Book

Author:	Paul Trynka
Title:	Starman
Subtitle:	David Bowie : The Definitive Biography
Publisher:	Sphere
Country:	UK
Date:	2012
Format:	Paperback
Class Number:	782.42166092
Genre:	Biography, Music, Non-Fiction
ISBN13 / Barcode:	9780751542936
First Published:	2011
Rating:	8.0 Rate
Collection:	I Own It I Want It
Community:	1 Owns
Price Guide:	Valuation Page
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Lee Wrecker 30th Mar 2018		Thanks ppint and nboldock for confirming that publisher should in fact be Sphere. Correction sent.



ppint. 30th Mar 2018		hi lee, n; yes, the publishers for bookcat purposes are sphere, as bookcat in fact goes by the publisher's imprint, not the publishers - sphere were by now merely one imprint of the little, brown book group - themselves become absorbed into hachette uk, an arm of hachette livres of france (ultimate owners lagardere, last time yr hmbl srppnt. checked). "this paperback edition published in 2012 by sphere" plus the (978)07515- prefixed isbn being definitive. griffin press are the local printers - the original meaning of a printing press - and binders, manufacturing the books for the publishers.



Lee Wrecker 29th Mar 2018		nboldock it says "printed and bound in Australia by Griffin Press" just the ISBN13 # on the publishing details scan. You could be right I'm not a librarian but the publishing rights certainly belong to Sphere but this edition was made in Australia by Griffin Press. I'm happy to change it if the book boffins think I'm wrong. That's you ppint I think? I see I listed the other Trynka biography on Iggy Pop as published by Sphere and it too is "printed and bound in Australia by Griffin Press". So whichever is right should apply to both books. I'm happy for anyone to give me advice here.



nboldock 29th Mar 2018		Pretty sure the publisher should be Sphere here?



nboldock 29th Mar 2018		You're welcome! The album they put put is massively underrated I think.



Lee Wrecker 28th Mar 2018		Nyam Nyam were a good band that didn't get the breaks they perhaps deserved in the 80s. Their stuff holds up well compared to other similar stuff (perhaps Clock DVA but I still love them or Eyeless in Gaza) in a similar indie dark underground style. Never heard of them before you pointed this out nboldock but I had a listen and thought they sounded pretty good so thanks for that.



nboldock 28th Mar 2018		As a point of interest, author Paul Trynka was also the frontman of Hull band Nyam Nyam.



Lee Wrecker 21st Mar 2018		Rated 8/10 This is probably as good a biography of David Bowie that you can get. Trynka, however, leaves me cold as a rock writer. I have read his pieces in Mojo magazine and also his biography of Iggy Pop and must say I prefer his articles to his books. This is mainly because Trynka is a serious rock journalist that takes to his work like a historian and his forensic research skills and attention to detail are admirable. However, where his books seem to falter is in a lack of personality coming through from the author. This could be explained by his emphasis on historical correctness but I think otherwise. Now it is obvious in this book and Trynka's Iggy Pop biography that the author is smitten by both of the artists he is writing about but he tries to hide this behind facts at every turn. Ultimately, this leads to a somewhat soul-less read and the most telling part about the author in this book are his reviews and ratings of Bowie's albums tacked on to the end of the book. This seems to contradict his somewhat hagiographical accounts of the making of the same albums in the preceding chapters. He also has a tendency to avoid controversy and play down some of the less desirable aspects of his subjects. The end of the Iggy biography when Trynka eventually gets to interview Iggy and then welshes out on the more difficult questions he has uncovered in his research is particularly disappointing. This book is in that style and while it is a fabulously detailed account of Bowie it is short on soul. That said it's still probably the best Bowie biography around. 3 people found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?

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See Also

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Paul Trynka - Iggy Pop : Open Up And Bleed - Heyne Hardcore - Paperback - Germany - 9783453675667 (2009)

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