The book "Dreaming The Beatles: The Love Story of One Band and the Whole World" by Rolling Stone magazine writer Rob Sheffield at the most obvious observation is a must read for any avid Beatles fan. However, it is also so much more than that. It is a novel that is a must read for any music listener, any , any person. Now, a novel exploring The Beatles is nothing new, but this particular novel somehow brings to life the naive joy and innocent happiness of first discovering The Beatles.
The feeling of listening to Abbey Road all the way through the first time, loving how "You Never Give Me Your Money" bleads into Sun King which transforms into "Mean Mr. Mustard" and "Polthene Pam." Sparking alive that first phases of love with the world's most beloved band. A band that we all seem to know as a child but can't really sing any of their songs. That band that nearly the whole adult population of the world knows. Now, that can't be said about many bands. And that's exactly what this novel emphasizes. The way in which not only The Beatles as a band were so different from other bands of their time (and how they continue to be), but how each individual member of the notorious Fab Four were there own unique person, and how each person who starts listening to The Beatles has their own journey and experience with the band.
And that sentiment, which is present the whole book, is what transcends this novel away from others depicting the same history of a band that never seems to fade away with time. The feeling of nostalgia over remembering the discovery of your favorite band, whether it be The Beatles or not, is an extremely sentimental and joyous emotion to have. In this novel Sheffield's writing weeps with that sentiment about The Beatles and if you are a true Beatles fan it is truly beautiful and poetic the way Sheffield candidly shares his love of the band and it's individual members. His sentiment is so poetic to the point that even if you are not a huge Beatles fan the love and care of Sheffield's writing will cause you to both respect the band but also reminisce about your own band first love.
Early on in the novel Sheffield perfectly remarks "Over the years, your Beatles keep changing, because you keep changing." Showing how a person's love for a band can grow and shape-shift through the years, molding to whatever is happening in a person's life. How your favorite band follows you along, accompanying you through all the winning moments, failures, happy days, sad days, and changing times. Sheffield perfectly puts ink to paper to convey the feeling of loving and having that one favorite band. His just happens to be a band adored by many in the world, young and old. So, he also happens to take of asking the question of what keeps the world dreaming The Beatles all these years later.
