Quick Book Review: “Homeward Bound: The Life of Paul Simon” by Peter Ames Carlin

"Homeward Bound: The Life of Paul Simon" by Peter Ames Carlin

I’ve been a fan for years (mainly as S&G, although I like his solo stuff as well).  I figure he’s led a pretty interesting life, so let’s take a look.  The book is a well-written journey through Paul Simon’s Brooklyn and Queens childhood; his musical career, from his first recordings with Art Garfunkel as Tom and Jerry, through all of the Simon and Garfunkel recordings, to his solo career.  You get all of the interesting drama of the Simon and Garfunkel years, including their (still) rocky relationship, as well as the resurrection of his sagging solo career that occurred when he made a dramatic musical style shift with Graceland.  It would have been better if this had been an authorized biography, but it was still interesting nonetheless.

1 Comment

  • Michael Miller
    Posted September 6, 2020 4:48 pm 0Likes

    Carlin – Don’t know him or do I care to. He is mean when he could just report. He jazzes his poor prose up with things he could not possibly know. (Fakin’ it?) Other, better, authors and videos have covered the Graceland controversy to death. Carlin should watch and listen to Simon’s insistent protection of the artistic mind when he asked the leader of the South African’s artistic resistance party if he (black S. Africans) intended to lead with the same restrictions on the arts as Simon was held to and if so, how were they any different from the white rulers?
    Exactly. Carlin missed so much. Perhaps he is just not someone who can understand. I hope someone who understands psychology write Simon’s story. Perhaps with some insight.

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