Finished my "extra credit" book: Still time for more chapters: A memoir/biography by/about someone who’s still alive. I picked Who I Am, by Peter Townsend, guitarist and songwriter of the rock band The Who. This was because my original extra credit book was sadly stolen.
I've been interested in The Who for a couple of years and have been slowly exploring their music. They were also one of the first rock bands I was exposed to, at the age of 7 via the rock opera concept album Tommy. My brother was obsessed with it, and I think he felt a kinship with Townsend through the music. I did enjoy the Townsend's book, particularly the early parts in the 1960s, because I'm always interested in the genesis of artists and their influences. The middle part, however, slogged. It was too diary-like in the "I did this, then I did that" and although erudite and well-written, it lacked a story arc, for want of a better term, such as going from addiction to sobriety, or discomfort with celebrity to acceptance of it. Still, he had some interesting insights about digital media and the current smorgasbord of online entertainment and music.
I've been interested in The Who for a couple of years and have been slowly exploring their music. They were also one of the first rock bands I was exposed to, at the age of 7 via the rock opera concept album Tommy. My brother was obsessed with it, and I think he felt a kinship with Townsend through the music. I did enjoy the Townsend's book, particularly the early parts in the 1960s, because I'm always interested in the genesis of artists and their influences. The middle part, however, slogged. It was too diary-like in the "I did this, then I did that" and although erudite and well-written, it lacked a story arc, for want of a better term, such as going from addiction to sobriety, or discomfort with celebrity to acceptance of it. Still, he had some interesting insights about digital media and the current smorgasbord of online entertainment and music.
