December 2017 Book of the Month
Sean Smith has written an engrossing book that takes you behind the public persona of George Michael and introduces you to Georgios Panayiotou, the man behind the pop star.
It was with some surprise and sorrow that I learnt of the death of George Michael in 2016, it was especially poignant that it happened on Christmas day. Since I was young 'Last Christmas' had been as much a part of Christmas for me as turkey and brussel sprouts, it was always part of the playlist. I grew up listening to Wham songs and then George Michael the solo artist. Yet I didn't really know much about the man behind the music. George by Sean Smith begins by introducing us to a kind hearted, gentle boy who loved nothing more than exploring nature and hunting for bugs in the great outdoors. That is until a fall down the stairs resulting in a bang to the head changed everything and an obsession with music began.
His parent's humble beginnings and their passion to create a better life for themselves and their three children gave George the determination and mindset he needed to seek his own success. He worked hard to become the superstar he undoubtingly was. From early influences such as David Cassidy and Elton John, George discovered a desire to be 'put on a pedestal and adored...' Sean Smith is a thorough and detailed biographer and the writing never feels laboured but a read that flows easily and leaves you feeling a little closer to knowing the man rather than the public persona. Passionate, intelligent and driven both personally and professionally, George Michael worked hard for his success but his compassion and desire to help people also drove him to use that success to help others and make a difference. Much has been reported of his kindness since his death but wrapped up in this package by Sean Smith it gives us a greater understanding of just what the world lost when George Michael died.
George Michael was a true pop star but also a human being and George has given me a fascinating and at times incredibly moving insight into a man who is without doubt part of the soundtrack to my childhood. ~ Shelley Fallows - You can also find Shelley here.
| Primary Genre | Non-Fiction Books of the Month |
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George is the story of two lives - the private man and the public legend. Georgios Panayiotou was just eighteen when he decided to adopt the stage name of George Michael. Sometimes his two worlds would collide with shattering consequences. Bestselling biographer Sean Smith has gone back to the neighbourhoods of North London to trace the astonishing journey of a sensitive but determined boy who grew up to be one of the biggest British pop stars of all time. Along the way, he talks to those close to George, revealing the real man - funny, articulate, intelligent and generous spirited - who hid behind the powerful image he created.
He reveals the complex relationship with his high-achieving Greek-Cypriot father; the unconditional love of his mother; his teenage relationships with girls; and his first tragic love affair with another man. George's career began falteringly with a schoolboy band, exploded with Wham! before he became a solo phenomenon. But at the height of his fame, the world seemed to turn against him. Smith describes his despair at losing the two people who mattered most, how he sought consolation in drugs, his notorious `coming out' and how he ended up in jail. His health failed him and he died heartbreakingly alone on Christmas Day, 2016.
Affectionate yet honest and moving, George is both a celebration of George Michael's music and a lasting tribute to a decent and much-loved man.
George features in the following genres: Non-Fiction Books of the Month, Biographies & Autobiographies, Books of the Month, eBooks of the Month, Recommendations, Biography, Literature and Literary studies
George is available in Paperback, Hardback
George was written by Sean Smith and published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
