Home Page      

Autobiography / Biography   Travel / Places   Cooking / Food   Fashion / Health / Beauty   Other / General / Self-Help   Crafts / Home Improvement   Humor

Wonderful Tonight - George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me
by Pattie Boyd with Penny Junor
Harmony Books
ISBN 0-307-39384-5
Published August 2007 - Hardcover - 322 pages - $25.95

I had just read Eric Clapton's autobiography so this book was a natural progression.  These two books link up quite nicely, and what an opportunity to see things from both sides as it were.  I never knew much about Pattie Boyd other than her being married to George Harrison and then Eric Clapton.  It wasn't until I saw her on television promoting this book, looking great, that I became interested.  Pattie Boyd started off modeling in London in the 60s and later became the muse of two of the world's foremost guitarists (Clapton's "Layla" is about Pattie).  She tells her life story about being born in England and later going to live in Kenya, being raised by her grandmother (she says, "I have practically no memory of my mother during my childhood, apart from the smell of her Dior perfume and her singing voice, which was beautiful."), her school years, how she broke into modeling, and how she met the Beatles, in particular George Harrison, whom she married.  She relates the frenzy around their lives, their drug use, and their travels and meditations in India among a lot more.  The amount of drugs and alcohol that was consumed in those circles is phenomenal (and very scary).  How most of these people survived, I'll never know.  I do now understand why so many didn't make it.  I always find it amazing to read about how the "other half" live, their trials and tribulations, their loves, their friends, their extravagances, and their losses.  Do read Clapton's book as well.
Conclusion - Gossipy, in the nicest way.  Never derogatory.  I loved this book.