When I see the video clips of the girls screaming and fainting at Beatles concerts I can't help but wonder if that would've been me had I been a teenager during that time. Every girl who has ever loved the Fab 4 has their favorite Beatle. Mine was, and forever will be, George. Sure I have a fondness for George but would that have ever been an obsession? What went on in these girls minds to make them so incredibly passionate and obsessive about this band? That is the question that Patricia Gallo-Stenman dares to answer in her Diary of a Beatlemaniac.
Patty was only fifteen when she first saw the long-haired foursome on The Ed Sullivan Show, which kicked off Beatlemania here in the US, and she too wondered what would make these girls go so crazy over a band. She soon found out as she documents, in great detail, her quick infatuation and then utter passion for the iconic band.
Diary of a Beatlemaniac is Patricia's actual diary entries from her sophomore year to her senior year of high school. She shares in incredibly descriptive detail the goings on of her Beatle Buddies club, articles from the local newspaper where she wrote about the Beatles, as well as other up and coming bands, details about the Beatles themselves: album releases, concert information, and the like; and her relationship with actor Victor Spinetti, who starred in three Beatles movies, and Philly disk jockey Hy Lit.
It was so groovy to go back in time with Patty and relive this unique time in history with her. My only complaint is that as you read it you quickly realize that you are quite literally reading a teenagers diary verbatim. I wish Patricia would've thrown some of her own commentary in, telling the reader her thoughts and memories about this time all these years later. There were parts that got a little wordy for me and I admit that I skimmed quite a bit but there were parts that were so intriguing, that pulled me into that moment in time, and made up for the slower parts.
Patty's obsession during Beatlemania is palpable on every page and does give you a glimpse into the mind of a teenage girl during this time in history. What I loved the most were the pictures sprinkled throughout the book of various newspaper clippings and pictures of her during different times which adds to the charm.
I loved getting a glimpse into the fascinating life of a Beatlemaniac!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Cynren Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
No comments
Thank you for visiting! :)