Me

The legendary pop star looks back cheerfully on a melodramatic life in this rollicking autobiography. John recounts his ascent from toiling pub pianist to becoming the biggest singer-songwriter of the 1970s with hits such as "Rocketman" and "Bennie and the Jets," to elder statesmanship as one of the first openly gay stars and Britain's griever-in-chief with his "Candle in the Wind" tribute at Princess Di's funeral. Beyond a vivid account of his flamboyant showmanship and outfits (think pink suit with Eiffel Tower headdress), he gives an unusually candid look at his insecurities--his unrelentingly critical mother haunts the book--and at the bubble of celebrity entitlement that enabled his rock-star excesses, including childish tantrums, controlling and callous behavior toward a string of boyfriends, and rampant drug use. (After ingesting much vodka and cocaine with Duran Duran, he "returned to the video set, demanded they begin running the cameras, took off all clothes and started rolling around on the floor naked.") John keeps his good humor throughout, treating even his suicide attempts as farces and poking fun at his own vanity. ("However much a hair transplant hurt, it was a mere pinprick compared to the sensation of hitting your head on a car door immediately after having a hair transplant.") John's fans will love this funny, down-to-earth, and openhearted self-portrait. Photos. (Oct.)

John's deliciously candid autobiography is about as colorful and flamboyant as his remarkable costumes. Born Reginald Dwight in Middlesex, England, he escaped the rigors of harsh family life (he father was a stern Air Force lieutenant and his unhappy mother prone to violent rages) by immersing himself in music and obsessing over statistics on the record charts. Musically gifted at an early age, he could hear a song once and immediately play it on the piano. A natural songwriter, he teamed up with legendary Bernie Taupin after his manager showed him song lyrics penned by Taupin. This began a long-distance partnership in which Taupin mailed him lyrics and John set them to music. The book recounts his meteroric rise to fame and the ups and downs of his career, drug addiction, his late-blooming realization of his homosexuality, his great musical successes, his work with charities, and his love of football. Fans will devour the gossipy tidbits and laugh-out-loud anecdotes that appear on almost every page. The audiobook is narrated perfectly by actor Taron Egerton who portrayed John in the 2019 film Rocketman. VERDICT One of the year's best books and an essential listen for Elton John fans.--Phillip Oliver, formerly with Univ. of North Alabama, Florence