Book Review - Bob Dylan's Chronicles #1

Bob Dylan has a sense of humor, and a NY attitude straight from Minnesota. There was a time in the book when he said his inspiration had run dry about 15 times one right after another. My first instinct was The Editor did a bad job. My second instinct was Bob Dylan is definitely a lyricist. However, my last instinct was Bob Dylan has a sense of humor. Ultimately, what was important was not that the same thing was said 15 different ways, it was what was written that was important. He was having fun writing it, and it didn't matter that we would have to read 15 ways to write the same thing. There's definitely quirky tidbits, but that stopped me for a bit trying to figure it out.

It is an interesting book, maybe there's chronological data there, but it's the weirdest clock/calendar I've ever known. That's another reason why this is interesting, because in some pages it is chronological, but ultimately, it's more about theme. I didn't like that aspect of it. I think the last section should have been closer to the front. Throughout the book he condemns that he is a spokesperson for his generation, and he makes it clear that the past is the past. However, by putting his first record signing at the end, brings us back to the beginning of his career, and the place that he doesn't want us stuck in. There are contradictions in the formatting, and I wouldn't be surprised if that was intentional as food for thought for the readers as opposed to contradicting himself personally.

It is inspiring, good plane book, good for vacation. Written in the tone of a diary, really.

The first time that his passion came out was not when he was describing himself as a musician working in NY to get into gigs at the best places. A new voice came through when he was writing about protecting his family, and trying to have them sheltered from the bob-dylan-disciples. His anger became very clear. It was a different voice than the rest of the book which focused on his trying to get into the music scene, or trying to get inspired, or anything else music wise.