BOOK/TV REVIEW: THE QUEENS GAMBIT

4/5 & 4/5

The Crown.

7 Episodes/322 Pages. Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Moses Ingram, Marielle Heller, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Harry Melling, Marcin Dorociński, Isla Johnston & Bill Camp. Director: Scott Frank. Writer: Walter Tevis.

Late to the game, straight hungover out the bath like I was partying in Paris with a model (I wish), it's time to punch the clock. Last fall 'The Queens Gambit' miniseries on Netflix starring 'Morgan', 'Split'/'Glass' and 'The New Mutants' Best Actress Anya Taylor-Joy was a Golden Globe capturing monster. Rising faster than this orphaned prodigy above the ranks. Becoming the streaming services most watched series in a month. Making chess cool again. Because it was always as sexy as it was stimulating...think not? Forget blitz chess. Try playing 'Strip Chess'...trust me. With decadent, debonair direction from the Best Adapted Screenplay twice-over Oscar nominated Scott Frank (the Lopez and Clooney cool 'Out Of Sight' and Hugh Jackman's Wolverine's last stand in the neo Western of 'Logan'), this period piece looked as hallmark haunting to the time as Taylor-Joy's 'Peaky Blinders' to the brimstone of old Birmingham. And what a joy she really was as she played a blinder. But like the chicken and the egg, how about what laid the foundation to all of this? Walter Tevis' terrific book that was doing the Amazon rounds on Black Friday during the shows initial stellar streaming run across the board. So much so after subscribing and purchasing, when we had got round to this book in our pile and show in our continue watching section we decided to watch and read at the same time in this age of binge. 14 for 7. Chapter for episode. No stranger to games over the decades Tevis wrote the book on Paul Newman's young to seasoned Hollywood gambling career. From the pool shark beginnings of 'The Hustler', to back on the green felt for 'The Color Of Money' with another young LA upstart looking to take your money and make change in some kid called Tom Cruise decade's later. Walter also wowed the world with two science fiction epic novel masterpieces that even forefather Philip K. Dick (who gave Cruise's best of the 90's career a fresh, future forward jolt into the new millennium with 'Minority Report') would be proud of ('The Man Who Fell To Earth' and 'Mockingbird'). But which is better? Novel or adaptation? Well for your modern chess openings how about we file how these two would fare battling it out in black and white? Let's play. 

White Queens pawn moves forward two spaces. 

Tevis to his testament knows how to set a scene like a table for dinner or board for game and what he does in this chess stories opening is no different playing his own gambit like Channing Tatum hopefully wants to do one day for the 'X-Men', as Anya already has in the long-delayed 'New Mutants' which came out to little fanfare in last years cinematic quarantine. Definitely in response to this show which has locked down everything else like forcing your hand to make a sacrifice and topple your King. The planets pandemic took to this 'Gambit' like a card dealt poker face. Last year's real marvel in the endgame of movies. The show starts the same. Honouring Tevis' rule book to the letter sportingly like the city and time typography across the screen in all its colour. Killing it like eve. 

Black Queens pawn moves forward two spaces. 

Pills and bottles on the books board instead of knights and rooks, the Queen of this Gambit Beth Harmon was addicted to the adrenaline of more than winning. That's the substance to this stylised story. Scott explores this frankly, but also funnily. One spoonful of sugar scene in the medicine cabinet were a young Harmon (played inspiringly by Isla Johnston) is just as hands in the air holding nothing hilarious as it is when it floors you in the book. You'll fall for it again and again. But it's the stirring scenes with classic character actor Bill Camp (who is always great, but something else entirely here), whose janitor Mr. Shaibel teachers her about this game with chain clicked light bulb and steel table closeted resignation and sportsmanship. Setting the tone for the rest of the series like his character does by the book. It's a beautiful arc in one episode and chapter that in each verse results in earned emotion by the end. So much so you'll feel it dropping in all its water on the pages or your popcorn as you binge the same. 

Queens side bishop pawn moves forward two squares. 

Moses Ingram's influential Jolene will take your heart in this queen of one's like the one Dolly Parton sang about. Whilst 'A Beautiful Day In The Neighbourhood' adopted mother Marielle Heller will move you to the core with her heartbreaking bruised soul. 'Love Actually' and 'Game Of Thrones' famous face Thomas Brodie-Sangster really comes of age and his own pirated, leather and fedora cool like he did in fellow Netflix miniseries 'Godless' (a godsend to the Western genre like his pistol spinning kid). And even Harry Melling (who was also hauntingly good at being bad in last years Tom Holland Netflix ensemble 'The Devil All The Time') comes out from under the typecast stairs of 'Harry Potter' to work wizardy wonders on a different platform. But it's 'Hurricane' actor Marcin Dorociński who like a quiet storm strikes fear into the hearts of this mental maddening game of cerebral wits all the way to your cerebellum as Borgov. Even his name makes him sound like a Bond villain. Just like the big boss you just can't defeat at the end of a games level. Cold and calculated and sharp as cutting down all your defences, King to Queen. When he strikes your clock it almost sounds like the swish of a switchblade as he looks at you with daggers. To you it's a nightmarish shock. To him a shrug of nonchalance. You can see page to screen, all the actors breathe new life into their characters. But no more than Joy who chin to resting palms stares straight at you. Right through to the soul with a fourth wall break, before she does the ceiling of all the pieces coming to visionary power together. You see the shadow above her crown. It's her throne now. 

Now let the real games begin. 

And with three moves that's 'The Queen's Gambit', but who wins? Call it a draw or an adjournment to a possible season two, but the Netflix show and the Tevis book it was based on mirror each other like the pieces on the board in black and white. But read all about this, when it comes to everything else playing right now...checkmate. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Playing: 'Innocent Moves', 'The Hustler', 'The Color Of Money'. 

BOOK REVIEW: MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY - GREENLIGHTS

  

4/5

All Write, All Write, All Write. 

NOTE TO SELF! Give me the 'Greenlights' like Legend and 3000. Matthew Mcconaughey runs like 'Forrest Gump' or Tom Cruise until he can't run no more. Screaming with lactic acid, euphoric joy in the middle of nowhere. Howling like a wolf. Pointing at the full moon in thanks like when his Jake Brigance 'A Time To Kill' character (the Atticus Ross to John Grisham's Harper Lee 'To Kill A Mockingbird' like courtroom drama) found his lost dog after the Klan burnt down his house. He just got the part in his first big budget movie after future 'True Detective' partner in fighting crime Woody Harrelson's 'Natural Born Killer' was too close to the bone for Grisham...but this is not where our story begins. Dazed and confused? Alright, alright, alright! Let's take it from the top. In fair Austin, Texas is where we lay our scene. Let the man tell it himself. As this amazing autobiography can only be audiobook read and heard in his signature syrupy Southern drawl. It's the only way for your memoirs memory. Besides you can get work done whilst you listen. Your hands are free. Not to do what his 'The Wolf Of Wall Street' character tells you to do a couple times a day, one before lunch. But to work on your dreams, 'Greenlight' goals and life ambitions. The kind that come (no pun intended) to McConaughey in the form of a wet dream (yep, you read it right. You ain't going blind). Or you could just work out as this man in a few quips gives you more exercise tips than influencers Instagram's. You can even read...or well listen whilst "taking a deuce", or I don't know...playing a banjo. It also seems like fans taking the piss at the guy who recently starred in Ritchie's British gangster flick, 'The Gentlemen' are coming up with their own audiobook versions in impression (guilty), which has lead for a game for a laugh McConaughey launching an Instagram story competition for the best, "alright, alright, alright". It's all for a good cause as the man who looks to run for public office just keeps living y'all. And with this hilarious, heartfelt, stream of compelling consciousness memoir that could even bother the noise in Steven Tyler's autobiography (one rocking story from a one-of-a-kind icon deserves another) going head-to-head. Especially with movie autobiographies in general being more rare than steak in a vegan restaurant...or hey, even cinematic releases these days. We need stories like this that inspire these days and are like no other. Let this book of Matthew be your spiritual guide. Take it as gospel. 

BUMPER STICKER! Giving us his life script and time entwined with the Hollywood sign, McConaughey has had more than 'Time To Kill' this quarantined year of COVID-19. He's been working on this 'scribe for years. NOTE TO SELF. I watched the platinum rom-com classic, 'How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days' for the first real time just over a week ago (he's not ashamed of his romantic comedy years and neither should you like the 'Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past' this Christmas). We almost made it to 7 minutes before he took his shirt off. This is more than the movies, but he gets down to the bare essentials for some stripped down stories here. Talking about this 'Larger Than Life', 'Lone Star's' 'Glory Dayz'. Making 'Contact' with Jodie Foster for what ignorantly the industry back then called the "girl role". All before all those rom-com's and 'Failure To Launch' that wasn't his flightplan like...well, Jodie Foster. The man who once buzzed his trademark curls after a close shave with baldness (tell me your secret Matt) for 'Reign Of Fire', headbutting Christian Bale in a close shave ended up turning down 14 Mill to turn his career around. All before 'The Lincoln Lawyer' and Carrey carried on Lincoln commercials changed his life like the 'Mud' of 'Killer Joe'. Than there was the skinny on the muscle bound Hollywood hunk playing Ron Woodroof (a man who suffered from AIDS but changed the medical game) in 'Dallas Buyers Club' and the rest is Best Actor at the Oscars history. One that lead to big pictures on an 'Interstellar' level and slept on indies like his most recent 'White Boy Rick'. But the 'Magic Mike', 'Dark Tower' and underrated 'Gold' like 'Serenity' star who chest thumps so much to get in character that DiCaprio told Scorsese to put it in his 'Wall Street' lunch really had us when he's talking about his most iconic role to date in a one shot. All for the small screen and the Woody to his Buzz in 'True Detective'. How he tells it that he saved the premiere for watching with his wife on home every Sunday like the rest really shows who he is. At the end of the day like all us brothers and sisters, he's just one of us. Just keeping on and living. 

PREEEEESCRIPTION TIME! Even with President Barack Obama's 'Promised Land', rock God, Lenny Kravitz letting love rule in memoir to the release of his debut album, or Alicia Keys showing 'More Myself' in her 'Journey', this is the book you want to find under your tree this Christmas sent from a distance. With 'Notes To Self', 'Bumper Stickers' for your Texas haul em's and 'Prescription's' for you from this actual Professor that is just what the doctor ordered, then what more do you want aside from, 'How To Lose A Guy In 11 Days' (you heard it here first)? Now back to California dreams the reason McConaughey used to wake up with sheets that you could throw against a wall has nothing to do with the fact that he's done multiple movies (call it a couple) with Kate Hudson, Jennifer Garner and Anne Hathaway. More so they were dreams about faraway places beyond even this stars head in the clouds that simply said, "come here". Again no pun intended. He'll travelogue these for you in a guide as gregarious as he or maybe even Paul Rudd is. But from Africa like Toto to saying, "G'day" to a room in Australia, there's nothing like the Texas sun of where he came from like Leon Bridges down this yellow brick road. Strewth! And Matthew will tell you all about his upbringing, from fighting in bars to pissing contests with your dad that could pole vault clear most Olympic Stadiums if we had them here in Tokyo this 2020 which he offers advice for as we look for a way out the abyss. This whole "approach" book that this man wrote in a 52 day electricity exile like only he could or would isn't just like the good friend you asked for, but the coolest one you wish you had. Especially during these trying times. One that began at age 14, writing about these "people and places" in poem and prayer form, from the scraps of his notebook and diary entries. Navigating through his life like that car commercial that still cuts him checks, expect these pages to turn into receipts, but the real gift here is one that you can't take back. Wisdom not knowledge. Inspiration not influence. The man not the actor. Amazing, amazing, amazing. Not alright, alright, alright. Got it? Alright? TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

BOOK REVIEW: LENNY KRAVITZ - LET LOVE RULE

  

4/5

Let Words Rule. 

Eluthera, quarantined. Socially isolated at a distance, there's worse places to be locked down in this weary year than the bountiful beauty of the Bahamas and this inspired island. The perfect place to pen your memoirs as Lenny Kravitz's let's his autobiography story by the book rule like love. Quarantined in paradise like stuck in the studio most singers are finding solace in right now in the vision of this terrible 2020 in hindsight, we haven't heard from Kravitz since 2018 when he 'Raised Vibration' with the Eluthera magic hour tide coming in like the night shore of the background, 'Johnny Cash'. Not to mention classic tracks like the drum roll and video for 'Low' which vibrating on another level really took us higher like 'Gold Dust', 'The Majesty Of Love', or 'I'll Always Be Inside Your Soul', because 'Here To Love', 'We Can Get It All Together'. 'It's Enough'. Although we also saw him go all around the world like daft punks can't anymore with the 'Assemblage' of his beautiful black and white Don Perignon perfect portrait collection. Popping bottles with the likes of Harvey Kietel, Susan Sarandon and his own daughter Zoe Kravitz from back home in his New York to here in Harajuku, Tokyo, Japan. He's also been quarantined in the Louvre of all places like French act Christine and the Queens performing this years anthem, 'People, I've Been Sad' Live for James Corden's 'Late Night', in love like Paris with his socially distanced muse for this year's video of 'Vibration's' 'Ride'. Getting a minute with Mona, riding with France in all it's hallmark, traditional beauty that will always stand strong and tall like Notre Dame forever. But are you going to go his way again? As the 'American Woman' and 'Fly Away' singer isn't staying away from you now like the 'It Ain't Over' Till It's Over' of 'Stand By My Woman' no matter how many tears you cry this calendar. Sittin' on top of the world, like view from a freedom train for the flower child who let's his story bloom over pages of prose like building this garden for us. Taking it back to 1989 for his debut in the same 12 months Haim's album of the year ('Women In Music Pt. III') features the 'Mr. Cab Driver' like discrimination protest song of 'Man From The Magazine', Lenny 'Let's Love Rule' like we all should for his first book named after his first album. Picture perfect portraying a coming of age story in black and white America like 'The Jeffersons' that leads up to the albums original 90's eve release for the chronicles of his volume one.

"Loooooove!" The audiobook opening sings like the first note of Lenny's signature song this very book is named after. The perfect company to fall through this Autumn like leaves as the pages you leaf through turn as smoothly as 'Black Velveteen', or are just told to you like a bedtime story (ladies!) by the 'It Ain't Over' Till It's Over' man himself. Just like 'Me', this time last years memoir by Elton John, prelude and postscript introduced and closed by the 'Tiny Dancer', before the 'Rocketman' who played him himself, Taron Egerton told the rest of his story like a beautiful, bohemian biopic he starred in. As an aside I wouldn't recommend listening to Sir Elton's autobiography if your apartment as thin walls, as every other chapter your neighbor will think you are telling him to shove something up his arse. Just saying. Right now, 'Let Love Rule' will find itself like life's way on your bookshelf next to Alicia Keys' amazing autobiography, 'More Myself: A Journey' next to her latest, first namesake, self-titled, acclaimed album and the space reserved for the audacity and hopeful fathers dreams of President Barack Obama's latest book, 'A Promised Land' coming soon like the place we as a people are getting to now. Coming of age and of stage, this before they were famous, behind the scenes book look is like 'Acid For The Children' by the bass for your face Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers also released at this time last year just in time for under your tree like away in a manger. The chicken before the egg story before the history. You don't get to this destination of his in concert today without this musical journey. From family to rocking like Sly Stone, all the way to the Hendrix covers of a Rolling Stone, just like a black Beatle with Jagger swagger.

Father and son stories like Cat Stevens. A mother's love like our reason for breathing. Gossip folks won't have much to talk about when it comes to the book version of 'Let Love Rule', but adding this album to the singers catalogue offers us a more deeper portrait of the man with those eyes behind the iconic, signature shades that could even make Bono blush. You too will be impressed with the Joshua Tree rock roots of a true hero for songwriting juxtaposition and social justice, especially in these times were Black Lives still Matter in black and white America. Raised my parents from different races, young Lenny faced all types of trouble in a land that still needed to reach the promised one we're still climbing of being judged by the content of your character and not the color of your skin. Still Kravitz let's it and the upbringing of all his uplifting life experiences that counter, to bleed his way into the culture and the arena of mainstream music from New York bars with guys and dolls to selling out stadiums like Guns and Roses, all before performing on the 'Blueprint' of a track by Jay-Z of the same name. Before the Grammy's came a famous family like the one he and former wife and actress Lisa Bonet gave birth too in the flowers for Zoe. The first 25 years of this man's life explored and recounted in just a leaf shade under 300 pages is one many would wish to only live in centuries. Its just that inspirational and iconic in all its influence. Last week in the European like Jiyūgaoka of Tokyo, Japan I masked up to go out for a date with a women I'd been talking to for weeks. As we looked for a place to eat and drink we walked past a coffee store come book shop that echoed down the cobble streets with the words, "so many tears I've cried, so much pain inside, so many years we've tried, to keep this love alive." The lyrics to Lenny Kravitz's sweetly soulful, huge hit, 'It Ain't Over 'Till It's Over' that lost far from family and friends in the Far East needs no translation like Sofia, Scarlett or Mr. Murray. Words and sentiment that right now have so much pure poignancy amongst this perplexed and punctuated year of peril and perspective. Hand-in-hand walking along and carrying on we ain't done yet. It's not over. We've only just begun. Now after letting this book in to our quarantined home this 2020 of COVID-19 lockdown, we can't wait for love to rule again like the embrace of joining hands. Now like waiting for a new year and day, let the needle drop as we turn the page on volume two. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

“I mean, let love rule. That's the statement — and it has been for 30 years,” he says. “And that is the way I try to live my life every day.” - Lenny Kravitz. 

BOOK REVIEW: PRINCE-THE BEAUTIFUL ONES

4/5

Purple Page, Purple Page. 

Bringing to life a vision in the purple one's mind. The late, great Prince's curated memoir 'The Beautiful Ones' shows that sometimes the greatest stories remain unfinished, but still told regardless. Painting a perfect picture, Dan Piepenbring (the former editor of 'The Paris Review' who co-wrote, 'Chaos: Charles Mansen, the CIA and the Secret History of the Sixties' with Tom O'Neill for all you 'Mindhunter' fans) brings the book he was writing with Prince-before the rock, funk, jazz, R&B and every other genre God passed-back to life. Breathing new vision into it after only having 20 pages of an actual autobiography to work with. For this Penguin production, Prince picked Piepenbring as his paperback writer (say that six times) after working his way through the "rhapsodic" raw review writing of blogs (giving this writer further evidence(?) that Prince may have read my gig review back in 2014 when I received an email from "the offices of Prince"...oh and the fact that it's a mystery, makes this one even more beautiful) to write this 'Beautiful' book with him, blackout back and forth between the chapters. And now on some bittersweet way it's all ended up exactly like that. As Piepenbring's prologue penmanship of almost 50 nostalgic pages of a frozen moment in three months with the real king of pop, Prince precursors the even more moving memoir of beauty, and eye icons (not emojis people) 2 U. Wrote in his way that nothing compares to. All before a Paisley Park photo album vault looted comes into play like a perfect memory along with a transcription of the treatment he wrote for the original movie that became a classic album, that became a hit song and forever in hue colour scheme. Something about indigo precipitation?! Let his royal funkness reign.

Hitting and running through all the epic work of his estate almost seems like graveyard robbery on a 'Moonbeam Level'. But from the bare essentials of the stripped down 'Piano and Microphone' show turned soundtrack, to the absolute off the charts 'Hollyrock' and its straight outta Hollywood animated music video, there's just so much work here. The work of genius. And from the Sam Cooke like napkin lyrics of gospel, to the legal pad prose of his first book it all seems meant to be, or at least (we hope) like he wanted it to be shared. Unlike the legend of the duet album with Lenny Kravitz, which on completion he if rumour has it told the guitar hero he references in these pages, "this is just for us". Certainly though with these chapters that sadly will never see an epilogue, but deserve an acclaimed acknowledgement. In 2016 we lost Prince, the King, Ali and Ziggy Stardust himself, David Bowie. And what did we gain? Brexit and Donald f###### Trump. So yeah...we've had better years. That one sounded like something out of the apocalypse although this writer fell for the love of his life...but I lost that too. In the same year the only man to come close The Boss (no not Mr. McGee), Bruce Springsteen released his Kerouac beat like acclaimed autobiography before he hit Broadway and these cinematic 'Western Stars' named after one of his signature songs and sets, 'Born To Run', Prince was writing the same after one of his super singles like a Mariah Carey and Dru Hill classic cover before the picture was smashed. But now 'The Beautiful Ones' is here to stay always. Falling under our Christmas tree in a purple package (excuse me?) underneath the dove decorations (but not the two turtle ones Macaulay Culkin 'Home Alone' found 'Lost In New York' for this guy who even locker room references John Hughes movies) this Christmas like a New Year celebration alongside the legendary likes of icons like Red Hot Chili Pepper Flea's 'Acid For The Children' bass line and the 'Rocketman' farewell tour movie of Elton John's magnificence as he, 'Me'. But still chapter and verse, this Prince project is just as prolific even if his life story is sadly cut short. But only in writing. The real tragedy is the loss of his life. But yet Prince's still lives in his body of work, like the soul of this story.

Mama. It all begins with his mother. Like life itself. All in her eyes. The kind Tupac talked about on 'Thugz Mansion' when he grabbed that nine, contemplating suicide until he saw. And it ends...well it doesn't end now. Life goes on even when it doesn't. In spirit. For icons like the love symbol in sound. And now with this for the record in words. That will love and live on in infamy like King or Rowling. J.K. Or J.R.R. Tolkien for this epic fantasy. Except it's reality. Prince's Paisley one. After Piepenbring's inspired introduction, mapping out the intended gameplan script for this story, Prince begins the beauty of his life and family tree. How the young Rogers Nelson was nicknamed Skipper by his mother, taking that one to school as the teachers couldn't believe this kid was called Prince when they took roll. Well now we couldn't imagine anyone else with this man's decreed name by royal appointment. Not even Harry or Wills (with all bowing due respect). All the way through a childhood that shaped his story and the 'Purple Rain' screenplay. All the way to the first album he made, cutting a record deal with Warner and producing, playing every instrument and even designing the artwork 'For You'. And as his last autobiography words focus fittingly on that look between two lovers as one ("one what") that without a voice appropriately speaks louder than a thousand words, the man that handed in a couple of them wrote down perfectly couldn't say it better. If only he could have memoir said more. But he already did and did so much in his other work. Annotated personal Polaroids, scrawled down lyric sheets bordered by doodles and famous quotes from magazines tell the rest of the story like read all about it. And do even if it seems a little intrusive. Because the more original drafts of classics like 'Purple Rain' you see like you've never heard, the more you feel The Artist you thought you had taken as read. Now making your way through this curated collection like the 'Living In A Material World' George Harrison coffee table one, you may think the story of the man who owned everyone (Tom Petty, Steve Winwood, Jeff Lynne and all of them) freestyling a solo of that Beatles gently weeping guitar, before throwing his axe back into what seemingly felt like the heavens isn't complete (one that was originally meant to touchdown in his indelible Superbowl show). But who's ever is when they inspire enough generations for decades upon decades of a couple of lifetimes over? Like seven hours and fourteen days nothing could take this love away. Baby, baby, baby. In the end it turns out Prince and Piepenbring got to write Skipper's book the way they always intended to...together. Now that's a beautiful one. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Bruce Springsteen-Born To Run', 'Elton John-Me', 'Flea-Acid For The Children'. 

BOOK REVIEW: ELTON JOHN-ME

4/5

His Majesty.

Regaling us with story after story, don't say the glam queen bitch is back. He's been here for years. Taking his farewell tour after decades and decades of star spangled music from the Great British national treasure-from 'The Lion King', to Princess Diana tributes-around the world and Phileas Fogg back again. And this crowning glory has been the 'Rocketman's' year of coronation with his bags packed, zero hour, nine AM. With his 'Kingsman' sequel co-star Taron Egerton taking the throne as him in a beautiful and bohemian biopic from Queen, 'Rhapsody', Rami rivalling director Dexter Fletcher. And now after all this behind the same star sunglasses Arnold Schwarzenegger donned for 'Terminator 3', Elton John gets really personal and diamond sequin and feather boa stripped down and away in 'Me', his long awaited autobiography. Not his first book, his AIDS awareness mission statement, 'Love Is The Cure' demands everyone's attention. But this in the same year as an unsanitized, coke and all biopic-as blow brutal as it is big and beautiful-is his most personal project yet. And probably the best book and most musical, amazing autobiography since Steven Tyler of Aerosmith's 'Noise In My Head', the Red Hot Chilli Peppers' Anthony Kiedis' 'Scar Tissue', or Rolling Stone Keith Richards' 'Life' (we're yet to get to Prince's unfinished 'The Beautiful Ones' out now too. But can hardly wait). "Sea turtles mate". The last one was audiobook read by 'Pirates Of The Caribbean' son Johnny Depp. Even more fittingly here after a perfect prologue read by Sir Elton-before he supposedly goes off to shop-the perfectly named 'Me' is read by none other than, you guessed it, Taron Egerton himself. And this audiobook version of the autobiography (the voice keeping me company so I'm not lost in translation, trying to teach in Tokyo, Japan like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's audiobooks when I was travelling Hong Kong during a depression) needs a lent ear as the relationship between actor and star muse is much more than music, or even acting. Egerton's epic and energetic reading of 'Me' (or him) like his portrayal of the pop star is an incredible dedication to the man. With just as much charismatic character as the words wrote. Dare I say the best one/two, dynamic duo since Bernie and the 'Benny and the Jets' singer? Cue the piano introduction.

You'll laugh at the fact that 'Stan' Grammy collaborator that Elton sobriety sponsors, Eminem calls him a "C U Next Tuesday' everytime he calls. You'll shed a tear at the last story about dear John Lennon. He talks about 'Heartbreaker' Ryan Adams inspiring him despite the cancelling controversy. He tells us while he still plays Russia and would rather "build a bridge" with Putin than "a wall" (take that you know who). He also speaks candidly and fairly about the queen Madonna without backing out of the corner in defending the Godmother of his first child Lady Gaga from Madge's slights. The born star is this way, his way and the highway only. From taking a truck full of bandmates across the country, backing up soul acts who told him to kill Reg Dwight as he ended up taking his bandmates names, to wanting to die on stage like a Last Vegas residency until he started a family that was worth more than all the Troubadour and trouble that got him to this point. A true lion never flickering like a candle in the wind. From Pinner to Disney. Hollywood and Buckingham Palace. A friend of the royals by decree and our king of queens by knighted appointment. The crown is his like Claire Foy or Olivia Coleman and he takes his throne in this entertainment game with a tilt and tip to everyone who helped build his musical castle. And even those who threw rocks at one of rock and rolls greatest like a Rolling Stone. There's even a hilarious story about being "high as a kite by then" and thinking the great American songbook of Bob Dylan was homeless. But much like how John has found a residence in those classic Sinatra standards at his live shows, his own epic, eclectic catalogue of a collection now belongs in the Great British rock and roll songwriting hall of fame with Bernie Taupin like the crown jewels that they are. And you get plenty of words behind the lyrics to go here for a man who has worked with everyone from Fall Out Boy to A Tribe Called Quest.

But this is his song. And none rings truer that the ode to family and matrimony to that. For better or worse, cradle to hearse. It's a little bit funny (as a matter of fact it's f###### hilarious. The amount of times I've bust out laughing in public from him telling someone to take something and shove it up their proverbial arse). But there's so much more feeling inside. Especially when it comes to the Dwight family circle of life. From the 'Tiny Dancer' days of playing in pubs were 'Saturday Night Was Alright For Fighting', to the 'Crocodile Rock', 'I'm Still Standing' and swinging days atop the piano of baseball bat knocking it out the Dodger Stadium park in a jazzled, diamond encrusted uniform, Reg has always kept his family close and the enemies he's made because of that closer. Life wasn't easy for Elton growing up with his parents and that didn't elude him when fame came his way. Coming out to the world and being a LGBT pioneer for being true to who you are before we even put those letters together with us as a society. Not to mention a groundbreaking, life changing advocate for AIDS research, in search for a cure as strong as love. But in a world were were  seems to be the hardest word, Elton still gives his everyone candidly and in hindsight, honestly and reflectively in hope that we will learn from his mistakes aswell as be boldly inspired with the many things he did beautifully right. Overcoming drink and drugs was one of John's greatest struggles and challenges he overcame down the yellow brick road, but some of the people in his circle throughout his life became his true sacrifice. But it's all come back round to a love you can feel tonight like his family with David Furnish. As the man who was once lip synced by 'Iron Man' Robert Downey Jr. (the amazing anthem 'I Want Love') and pop superstar Justin Timberlake (the dressed up 'This Train Don't Stop Here Anymore' which showed J.T. was almost capable of playing Sir Elton like Tom Hardy) in magnificent musical videos now has his own movie and book to take on the road as the show goes on. Heartfelt and hilarious, with so much tongue for your cheek. This is the perfect program for his Farewell Tour like 'Rocketman' is the movie, musical soundtrack that scores like Watford for the chairman of this board, sure there's a lot of me in 'Me'. But what else would you expect from Elton? And I personally wouldn't have it any other way than his way. Me oh my! TIM DAVID HARVEY.

BOOK REVIEW: COMMON-LET LOVE HAVE THE LAST WORD

4/5

Common People.

468. That's how many times the word "love" is used in rapper slash actor Common's new memoir and second scribe, 'Let Love Have The Last Word'. Believe me I counted. Why? Because this language truly is a labour of love. Almost 500. Half of a thousand. Even though love doesn't appear at first until the seal of the seventh page. That's more than twice as many times than there is pages to this books body of text. But never overused. Always heaven sent meant. "I never knew a love, love, love like this". You truly are seeing the light here. Love is all around and all you need. It's something we all have in common, hurt or heartfelt. It has the power to lift you up...and put you right back down. It can break your heart. And it can heal all world war wounds. It can come from mother, daughter, father's and sons. Lovers and friends. And everyone all around us. To what could become of strangers on the street street to those we will never meet. There's love for the physical. The spiritual. Animals. The earth we live on and the wildest dreams we fall asleep with every night, looking towards the future. It can even happen as the author of this book tells us in simply holding the door open for another person. "Love is a verb" as Common says. A doing word. A call to action. "The first emotion I ever experienced was love", Lonnie Lynn wrote in his autobiography almost a decade back. His first New York Times bestselling book, 'One Day It'll All Make Sense', named after one of his hallmark hip-hop classics like 'Can I Borrow A Dollar', 'Resurrection' and the double-header of definitive healing in 'Be' and 'Finding Forever'. Not to forget the beautiful and experimental 'Electric Circus'. And this four letter word runs through his follow up and most personal and profound prose yet like blood through your veins and hope to your heart. The 'Glory' Oscar winning singer who has also appeared in 'Selma', 'The Hate U Give', 'Terminator' and 'John Wick' movie chapters, fighting with Batman, Christian Bale and kicking Keanu Reeves ass like their was a bounty on the boogeyman and used to love H.E.R. fist to desk, taps in and lets us feel how his heart really beats with the click, clack of his typewriter. Like we all will in unison time.

Love is...this. The corner of your bookshelf really is about to give you this feeling. The dreamer and the believer will give you the desire and faith of this with his vision that is more than just the words you see on the page. The genre icon who once sang with John Legend that he's "from the land where money talks and love stutters," gives it it's voice here for all those who can't find the words. "God is Love. Forgiveness is Love. Self-Care is Love. Art is Love. Compassion is Love". The Sam Cooke and Stevie Wonder soul of hip-hop and the greatest and most inspirational conscious rapper of all-time gives us the perfect Spring read for the park or early evenings as the light from the sun comes in. Giving us a memoir manual as inspirational as the king Muhammed Ali's 'Soul Of A Butterfly' or the late sportscaster Stuart Scott's 'Every Day I Fight' cancer battle, the man who fell in love with her, Erykah Badu and tennis ace legend Serena Williams as well as his beautiful mother and daughter details his loves life and times, whilst relating to ours and offering a mirror through his words of wisdom for us to reflect. Like his chapter bookmark beginnings with love quotes from the legendary likes of Martin Luther King Jnr, Maya Angelou and Socrates, all with intention not pretention. Like the closing quote of 'If Beale Street Could Talk' author James Baldwin tells us, "Great art can only be created out of love". And you can see where the 'Come Close' and 'Retrospect For Love' artist got his inspiration from like Mary J. Blige and Lauryn Hill. Preaching gospel, compelling and eloquent, Common shows us what love means to him in relation to God, family, his passion projects like this one and his desires and dreams for another partner and to one day be a husband as well as a father. Vulnerable in his commitment he reveals his flaws when it comes to wanting to make this house a home and his mistakes as a man. All so we can pay attention and heed. All so we like he can learn from his mistakes in our own love for self and what in turn that can do for us opening our hearts to others. Love in action over love addiction sure sounds like a plan...straight from the heart.

Honest and genuine, the philanthropist, Lonnie Corant Jaman Shuka Rashid Lynn gets real and raw when he gets to the real heart of matters like watching his pops pass or his stepfather never leaving his mother's side when she was sick. Yet for all the times it's used-even in its unaccounted for past tenses-the word "love" is missing from many pages detailing prison visits from the rapper in concert like country late legend Johnny Cash performing at San Quentin. All until the end of these passages. This could be because Common's love in action with this reaching out to the bonds of the incarcerated speaks for itself without puffing it's chest out. Or it may be symbolism to show what is truly missing from our prison system today. Common also opens up the conversation further on mental health matters, especially in relation to the immeasurable amount of men not speaking up, out, or being spoken for. Especially those hiding behind the shame of abuse. And Lonnie Lynn too after decades in the spotlight and even more in coming to terms with this all in this moving memoir reveals he was molested. And in making this stand against toxic masculinity and sexual violence towards people in more ways than one, he bravely gives more than himself a voice. Showing he, we, you, I, him and her are never alone in this. His story like his life is really something. Prologue to the closing chapter. And in an epic epilogue of powerful portraits and personal playlists Rashid gives us something for our Spotify to show us what he was jamming to whilst putting all this lasting 'Love' down. Classics like 'A Love Supreme' by John Coltrane, 'The Makings Of You' ("children laughing all around you"...truly) by Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye's 'God Is Love', the Commodores 'Zoom' and 'The Way Young Lovers Do' by Van Morrison. Get in sync now to this headphone rhythm. But if that isn't enough for your lent ears, like it all making sense one day, it seems like love just won't have the last word in these here pages. Like naming his first book after one of his albums, Common will names his next album after this book. A summer album set to smash feature J Dilla, Kendrick Lamar and soul man Leon Bridges. And songs like the tear inducing, Marvin Gaye inspired 'God Is Love' with the aforementioned, the bicep curl strong 'Hercules' and 'Her Love', a spiritual sequel to his signature classic 'I Used To Love H.E.R.' like this album is to this book. Showing that when it comes to rappers writing with a pad and pen, their true love will have the last word on wax. Because after all like Rashid Lynn's Common Sense tells us 'Let Love Have The Last Word' "is not just a declaration. It's a statement of purpose." And what a one to make with so much of that. Love to some may just be a word. But it's one to the rest that will last forever. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

BOOK REVIEW: JACKIE CHAN-NEVER GROW UP

4/5

Crazy, Rich, Amazing.

Never count Jackie Chan out. From Hong Kong to Hollywood the megastar has starred in around over 150 films and counting. But you know he's broken even more bones than that...and counting. Worldwide this superstar is one of the most globally recognised icons and idols in all of entertainment. Let alone the acting game he changed, redefining the all action hero to an everyman embrace. This pop star has even made albums...you saw him sing along to The Beach Boys on 'Rush Hour' too, don't deny it. There's a reason this million seller, billion served and counting even has had an honorary Oscar made for him. And this Academy member is the real deal to the award envelope. As 'Crazy Rich Asian' star and 'Supercop' co one (who came up from China with Chan and started this 'Crazy Rich' revolution of the continent you see today from the idols of BTS to Henry Golding even being in consideration for the running of the next, revolutionary James Bond), says Jackie has that, "infectious exuberance". Or as partner in crime stopping 'Rush' motormouth by the hour Chris Tucker simply and poignantly puts it, "I love you (Jackie). You're a part of me"! Even possibly the most recognisable and successful face in all of acting Tom Hanks coins it perfectly when immortalising the man who combined the action heroism of John Wayne with the comic timing of Buster Keaton when it came to making his own Hollywoodland legend, Jackie is just "Chantastic". And still to this day, from 'Police Story' to the 'Shanghai' series of noon and nights and the 'Rumble In The Bronx' to 'Kung Fu Yoga' this man who gave the Schwarzenegger age it's last action hero is far from expendable. No matter how hard Sly tried to get this franchise face in that all action, pension fund series. Chan once in Sylvester's Hollywood home, touched Stallone's Oscar, kissed it and probably held it infront of a mirror whilst rehearsing a speech. And on reflection he was right to. Although Jackie Chan as a moviemaking symbol himself is his own reward. And he's still doing it to this Netflix 'Skiptrace' streaming day. Taking on James Bond Pierce Brosnan in 'The Foreigner' and getting serious in his old age like the time he made you cry out of nowhere in the Smith family 'Karate Kid' reboot remake. But for all the stories this man has and still tells none are as real as the simple ode in his memoir to 'Never Grow Up' from the forever young Peter Pan that is Chan, who also never gives up.

Cannonball Chan. The young kid was nicknamed for running around everywhere with that infectious energy. His humble beginnings saw him bullied at school but he always knew how to fight back with his fists and wrists finding a new way home up in the hills. As his Chinese Civil War refugee parents found refuge working for the French Ambassador as they lived a team trip up Hong Kong's vivid Victoria Peak where a waxwork of him now resides in Madame Tussauds. A perfect, picturesque place where Jackie would look to the stars and the skyline of the city that would eventually belong to him in time. Lost in clouds wasn't the word. He was destined for them. And even when he got bored and boarding school called with a strict decade long institution, he was always going places but taking home with him. Even when his parents relocated to Australia and he'd sometimes join them for months at a time when the acting didn't quite pan out the way he read it in his life scripts before the die was cast. But this man who used to play dead perfectly to get on screen when he broke out as more than Bruce Lee fist of furry cannon fodder. As his entry to the industry in the legendary 'Enter The Dragon' saw him meet his idol face to fist first. Talk about being extra. Chan wanted to show the world the lighter, even realer side of the art he martialed. Bruce Lee looked invincible when he fought. Jackie wanted to show you it really hurt. But that there was a certain humor aswell as heart to it all. And Chan earned all his pain. His reel (you just can't call these things "bloopers") of stunt fails have made the legendary rounds on YouTube long before that video platform was even really a thing. When people were watching on desktops instead of phones. And you know to this day people would look up from their phones, even if they macably used them to point up and film. As Chan the man would fall from rooftops with only two bits of cloth to shroud his fall. Or fireman slide down the lightbulb smashing, electric eel like lights of a pole in the middle of the biggest mall you've seen this side of Christmas, top to bottom. Shutting it and almost himself down for good in the process. And then when his list of injuries medical report up like something out of that old arcade game 'Theme Hospital' his strained reaction always looks more like he stubbed his toe than stunted his whole damn body. This guy's broken everything in your body you could think of...even the stuff you can't...or simply don't want to. He's even nearly lost one of his pupils. And we aren't talking about one of the members of his iconic, family first stunt team (thankfully). But as the eye of Jackie Chan says, "Jackie always Ok"!

Reporting for the 'Police Story' precient franchise it became a whole new story for Jack Chan. He became a megawatt megastar and helped put Hong Kong on the moviemaking map of the planet like its own Hollywood...which he humbly doesn't give himself enough credit for here...so we will. Then came the money, the wining and dining, the women and of course the entourage. Think Jet Li in 'Fearless' when he's on top before he faces his greatest one and great fall. Chan even had his 'Pretty Woman' moment like revenge in a boutique store whose sale assistant looked down on him like Julia Roberts in that infamous, iconic scene. But this time walking down the street with an army of followers he brought out the whole, damn shop. But Jackie admits now that foolish arrogance like that cost him more than Hong Kong dollars. As he also laments with honest beauty of wisdom about standing on the beach watching the tide come in with the one that got away like being lost at sea. And after Hollywood came calling, from 'Rush Hour' to the "WOW" of Owen Wilson, Jackie reached all new levels of hills stardom. Although always remaining true to himself and his art. Even upstaging co-stars like Wilson and the attention chattering one-liners of the one and only Chris Tucker who were meant to do that to themselves to the man who was more than a one dimensional, one man funny fighting machine. Jackie and Tucker even combined for the first big budget, Hollywood blockbuster to feature no white males in the lead. This more than 20 calenders before this years 'Crazy, Rich Asian' revolution. Chan smartened up a previously ignorant industry all the way to the 'Tuxedo'. And he's still doing it today. All whilst practicing the preach of staying loyal to family and where you came from no matter the mistakes you make in this young life. Preserving history more than in movies like the historical drama 'Railroad Tigers', but also actually protecting artifacts from traditional Chinese history and bringing them back to where they belong. So Jackie Chan and the Hong Kong he has forever represented and camera captured to the world with that warm, award winning smiles story is far from over. And as he writes even more chapters to this verse it's great to look back on this perfect preface of decency, integrity, inspiration and dedication in all the rise and fall lessons that come with this life and its many loves. Because wonderfully wrote this is merely a bookmark. The 64 year old and only countryman with both a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and his hands in concrete outside the Mann's Chinese Theatre is just getting started. And like this one it'll be a story like no other. Chapter one. TIM DAVID HARVEY.