Fab: An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney
By: Howard Sounes

We love you Paul. Oh yes we do-ooo.  We love you Paul and will be tru-ooo…

It is estimated (by me) that over 9,462,587* words have been written about former Beatle. So why does the world need yet another biography about the man who would be Paul?

Because there is still so much more to say, say, say . . . (see what I did there?)

Brought to you by Howard Sounes, the author who also gave us the comprehensive tomes Down the Highway: The Life of Bob Dylan and Charles Bukowski: Locked in the Arms of a Crazy Life, Fab: An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney delivers on every promise it even thinks about making.

Starting with the birth of Sir Paul, the book discusses, in detail, his school years, the period when the Beatles were just beginning to play together, and their German shows. McCartney fans will enjoy hearing some of the never-before-told stories about his family. The Beatles are done halfway through the narrative, and yet so much more story is still on its way.

After the fall of The Beatles, Sounes transitions into Paul’s life with Linda and the kids. Things are not always pleasant, and the author does not pull any punches, especially when discussing the handful of drug busts and other court cases the McCartneys faced (some self-perpetuated, some brought by outside parties). It was not always a great thing to be (or have been) a Beatle, but the author handles the rougher topics with a professionalism that attempts to be as unbiased as possible.

Sounes’ narrative writing style is easy to read. Instead of feeling like a dry, academic work, the book reads almost like a novel. It is hard to imagine that many of the people in the story are still living, with a few famous notable exceptions. The 500+ pages do not necessarily fly by, but the tale told is worth the time it takes to tell it. If you like Paul, pick this one up and take a gander.

Amanda

* So, um…I don’t really do math, and I just kinda picked a number out of the air. Enjoy!