder if the song In Only Seven Days was a real experience for John, when he went on one of those trips. I haven’t looked at that song’s timing in relation to when he was having these troubles though.

I am bummed the book is done too, I enjoy the analysis!