Chronicles: Volume One by Bob Dylan Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Chronicles: Volume One
Book Review: Enignatic read from an enigma
Summary: 5 Stars
Volumes and volumes can be written about Bob Dylan, but to get into his mind and to know what and who mattered to him and in what ways, only he can provide that, which he does here. The writer of so many spectacular lyrics that can mightily stand on their own as poems even if he doesn't call himself a poet, Bob is also quite adept at prose, as brilliant and candid and enigmatic as he can be in his interviews. This is his own feature length interview, and what a book it is! I can't wait for the next volumes to come out, and I hope there are many!Book Review: Erratically Mesmerizing.
Summary: 4 Stars
Much of the Dylan mystique has been eroded over the last couple of years with the semi-critical No Direction Home film getting released along with his memoirs in Chronicles. Here we see that Dylan is, without question, a man completely and utterly devoted to music. It fuels most of his thoughts and we witness the way that he thinks about his art in these pages. He definitely regards himself as an artiste and is well aware of his status and reputation. His discussion of the old blues legends--particularly Robert Johnson--highlights the immense importance the works of his predecessors had on his development. Also fascinating was his recapitulation of the creation of Oh Mercy with Daniel Lanois. It's an unusual sequence in the book and quite unlike anything I've ever read.
My main problem with Chronicles is Dylan, unfortunately. It seemed to me that he hasn't experienced much in the way of intellectual growth since the 1960s. He tells us of the reading he did back in the day but one never gets the impression that his mind has grown much since that time. Furthermore, it appears that Dylan has a lust for surface information but rarely studies topics in great depth which means he relies on hearsay for a lot of his opinions. At times, Chronicles seems to be a series of book reports and music reviews implying that the mighty legend values art more than he does people. Perhaps "impressions" would have proved a better title than "chronicles." Either way, this is important material and I'll happily buy whatever new books he puts out.
Book Review: Freaks me out
Summary: 5 Stars
The way he winds around with time...where you start out in one place, and suddenly end up somewhere else, in place and time, is what makes the book so cool. Some writers might get blamed for going off on a tangent and not sticking with the subject at hand for this technique---- I think it works really well here, and makes it like a Bob song. I hope the rumors about a possible "ghost writer" are completely untrue. It would be like being lied to, and the thing that is appealing about this book, is that he seems to be coming forth with apology and trying to talk from the heart, putting the trickster act aside.Book Review: Give me a break
Summary: 3 Stars
I'm a big fan of Dylan's and have most of his albums. I got obviously curious about this book, especially since Tarantula is rubbish. The praise for Chronicles is the most extensive I ever read in the beginning of a book. The publishers are set out to make money, the name sells, the newspapers go along for the ride... the usual...
The book: It's quite good, Dylan writes well, but he's not a writer. He's one of the most influential songwriters of the century, an icon, yes, he's all that. This book is, of course, interesting for fans and it has its moments. But, if it was written by John Smith it would vanish in a twinkling of an eye. What I mean is, if you take away the mystique that surrounded Dylan for so many years, and the mark he made on the music of this century, the book loses 99% of its value.
It's a nice memoir and he's honest throughout, but I really don't know if I'll be that interested to read volume II. The praise the book got is simply absurd. It should have got half of it. It leads the potential reader to a misconception of the book itself. It's quite interesting that this type of attitude is out of character with Dylan's work. Now this book is blasted into the stratosphere, I should like to know what he has to say. He said it was boring to write and he did it on request from Simon and Schuster. Did he ever make an album on request? Come on... like Dylan says this is the New Dark Ages... I just hope he doesn't become a part of it. 3 stars because it's Christmas... 2 would be fairer.
Book Review: Great! But Patchy
Summary: 4 Stars
Great book for Bob Dylan fans. Is a little patchy at times and seems to skip a few years here and there. Very interesting, and an insightful view into Dylan's life.