[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Daniel Nester wrote: [/QUOTENAME]I myself invite criticism of things, but I prefer specific examples. I think there's a difference between disagreeing with reasoning and saying there's no reasoning at all.
Let me practice what I preach and give you an example. I would say I disagree with Georg over his take on Hot Space. If I were writing that section, I think I would focus more on the "ahead of its time" angle, as opposed to the "huge misstep" angle that's in the Complete Works. I love, for example, "Cool Cat" with all my heart and soul -- it's frightening to hear me try to sing along with Freddie's falsetto in my car. I don't have the book here with me, but I think it gets a bad rap in the book.
Fair enough. What I like about the book, however, is just that: It has freaking opinions, a voice, a point of view! Most of the Queen books are just clip-job dreck, like the Laura Jackson quickies that are glorified movies of the week. This book is far different from that.
But while I think Michael has every right to offer his take, I would have preferred examples. Just one -- doesn't need to be a laundry list -- might give us a better idea of where he's coming from than a sort of veiled ad hominem.
I speak as someone who has had a lot of homophobic emails--hate mail, really--after I released my two books. It's apples and organges, really, comparing my books with Georg/Lester's. But it got pretty hurtful there for awhile when I would get the odd email from Queen fans who complained about the "gay imagery" I used in my poems in the first book. That sucked big time.
All I am saying is that there has to be some what to have a decent exhange of ideas here, at least among the "smart fans," about Queen-related matters, without personal insults.[/QUOTE]
Wait, homophobic e-mails? For what?
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I should have been more clear, Michael. I wasn't talking about you or anything. I was talking about my book and the feedback I got from some Queen fans in backchannel emails. It wasn't, like, a hundred of them. Just a few. But it was enough to sort of give me a chill down my spine. This was a couple of years ago, so I can talk about it now without being completely freaked out. My response was, Maybe these books aren't for you, sorry you didn't like the gay imagery and arty language. I think if I wasn't in total "book tour" mode, I would have told the emailers to eff off.
All of this is to say is that although Michael's response about the Complete Works book isn't idea, it isn't on par with these emails I'm talking about. The level of discourse could be higher here, nonetheless, could be much better.
All of this is to say is that although Michael's response about the Complete Works book isn't idea, it isn't on par with these emails I'm talking about. The level of discourse could be higher here, nonetheless, could be much better.
Just got this, very impressed with it. Very well written. Though I still wonder for what I am credited in the Thanks section :D
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Pim Derks wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Just got this, very impressed with it. Very well written. Though I still wonder for what I am credited in the Thanks section :D[/QUOTE]
I honestly can't remember – not that what you've done didn't mean anything, just that my mind / memory has turned to crap recently and I can't remember what I had for breakfast last week, let alone what I wrote in the book over the course of six years ;)
Glad you enjoy it, sir.
I honestly can't remember – not that what you've done didn't mean anything, just that my mind / memory has turned to crap recently and I can't remember what I had for breakfast last week, let alone what I wrote in the book over the course of six years ;)
Glad you enjoy it, sir.
'Queen: Complete Works' is worth every damn penny! When I found this at a local book store I literally screamed like a little girl, and without hesitation I bought it. When I looked up who the author was, I couldn't believe it was the guy on Queenzone. Anyway, I've read the book thoroughly and it is definetly the most reliable book on Queen out there. Great work, Lester! I'll buy any book you write, even if it isn't Queen related.
*double post*
It really is an essential addition to any Queen fan's bookshelf. I can't say that for the Laura Jackson or even the Rick Sky book, although the latter was one of the first bio-books to come out and of course I snapped it up the second it came out.
I do still wish there were more books that had a more serious, first-person point of view on Queen.
I am a big fan of the 33 1/3 series:
http://www.33third.blogspot.com/
And I just wish they had one for, say, ANATO or NOTW. Maybe someday. Lord knows I tried to do one.
I do still wish there were more books that had a more serious, first-person point of view on Queen.
I am a big fan of the 33 1/3 series:
http://www.33third.blogspot.com/
And I just wish they had one for, say, ANATO or NOTW. Maybe someday. Lord knows I tried to do one.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]<font color=FF0033 face=symbol>Freddie wrote: [/QUOTENAME]I'll buy any book you write, even if it isn't Queen related.[/QUOTE]
Then it's worth mentioning that I'm working on two new reference-type books, the first of which is about Elvis Costello (tentatively titled "Between Wisdom & Murder: An Elvis Costello Encyclopedia") and should be near completion sometime within a year or so. The next will be about The Who, title to be determined. After that, I'll probably get around to having my first novel, which I've been working on for a few years, published.
And, as ever, work on my Milli Vanilli book continues at a healthy rate...
Then it's worth mentioning that I'm working on two new reference-type books, the first of which is about Elvis Costello (tentatively titled "Between Wisdom & Murder: An Elvis Costello Encyclopedia") and should be near completion sometime within a year or so. The next will be about The Who, title to be determined. After that, I'll probably get around to having my first novel, which I've been working on for a few years, published.
And, as ever, work on my Milli Vanilli book continues at a healthy rate...
Hi Lester,
If you need any assistance with The Who book, let me know - I'd be glad to help!
If you need any assistance with The Who book, let me know - I'd be glad to help!
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Lester Burnham wrote: [/QUOTENAME] And, as ever, work on my Milli Vanilli book continues at a healthy rate... [/QUOTE]
Glad to hear it Lester, but dont forget to mention how they continually managed to hit those top C notes on a regular basis.
Glad to hear it Lester, but dont forget to mention how they continually managed to hit those top C notes on a regular basis.
I'll agree. I read it, cover to cover, then, have gone BACK, to reference specific songs, etc. Worth every penny, and, my favorite of the three Queen books read thus far.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]<font color=FF0033 face=symbol>Freddie wrote: [/QUOTENAME]'Queen: Complete Works' is worth every damn penny! When I found this at a local book store I literally screamed like a little girl, and without hesitation I bought it. When I looked up who the author was, I couldn't believe it was the guy on Queenzone. Anyway, I've read the book thoroughly and it is definetly the most reliable book on Queen out there. Great work, Lester! I'll buy any book you write, even if it isn't Queen related.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]<font color=FF0033 face=symbol>Freddie wrote: [/QUOTENAME]'Queen: Complete Works' is worth every damn penny! When I found this at a local book store I literally screamed like a little girl, and without hesitation I bought it. When I looked up who the author was, I couldn't believe it was the guy on Queenzone. Anyway, I've read the book thoroughly and it is definetly the most reliable book on Queen out there. Great work, Lester! I'll buy any book you write, even if it isn't Queen related.[/QUOTE]
Came home from work yesterday 10:00 PM;
found the book in the mail;
immediately gave it a very quick browse, just to get the flavour of it;
closed it with the feeling I hadn't even begun to scratch the surface:
clock read 2:30 AM... :-D
It's MASSIVE!!!
Of course it must be, being about Queen, but I did not expect it to be SO huge, and SO broad in its coverage, and SO packed full of detailed (and well-documented) information.
Amazingly well done, Lester!
Infinitely grateful: I am sure it will remain my main reference about Queen for quite a long time.
Wondering how long it will take me to read from cover to cover, though: the full Lord Of The Rings trilogy kept me busy for a week, but this one looks tougher, and more exciting... :-P
found the book in the mail;
immediately gave it a very quick browse, just to get the flavour of it;
closed it with the feeling I hadn't even begun to scratch the surface:
clock read 2:30 AM... :-D
It's MASSIVE!!!
Of course it must be, being about Queen, but I did not expect it to be SO huge, and SO broad in its coverage, and SO packed full of detailed (and well-documented) information.
Amazingly well done, Lester!
Infinitely grateful: I am sure it will remain my main reference about Queen for quite a long time.
Wondering how long it will take me to read from cover to cover, though: the full Lord Of The Rings trilogy kept me busy for a week, but this one looks tougher, and more exciting... :-P
Yes, I'll admit that I, too, squealed like a girl when I got mine!
I read The Hobbit, and, the subsequet trilogy in the summer between fifth and sixth grade...I could not put them down, and, often read them under the covers at night with a flashlight. Matter of fact, hearing, "Killer Queen," always makes me think of Bilbo Baggins, since that song was playing a great deal on the radio whilst I was transported to The Shire.
Though, as a grown up, I found I could no longer make it through the LOTR books, I had no trouble whatever delving into Mr Purvis' treasure!![QUOTE][QUOTENAME]gnomo wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Came home from work yesterday 10:00 PM;
found the book in the mail;
immediately gave it a very quick browse, just to get the flavour of it;
closed it with the feeling I hadn't even begun to scratch the surface:
clock read 2:30 AM... :-D
It's MASSIVE!!!
Of course it must be, being about Queen, but I did not expect it to be SO huge, and SO broad in its coverage, and SO packed full of detailed (and well-documented) information.
Amazingly well done, Lester!
Infinitely grateful: I am sure it will remain my main reference about Queen for quite a long time.
Wondering how long it will take me to read from cover to cover, though: the full Lord Of The Rings trilogy kept me busy for a week, but this one looks tougher, and more exciting... :-P[/QUOTE]
I read The Hobbit, and, the subsequet trilogy in the summer between fifth and sixth grade...I could not put them down, and, often read them under the covers at night with a flashlight. Matter of fact, hearing, "Killer Queen," always makes me think of Bilbo Baggins, since that song was playing a great deal on the radio whilst I was transported to The Shire.
Though, as a grown up, I found I could no longer make it through the LOTR books, I had no trouble whatever delving into Mr Purvis' treasure!![QUOTE][QUOTENAME]gnomo wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Came home from work yesterday 10:00 PM;
found the book in the mail;
immediately gave it a very quick browse, just to get the flavour of it;
closed it with the feeling I hadn't even begun to scratch the surface:
clock read 2:30 AM... :-D
It's MASSIVE!!!
Of course it must be, being about Queen, but I did not expect it to be SO huge, and SO broad in its coverage, and SO packed full of detailed (and well-documented) information.
Amazingly well done, Lester!
Infinitely grateful: I am sure it will remain my main reference about Queen for quite a long time.
Wondering how long it will take me to read from cover to cover, though: the full Lord Of The Rings trilogy kept me busy for a week, but this one looks tougher, and more exciting... :-P[/QUOTE]
Shameless plug:
The holiday season is coming up, and this book would be perfect for any Queen fan in the family ;)
The holiday season is coming up, and this book would be perfect for any Queen fan in the family ;)
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Lester Burnham wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Shameless plug:
The holiday season is coming up, and this book would be perfect for any Queen fan in the family ;)[/QUOTE]
One: Put the book in the box.
Two: Put a bow on that box.
Three: Make 'em open the box.
And that's the way you do it, Lester's book in a box!
The holiday season is coming up, and this book would be perfect for any Queen fan in the family ;)[/QUOTE]
One: Put the book in the box.
Two: Put a bow on that box.
Three: Make 'em open the box.
And that's the way you do it, Lester's book in a box!