Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
One of the most depressing books I've ever read, 2 Jul 2009
This is one of the most depressing books I've ever read. I knew an account of John Belushi's last few months wasn't going to be pretty, but at times I just had to put the book down; the last fortnight in particular, where John's seemingly every move is documented in detail, is just relentlessly squalid, sorry, and down-hill, and while you know what's going to happen you can't help wishing you could jump into the page, smack some sense into him, and stop him from destroying himself... But noooooooooo.
While it's obviously an meticulously researched piece of journalism, and an effective piece of anti-drug literature, I thought as a biography "Wired" was incredibly one-sided. I won't ever defend John Belushi's drug-taking, but there must have been so much more to him than that..? You would think so, anyway. Perhaps I'm missing the point, but the 'short life' of the title doesn't take up much room in this book. You don't find out much about John as a person, as a son, friend or a husband, just John as a drug-taker, and as such he comes across as the world's biggest arsehole - which he might well have been, but he was an incredibly funny arsehole. Woodward seems to forget this, though, as he rubbishes every movie John ever made. At points, Woodward can't conceal his disgust for Belushi, his behaviour, his attitude, especially his appearance; John's always "greasy" and "unwashed", and there are quite a few comments about his weight that portray him as physically repulsive, Jabba the Hut style. It's 16 year old girl bitchy, not to mention besides the point, as John's weight was so often part of his comedy - it's what makes his Marlon Brando impression work, and his cartwheeling on stage so surprising, or the Little Chocolate Doughnuts skit so funny (which still makes me cry with laughter).
As a huge fan of John's, I came away from this book feeling like I wanted to kick something - Woodward and Belushi's arses both. What annoys me even more is the lousy film they made out of this, what a hunk of crap that was, talk about pee on his grave.
I later found out that John's widow Judy (who originally commissioned Woodward to write a series of articles about JOhn, which later became this book) was very upset with how "Wired" turned out, and has in response complied her own biography "Belushi" which says a lot more about her husband as a person, which I suppose is what I really want read about rather than dwelling on his drug-taking. If you didn't counter-balance reading this with reading "Belushi" afterwards, or watching a SNL DVD or the Blues Brothers for the 2567th time, you'd just end up hating John Belushi, totally forgetting what an absolute freakin genius he was - and he WAS, I'm not prepared to argue with you, or Woodward, on that one.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
wired by Bob Woodward, 3 Feb 2004
I have to say this is a real unputdownable book not just if your a Belushi fan but a great look at the whole hollywood system and drug scene of the early eighties. I thought Bob Woodward( All the presidents men) may lay it on thick but the book sweeps along at an exciting pace, so much so I tended to forget that I Was reading a true story and desperately wanted a happy ending which I wouldn,t ultimately get. Woodward has managed to craft a book from interviewing many of Belushis friends,associates and family which reads like a novel but paints Belushi both as saint and sinner. If you can get a copy of this book grab it,read it,keep it and read it again. If you are thinking of taking any illegal substances read this book first.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Frank and fascinating biography of a very funny man., 1 Sep 2003
From a top investigative journalist - of All the Presidents Men fame - a well researched, objective account of John Belushis short life. The amount of access to his widow, family and friends means that nothing is papered over - the facts are there in Belushis words and actions for a reader to form an opinion rather than other biographies of those who die tragically young (e.g. one I read about Judy Garland) where much of what is written is analysis after the death of what was on the subjects mind and regrets by those who knew the deceased. Really easy to read as well - only complaint would be wished there were more photos !!!
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