The OFFICIAL Stewart's book thread: SPOILER

[TheEqualizer]

Was Sting really so amazing in Portland?


07-11-2008 / Ridgefield, OR / Clark County Amphitheatre / USA
http://www.gigasize.com/get.php/3197271 ... _FLAC1.zip
http://www.gigasize.com/get.php/3197271 ... _FLAC2.zip

[animal]

So I've finally finished the first read through of the book.

So my first thought was... Do I read the chapters that I've already read before in Dinner Tales?

Answer was a firm NO, maybe it was the thought of a Nutters cry of Sacriledge or maybe due to the fact of re-reading these gems. I think more of the latter came into play.

So what did I think of the book?

I thought it was a great read, a little insight to what makes our man tick and the strange world in which he lives. Enjoyed the chapters on Oysterhead, Rage and of course Tourzilla. Interesting chapter on Singapore.

Now what about the afterword on the FLAG.

I think the chapter was sort of another game to the readers that aren't nutters to find out abit more about this flag thing. Maybe he knew if people's names were mentioned, we would get our panties in a wad
I think Stewart played it cautious and those more interested can find out about the Flag can do so.

Anyone notice on the Rap Sheet 1981 The Police in the East / The Police Around The World (DVD)???
I wonder if that is official?

[TheEqualizer]

Anyone notice on the Rap Sheet 1981 The Police in the East / The Police Around The World (DVD)???
I wonder if that is official?

Great catch. Missed that.

[English-lion]

The flag thing .....


I think he's explaining to "the normal people" that we're not completely nuts

[ltwoman]

Re: reading chapters in the book that are posted on Dinner Tales. I am still not finished THE BOOK yet, but I think Congo was different in the book vs. the website. Extended with lots more information and background. Just a thought...
As to posting on Amazon, I will leave that to the more eloquent members of this forum.

[njperry]

I am now about half way through and loving it. Not the type of book to make the most money but a great Stewart summary of interesting life stories.

Even reading some of it to my little son. Otherwise, reading while I feed him. Burp him, turn page, and keep feeding/reading.

[Divemistress of the Dark]

Yay. You KNOW that boy will be brought up right!

[zilboy]

I loved the line about no more silvery bells, but the full-out clanging gong of Armageddon.

'You Fucking Fuuuuckkking Bastard!"

The miracle here is that Sting still lives.

Also enjoyed the chapters about Klark Kent and Oysterhead. Particularly his fondness for Starclassic kit #1 in the Oysterhead chapter.

[Echidna]

Ive read the book and i was very dissapointed, even more so as i had been expectantly anticipating its release. Sorry Stewart but parts of it were so dull i couldnt even read them. The Incubus and Foo, Oysterhead road tales were really interesting to read so i was mystified why there wasnt similar tales of his time with The Police.
Lets be realistic 99% of people buying the book will have done so as they have a real interest in hearing his Police memoires and its frustrating at the lack of them.
I hate the cheap typeset and black and white photos that are so poor quality they look out of focus. All in all it looks, feels and reads quite ameaturish and thats dissapointing as Stewart is quite the opposite as he is creative, the utmost proffesional and has produced a body of work here that doesnt reflect his personality
Its just my opinion for what its worth, I know nnot everyone will agree but i just wanted to provide some constructive critiscm

[smax]

[quote="Echidna"]
I hate the cheap typeset and black and white photos that are so poor quality they look out of focus. All in all it looks, feels and reads quite ameaturish and thats dissapointing as Stewart is quite the opposite as he is creative, the utmost proffesional and has produced a body of work here that doesnt reflect his personality[/quote]

uh-huh, i hear ya sista... i'm not sure i agree that it reads amateurishally (?) but i think the layout would have helped what is there shine a bit more.

[Mario]

STEWART!! Please correct the photo credit mistakes on pages 260 and 261. It's not "River Plate Stadium, Rio de Janeiro". It's "Maracanã Stadium Rio de Janeiro". Once again people mix up Brazil and Argentina. South of the border syndrome.

The pictures are indeed from Rio and I was there, can you see me?

Still reading the book.

[Chatchka]

Pluck me, this book is enjoyable!

Question: Page 299. What the hell is a yoga tummy tap?! (Not part of my cultural vocabulary either!)

[Bob from NJ]

My humble review points...

I think the compliments and criticisms in this thread are really, really valid. Lot of good points on the pros and cons.

What I enjoyed about the book most is it seemed really true to Stewart's voice and sensibilities. It's ironic. It's scattered. It's frenetic. And really, really interesting.

Didn't mind how he handled the Flag chapter.

Would have liked a little more early Police remembrances, but only if I hadn't heard them before. Would have liked a little bit about Animal Logic and the dynamic/history between his brothers, but I gather Stewart would have snuck it in there if he thought it was interesting enough...Or maybe the ultra-personal stuff he was keeping to himself (Having heard him say often that he thought Andy's book was "too revealing.").

Oh well...I'm glad I have it...I'd probably re-read Andy's book before Stewart's. But I'm glad he documented what he did.

[sockii]

I kinda get the feeling that maybe SC isn't that thrilled with the level of navel-gazing/personal detail revealed in Andy's book. And I'm cool with that. I'm not sure it's been said here but elsewhere the convo has been around the fact that as much as SC may seem to have the "loudest mouth" of the Police-men, he can also the most guarded when it comes to really personal stuff. And I can totally respect that. If he doesn't want to dish on the scandal and personal nitty gritty, I don't think we have any right to demand as much from him. Sometimes a lot can be said with very few and much less specific words...

[luddite lady]

I finally finished the book last night! And now I'm anxious to read this thread and see what you all have to say about it. I'll say my bit and then read the other posts. I'm interested to see how close or distant my opinions are in relation to those of everyone else.
In short, I loved the whole freakin' thing. I laughed aloud many times, and I'm not one who chortles audibly very often while reading. The book has warmth, humour, insight and gallops along at a grand pace. I usually find even some of the best literature a hard plod for me due to my slow reading speed. I loved Andy's book, but sometimes it was a chore to read. This wasn't the case with Strange Things Happen.
The Gene Simmons chapter is probably my favourite. However, all the Tourzilla chapters were pretty great too. The chapter called "Angry In Edmonton" was a very interesting inside look at the disaster spawned from the Disaster Gig post. I also love for my own nefarious reasons that Stewart referred to that moment later in the book as the time they were "grumpy in Calgary". People in Central and Eastern Canada, especially those of us in Toronto, often confuse these two Western towns. It's one of the many reasons that Westerns love to hate Toronto. D-A-O will probably want to hit me with a ski pole, but .....ha! See, it's not just Torontonians who have that problem. Stewart and a whole team of proof readers and copy editors do, too. Nonetheless, Stewart, that misstep may have just earned you another honourary civic citizenship to go along with the Melpignano one. I'll go down to Toronto city hall and see what I can do for you. But don't expect any keys to the cities of Edmonton or Calgary any time soon.