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beucleral's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
3.5
chaosetc's review against another edition
3.0
This book interweaves Freddie's life with the history of HIV and AIDS, and that more than anything made it worth a listen. Some parts of the story veered into the type of tabloid muck that the author claims to condemn. This is, I suspect, exactly what many readers want from a celebrity bio, but I was hoping for better.
matturay's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
1.0
Desperately needed a good editor. This author is desperate to erase bisexuals.
eelitorr's review
emotional
informative
5.0
Very well-written, very informative, thoroughly enjoyed reading this, it was very emotional for me.
zoefruitcake's review
5.0
The life and legacy of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury entwined with the rise and spread of the AIDS epidemic makes for compelling reading.
I'm open about the fact that I love biographies even more when I don't know that much about the subject. I wouldn't have said I was a fan of Queen but I have always enjoyed their music and found myself humming around 90% of the songs mentioned during this which goes to show how their music shaped the zeitgeist of the 70s to 90s period. When it reached the part about their performance at LiveAid I paused to watch it on YouTube and it really was such a perfect performance with such energy that over 30 years later it was exciting to watch. The part covering his death was very moving and I felt rather emotional.
I'm open about the fact that I love biographies even more when I don't know that much about the subject. I wouldn't have said I was a fan of Queen but I have always enjoyed their music and found myself humming around 90% of the songs mentioned during this which goes to show how their music shaped the zeitgeist of the 70s to 90s period. When it reached the part about their performance at LiveAid I paused to watch it on YouTube and it really was such a perfect performance with such energy that over 30 years later it was exciting to watch. The part covering his death was very moving and I felt rather emotional.
luckycharms2304's review
5.0
Read this a while ago but one of the best biographies I’ve read. Its gripped my attention and held on throughout the book. I was not expecting a history lesson in the AIDS epidemic but the author does a beautiful of interweaving Freddy’s life in to what was happening in the world. The book is very well written. And gave me all sorts of feelings. I really can’t say anything bad about this book.
barefootmegz's review
2.0
Freddie Mercury was more than a gay man. He was more than a man with HIV. But this book focuses so much on these two facts and fails to delve deeply into Freddie Mercury, the PERSON. Nothing in this book was entirely new: all the information could be gleamed from scouring Wikipedia.
Most annoying was the constant insets of the history of HIV. One isn't exactly sure what the point of this is, as HIV is ubiquitous enough that people who read books should have a basic understanding of it. Was the purpose to "absolve" Freddie - though he hardly need absolution? But then again, the book focuses so much on Freddie's sexual conquests that it hardly seems to be the case. That is another thing that irks me - how much is focussed on "promiscuity", again without delving deeper into what lies beneath this.
The authors call out homophobia, but the book is itself full of subtle homophobia - going so far as "blaming" Mercury's gayness on his being sent to an all-boys' boarding school.
The history of discography is great, and the details of Queen's development really proves once again what a magnificent band they were. A suggestion is to listen to Queen's music in between reading the book - it really adds something quite special.
Right near the end of the book, the authors manage to shed some light on Freddie, the person; but it seems a little too late. The last quarter of the book is certainly the best, and I'm happy I persevered to get there.
Most annoying was the constant insets of the history of HIV. One isn't exactly sure what the point of this is, as HIV is ubiquitous enough that people who read books should have a basic understanding of it. Was the purpose to "absolve" Freddie - though he hardly need absolution? But then again, the book focuses so much on Freddie's sexual conquests that it hardly seems to be the case. That is another thing that irks me - how much is focussed on "promiscuity", again without delving deeper into what lies beneath this.
The authors call out homophobia, but the book is itself full of subtle homophobia - going so far as "blaming" Mercury's gayness on his being sent to an all-boys' boarding school.
The history of discography is great, and the details of Queen's development really proves once again what a magnificent band they were. A suggestion is to listen to Queen's music in between reading the book - it really adds something quite special.
Right near the end of the book, the authors manage to shed some light on Freddie, the person; but it seems a little too late. The last quarter of the book is certainly the best, and I'm happy I persevered to get there.