If you follow me at all on social media or have read any of my novels you've probably picked up on the fact that I'm a big U2 fan. Okay, listen, I get the case against Bono--and, to a lesser extent, U2--but at this point in my life I'm content to simply love what I love without apology. And I am here before you on the Internet announcing that I love this singer and this band.
Now that we have that out of the way, I'd like to recommend Bono's new memoir, SURRENDER. As big and expansive a book as it is, SURRENDER somehow manages to be quite readable, even downright breezy at times. Bono is a good, engaging writer, and he's quite funny. When I first sat down with the book, I assumed I'd be reading about things that I already knew. After all, I've been a fan since I was literally a child, I've seen U2 in concert 22 times (I think), and I've been through every note of their music a thousand times. Still, though, seemingly in every chapter, Bono reveals things about himself and his band that you simply couldn't know without having been there, like anecdotes, secrets, backstage moments, celebrity encounters, and song inspirations.
A few people--my wife most notably--have asked me if a non-U2 fan would like the book. It's a fair question. The answer is that I'm not sure. I supposed it depends on just how much you "are not" a fan. In other words: haters gonna hate, I assume. That said, from this nonobjective fan's perspective, I loved it, I laughed often, I cried five separate times, and I even found myself inspired to continue creating art.
Have you read SURRENDER? Hit me up on social media and let me know what you thought.
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