Reading, and lots of it
After getting TDIH in place as the foundation of U2 Diary, I put together a TO DO list to keep the research and writing organized and moving along.
Item No. 1 on the TO DO list was to start re-reading my entire collection of U2-related books. I believe I started with The Unforgettable Fire. Knowing that it has some mistakes in it, I figured if I read that one first, I could correct anything that didn’t stand up as accurate against all my future research. (And that plan has worked, thankfully.) To date, I’ve re-read the following books specifically as part of the research for The U2 Diary:
The Unforgettable Fire
U2 (by Mark Taylor)
The Complete Guide to the Music of U2
U2 – A Conspiracy of Hope
Outside Is America: U2 in the U.S.
Killing Bono
U2 – The Early Days
The U2 Reader
U2 & I: The Photographs 1982-2004
Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas
U2 – The Rolling Stone Files
U2 At The End Of The World
Race of Angels
What’s cool about reading book after book after book is seeing the variety of information each book has, and knowing that when U2 Diary is finished, all that information — and a lot more researched on my own via interviews, etc. — will be available in one book.
I can’t wait.
You might want to check out “Bono: In His Own Words” as well. It’s got some really good quotes by the man himself, though I don’t think they have dates attributed to them. I’m sure you could probably figure out when 99% were made, but it might be helpful to you. Can’t wait to follow the progress on the book! It’s about time we have something like this…
Have you read U2 by U2? It’s quite good and the fact that it’s in the band’s own words and memories might help you a lot.
Thank you both. I have read U2 by U2, but not the other one you mentioned, Dave. I appreciate the suggestions!
Don’t bother to read “Bono: In the Name of Love” by Mick Wall. That book is so full of errors it’s positively ridiculous. Makes “Unforgettable Fire” look accurate. Plus, he doesn’t source any of his quotes and there are supposed quotes in there that don’t sound like anything Bono would say and that I’ve never seen elsewhere. There is another new one out that totally dissappoints as well called “All You Need is Love to Dismantle and Atomic Bomb” that was supposedly written by a U2 fan but is full of glaring errors. Most notably saying the Sarajevo satellite links were during the Pop Tour and I think he said the lemon was used during Zoo. The idea behind the book sounded great but it fails to deliver on any front.
I’m looking forward to your book because we need one that is both comprehensive and well researched because so many out there just reprint the same errors over and over. I would definitely heavily stress fact checking which I’m sure you are.
Dana
I’m just now reading Bono: In His Own Words. Interesting quotes in there. That’s all it is – just quotes, but it does make intersting reading. Good luck with the new book Matt.
U2 at the End of the World and Killing Bono are fun reads. Read Bono’s in his own words for sure and U2 by U2 is worth the money!
Good suggestions, guys — thanks so much.
I’m looking forward to it!
Don’t forget to read U2 & i – The Photographs 1982 – 2004 by Anton Corbijn. Lots of handwritten info about the photo shoots. And photos of course, many never published before, don’t know if you can use those 🙂
Whoops! I did read that, and it was a big help for getting dates and detail about photo shoots and such. Forgot to put it on the list, so thanks. 🙂