Mystical One: George Harrison: After the Breakup of the Beatles (Essay series)

Rating:
Summary: post-Beatle stories finally collected in one place
Review: I can not fault the research done on this book. It is pretty solid. Most public highlights in George Harrison's life are explained in detail here. I would say go ahead and read this book to fill in the gaps or to clarify your understanding of George Harrison, but do so with some caution.

There are two incidents about George Harrison I had hoped would be explained in much greater detail. Unfortunately, having read this book I still have questions about (1.) why George started visiting Hawaii in the 1970s (At the time I read disturbing reports in magazines about George's safety in the U. K. resulting in these trips!) and the frustrating and abrupt termination of his business partnership with Denis O'Brien resulting in the end of Handmade Films and reports of serious financial problems.

I had also hoped to have the tenets of George's religious affiliations explained in detail. I never once heard George refer to himself as a Hindu (he would call himself a devotee of Krishna but never use the term Hindu) in spite of his near-lifelong study of the Hindu religion. Everyone who knows about George knows he was facinated by the religion native to the Indian subcontinent but know precious little about its beliefs. Here would have been a good place to help readers learn more about about this Faith.

The thing that made me uncomfortable with this book was the fact that genuinely harmless people close to George, including Ravi Shankar and Billy Preston, are victims of unkind words made at their expense, possibly just for the sake of humor, but hurtful just the same.

Rating:
Summary: A MUST!
Review: I love this book and go back to it on a regular basis, and I am a fan who has more than 100 Beatles-related books. It just grabs you and keeps you with its humor and unique perspective. Elliot Huntley's fondness for George is palpable. But at the same time this is not hagiography. The author pokes fun, from time to time, at George Harrison's seriousness regarding gurus and spirituality, but always with affection. The detail and insights are terrific. Too many authors take the subject of the Beatles overly seriously, and such is not the case here. Mr. Huntley manages to shine light on much about George and his music, and for once I came away with some really wonderful tidbits about my favorite Beatle. Your collection is truly incomplete without this gem. Can't wait for Mr. Huntley's next book!

Rating:
Summary: Try Some, Buy Some
Review: This is an excellent biography written in a very objective style. Huntley does a good job in covering the life, art and times of former Beatle George Harrison.

The youngest Beatle who was often reported as a man who cherished his privacy would probably endorse this book wholeheartedly. The writing remains general and objective and the author appears to view George with respect.

I think this is a work people ranging in mild interest in the Beatles to avid, inveterate fans will enjoy this book and think about it long after having read it to the finish.