Bob Marley: The Untold Story

From the book cover

What was is about Bob Marley that made him so popular in a world dominated by rock ‘n’ roll? How is it that he not only has remained the single most successful reggae artist ever, but also has become a shining beacon of radicalism and peace to generation after generation of fans?

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Bob Marley is the most well-known of my countrymen, so when I saw this biography in Coles I didn't think twice about picking it up. Usually, I read books recommended by friends, family members or acquaintances. This book was chosen solely because I've always enjoyed Bob Marley's music and wanted to find out who he really was.

Chris Salewicz's writing style is dreadful (no pun intended). His bridging techniques are awkward at best and he litters the story with too much insignificant information. An example of this is the background information he provides for virtually all of the major and minor characters in Bob's life. Every time he introduces a character he tells the reader where and when the person was born and who their parents were, how they grew up and all sorts of other useless information.

When Salewicz isn't bombarding the reader with useless information, he's repeating facts and quotes every few chapters. There's almost a feeling that this book might have be written over several years.

Despite my issues with Salewicz's writing style, I have to admit that this biography does provide some really great information about Jamaica, the history of reggae, and of course Bob Marley. If nothing else, Chris Salewicz is a great researcher.

Thanks to the information about the history of reggae, there's handful of albums that I will be seeking to add to my collection.

3.5/5

*UPDATE*
It's been about a month since I read this novel and only now is the affect of everything I learned about Bob Marley becoming apparent. Prior to reading this book, I could listen to all of Bob Marley's songs all the time and anytime. Now I'm having a hard time listening to some of them because I know the story behind them. I'm repulsed by the ones written about his mistresses, especially Waiting in Vain, because they remind me of how poorly he treated his wife (He flaunted his relationship with other women in front of her and at one point denied their marriage). It's hard to separate the man from the musician.