Grievous Angel : An Intimate Biography of Gram Parsons
by Jessica Hundley
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Book Summary Information
Author: Jessica HundleyContributor: Polly Parsons
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2005-10-26
ISBN: 1560256737
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: Da Capo Press
Book Reviews of Grievous Angel : An Intimate Biography of Gram Parsons
Book Review: A Disappointing Work of Historical Fiction
Summary: 1 Stars
Sadly, Gram Parsons becomes a fictional character in his own biography. I was really hoping this would be a better read then the Ben Fong-Torres bio, but boy was I wrong. I appreciate Jessica Hundley's effort, but this "bio" is made up at best and sheds no light on the Southern Gothic story that is Gram & the Snively clan. The writing and research are sloppy and lazy. She tends to use clunky, overly dramatic descriptions often ("Gram looked out at the upturned faces; a hundred eyes watched as his hands played and watched his face as he held a note in his throat. Something that had been inside him suddenly slipped together again. He felt his lungs and his cheeks go hot. He smiled, gazing into the pale face of a girl in front for just a moment too long, felt her surrender, saw the boys and their envy, and for the first time, felt whole.") Ugh. Gram says and thinks a lot of things in this book. He also winks, smiles, stares at himself in the mirror, thinks deeply about things, etc.
Important facts are downplayed or left out (we don't find out that Gram Connor is immediately adopted by his stepfather and becomes Gram "Parsons" until way into the book -- he's just Gram until the "oh yeah, forgot to mention" moment); the Connor clan and his relationship with them is barely mentioned, etc.
Also, editing is pretty terrible, especially in a book about a musician --we're treated to Arthur Conley's "That's Alright, Mama" & Bourdeleaux Bryant's "Love Hurts" (it's Arthur Crudup & Boudleaux Bryant). At one point, even Gram's little sister Avis ("Little Avis") becomes "Little Avril" on page 190. Some accepted facts are wrong -- in Fong-Torres' book, Bernie Leadon sings the hymn "Farther Along" at Clarence White's funeral, a very poignant and touching moment. In this book, it's not Bernie but Gram, who "sick in his guts and sad to the core" starts to sing "an old hymn" as others join in, "fill(ing) their lungs with their grief."
I really, really wanted to like this book. What I can't fathom is why Jessica Hundley decided to make most of it up. What this amounts to is a fairy-tale fanbook with only some basis in the truth. How about some interviews? The Snivelys are still in the citrus business in Florida. I'm sure there are some Connors still around in Tennessee. Emmylou, Road Mangler, Bernie Leadon, Hillman, McGuinn, James Burton, Roland White, Merle Haggard, are all still alive. Why not travel to Winter Haven, Jax, Waycross, Tennessee, etc., and get the feel for what Gram experienced? What's with all the "fan" interviews? Who cares?
Unfortunately, what this book does is turn Gram into a semi-fictional character who somehow became an influential musician. Simply making up words and thoughts for Gram does nothing to highlight the complex and troubled character he must have been. It only makes me wish Jessica Hundley had written an actual biography and not a book based on a true story. It hurts me to say this because I admire the fact that Ms. Hundley wanted to share a story and seems to truly love the subject, but the book is pretty terrible -- in many ways, it's her story, not Gram's. Get Ben Fong-Torres' book instead.
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