Journal Entry 1 by goodthinkingmax from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, November 24, 2004

Crowded House is my favourite band so of course I enjoyed this book.At over 300 pages, Chris Bourke provides great detail, interesting anecdotes and has access to all band members, their families and friends. There are also some great early photos. 

Journal Entry 2 by goodthinkingmax from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, March 29, 2005

In Memory of Paul Hester 1959 - 2005. R.I.P.

Bookring:

Coffeebron ACT
Lisagt NSW
Bookfrog NSW
hunnyb NSW
kirst040 NSW
cathyinoz VIC
caldron QLD
aleonblue QLD
aussieangel2 WA
????
Back To me 

Journal Entry 3 by goodthinkingmax from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Sunday, April 10, 2005

Posted off to coffeebron in the ACT to begin its ring journey. Enjoy! Put some Crowded House music on while you read it :-)

 

Journal Entry 4 by CoffeeBron from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Monday, April 11, 2005

The book arrived at 7.30 this morning, and I am looking forward to reading it! 

Journal Entry 5 by CoffeeBron from Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Monday, July 11, 2005

After almost three months I still hadn't found time to read this book, and I thought I should send it on my way. The 300+ pages was a bit daunting - I think I'd been expecting more pictures *blush*.

Mailed the book to Lisagt today, in the hope that she reads and enjoys it! 

Journal Entry 6 by Lisagt from Holsworthy, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Received today in record time from the ACT and CoffeeBron - thanx. I do have a few books in front of it but will do my best to tackle it soon!! I have a long car trip coming up at the end of the week so this may help pass the time... 

Journal Entry 7 by Lisagt from Holsworthy, New South Wales Australia on Sunday, July 31, 2005

I found this book more interesting than I expected. This is a very personal account of the band and even includes the early history of Split Enz and other musicians involved in Crowded House over the years as the line-up kept changing! Funnily enough today, one of the weekend magazines featured both Neil and Tim Finn in an article entitled "The Music Makers: How our most loved songs were born." I read the article feeling like I had inside information!!!!
Thanx for the opportunity to read this book goodthinkingmax...
Sending on to BookFrog. 

Journal Entry 8 by BookFrog from Albion Park, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Apologies that I have not journalled sooner... I have had this for alittle bit but haven't journalled tos ay it is safe with me. Have started. 

Journal Entry 9 by BookFrog from Albion Park, New South Wales Australia on Monday, September 19, 2005

Wow what a read. It's taken me a bit to get through.

I'm not sure how much I enjoyed it. The early parts I enjoyed about the crafting of the songs and the stories behind the songs but I think I learnt a bit too much.

Usually I don't mind knowing the behind the scenes but I think in this case I would rather not have known. A little too much information.

I had to have a few breaks - I couldn't read it through in one setting and had to have breaks with other books.

Will endeavour to send on to hunnby soon 

Journal Entry 10 by hunnyb from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Received from Bookfrog today at the Sydney meetup. Thanks! No promises as to when I'll finish it as exams are coming up (argh!) Thanks for sharing this, goodthinkingmax 

Journal Entry 11 by hunnyb from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Monday, October 17, 2005

Wow! Very impressive recount of the rise of Crowded House. Lots of interesting anecdotes - and I liked the pictures too. "Something so strong... could carry us away"... to kirst040, who is the next reader :) Thanks for sharing this, goodthinkingmax! 

Journal Entry 12 by kirst040 from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, October 20, 2005

Arrived yesterday, thanks everyone.
I have 2 to read before this one. 

Journal Entry 13 by kirst040 from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, November 15, 2005

I really enjoyed this and finished most of it in one sitting. It was interesting to read what I thought was a 'warts and all' account of the groups rise & demise - too often these type of books gloss over the hard or negative issues.

Especially poignant were the stories of the departure of and the darkness often surrounding Paul Hester, who was my favourite member and a teenage crush, in light of his sad death earlier this year.

Thanks for sharing goodthinkingmax, I think my Crowded House/Split Enz collection will be on high rotation for many weeks.

Have PM'd cathyinoz for her address and will send this on as soon as I get it. 

Journal Entry 14 by kirst040 from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Monday, November 21, 2005

Mailing to cathyinoz today 22/11/2005. 

Journal Entry 15 by cathyinoz from Warrandyte, Victoria Australia on Thursday, November 24, 2005

Arrived in the post today, thanks kirst040. Is the sticker in the front cover from a concert? Very cool.

I love a book with pictures in the middle. Most heart-tugging tho' to see the little photo of Paul Hester on his first day of school. Very sad.

Am reading this as soon as I finish the book I'm into now. 

Journal Entry 16 by cathyinoz from Warrandyte, Victoria Australia on Thursday, December 29, 2005

I thought I'd better report in so everyone would know this is still in my hands. Between xmas madness and trying to save my garden from a certain death by heat exhaustion I am working my way through this fascinating book.

I do mean fascinating! I first heard of Crowded House when I was living in Tokyo and had a CD rental membership. Right from the first song on their first album I was hooked. I had no idea at the time that they were in any way related to our favourite band during the wild days of uni dormitory life -- Split Enz. How we partied to them!

The way the Fates of the recording industry conspired against them must surely have been frustrating. Altho' I don't believe any singer/band gets an easy ride (having just recently read kd lang's bio too).

I should be finished this shortly after New Year so will pm aussieangel2 then.

 

Journal Entry 17 by cathyinoz from Warrandyte, Victoria Australia on Saturday, December 31, 2005

Just finished.

A tale as bittersweet as their music.

Aussieangel2 asks to be put farther down the list, I'll contact senna1. 

Journal Entry 18 by cathyinoz from Warrandyte, Victoria Australia on Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Just heard from senna1. She is expecting the patter of little feet in a couple of weeks so asked to be skipped. Am now onto caldron. 

Journal Entry 19 by cathyinoz at Aust Post in Sent by mail, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases on Monday, January 16, 2006

Released 6 yrs ago (1/16/2006 UTC) at Aust Post in Sent by mail, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

on its way to caldron 

Journal Entry 20 by caldron from Brisbane, Queensland Australia on Thursday, January 19, 2006

Received today with thanks *places atop Mt.TBR*
 

Journal Entry 21 by caldron from Brisbane, Queensland Australia on Friday, January 27, 2006

Thanks for sharing goodthinkingmax; I think this is one of the best reads I've encountered in the genre.
My estimation of the book has doubtless been affected by listening to all my Crowded House, Finn Bros, Neil Finn & Split Enz albums whilst reading and my appreciation of the music has been well served with this excellent account of the band.
It still breaks my heart to see the pictures of Hessie with the boys; why oh why did it have to end that way?
Vale Paul Hester, Vale the Crowdies.

Mailing onto aleonblue
 

Journal Entry 22 by caldron from Brisbane, Queensland Australia on Monday, January 30, 2006

Mailed today to aleonblue, enjoy!

 

Journal Entry 23 by aleonblue from Brisbane, Queensland Australia on Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Received this book in my mailbox today - that was really quick Caldron, seeing as you only posted it late yesterday afternoon! Really looking forward to reading this one - and listening to lots of Crowded House music in the process. Brings back memories of seeing Crowded House in their early days supporting Joe Jackson (if my memory serves me correctly) at Brisbane's Festival Hall (which is another institution that is no longer...) 

Journal Entry 24 by aleonblue from Brisbane, Queensland Australia on Sunday, February 26, 2006

What a fantastic read! I'd heard that this was the book on Crowded House that covered it all - and it sure did. The warts & all coverage of the band's highs and lows, relationships, antics, record deals etc was great and a wonderful insight into the difficulties and complex relationships that go on behind the scences to the great music that we as the listeners end up hearing.

A little sad to recall the great times with Paul now gone ... but, on the up side, Split Enz is reforming to perform later in the year!

It's hard to pass this book on so I guess I'd better look out for another copy for myself. Thanks to goodthinkingmax for sharing the book.

I'm off to listen to a few more Split Enz, Crowded House & Finn Brothers CD's... 

Journal Entry 25 by aussieangel2 from Noranda, Western Australia Australia on Thursday, March 09, 2006

Received this in the mail today. Looks interesting and I look forward to reading it, just have another bookring (short book) to finish first.

 

Journal Entry 26 by goodthinkingmax from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Sunday, July 23, 2006

This book has made it back home. I have seen Neil and Tim Finn perform with Nick Seymour since I sent this book out and it was brilliant but sad. The majority of the audience was teary when they performed Four Seasons In One Day for Paul.

Keep listening to the Crowdies! Thanks everyone.