Saturday 7 September 2013

New Beatles Book now out - BUY IT!

 
I have received this excellent book as a complimentary copy from the publisher. Having not heard of the author (he is from Finland),  I really didnt know what to expect, but having read it I cannot fault it. Mauri Kunnas is a devoted Beatles fan and you can tell it by the way he has weaved a true and well covered story into an adult graphic novel/cartoon stripbook. His humour is right up my street, his quality of artwork is exceptional, he captured all the main characters personal caricatures, his knowledge and research of the band and its various lineups is comprehensive, but this book is more than that, its a work of love and a book any true Beatles fan must have on his Beatle shelf!

I even learnt some Beatle facts, Georges 'Thingy' for example...read the book to find out! I also particularly like the images of 'Mick and Keef' (well known devotees of John and Paul) cropping up as heavenly cherubs whenever a holy Beatle moment happened...very clever and wholly original in everyway.

 
Released also in English, it is available from here:
http://www.beatleswithana.com/
Hardcover Comic: 80 pages
Publisher: Otava Publishing Company Ltd
Language: English
Translation: Will Moore
ISBN-10: 9511273957
ISBN-13: 978-9511273950
Product Dimensions: 290mm x 247mm x 10 mm
Weight: 610 grams
Price: 19.70 EUR | £16.90 | $26.20 plus delivery

It is also available from Amazon.co.uk, and as an i-pad version.

Mauri Kunnas is a well known and loved illustrator in his native Finland. More known for his childrens books he has a really good website which i recommend you visit, ( http://maurikunnas.net )

Here's a couple of quotes from his biography:

''Towards the end of my school career I became a devoted Beatles fan and grew “long” hair (everything is relative). We followed the British and US pop charts almost religiously: The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, Manfred Mann, The Hollies, The Troggs, The Beach Boys, The Lovin Spoonful, Bob Dylan, Sonny & Cher, The Mamas & Papas, and Jimi Hendrix were the big names in those days. We had no time whatsoever for Finnish bands, most of whom were only doing cover versions in translation.''

''I do a certain amount of reading, though for some reason quite a bit of it seems to revolve around books about The Beatles. I guess the Fab Four count as a kind of hobby/obsession: I collect records (vinyl), and tapes with old interviews with the band and their press conferences.''

© Otava / Katja Lösönen 2009