Gregory Alan Thornbury's 'Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music: Larry Norman and the Perils of Christian Rock.'

I've written about Larry Norman before. Once, a few years ago, I posted a little reflection about him based on an odd interview with the director of that tasteless documentary about him, and a few months ago I posted about a specific song. I'm still a fan, but more because he, himself, fascinates me.

A few months ago I learned that Penguin/Random House was publishing a biography about him, so I ordered it. As soon as I received it, I read it in a couple days.

Finished reading the #LarryNorman biography. It was ok. I think it could have used more contemporary interviews with his contemporaries. I like that Thornbury used the Norman archives, but I think the text would be more historically relevant if he used more varied sources. pic.twitter.com/qKYQmWC6op

— Jeffrey Nordstrom (@jeffnords) April 20, 2018

This morning I posted a review on Amazon. I'm not good at reviews, so I kept it short. 

My brief review of Gregory Alan Thornbury's 'Why Should the Deveil Have All the Good Music: Larry Norman and the Perils of Christian Rock' at Amazon. https://t.co/cpwKjA8KxF pic.twitter.com/nYkCxbwMb4

— Jeffrey Nordstrom (@jeffnords) April 30, 2018

I wrote,

3.0 out of 5 stars
Hagiographic devotional-biography.
By jeffnords on April 30, 2018
Format: Hardcover

Bought the book a couple weeks ago. It's OK. It's nice that they've made a biography of sorts. As a fan, it's nice to have a reference point to help fill in some of those gaps in his story.

It's hagiography. It essentially posits that Norman was flawed and misguided, but generally trying to do what he felt was right. I think people will get more out of the book if they treat it as a devotional more than a biography, per se.. Thornbury assumes certain Christian truths in his narrative that no journalistic biographer would assume. Thornbury leans heavily on the Larry Norman archives, which he appears to have gained access to, so the book ends up a highly sympathetic articulation of Norman's perspective. It does not appear that any of Norman's detractors were interviewed for the book.

However, since it was published under Penguin/Random House's Christian imprint, it fits. It's just worthwhile to consider its publication status--blessed by the Norman estate, published on a Christian imprint--lest one be disappointed by the book's hagiographic tone.

I hope somebody at some point decides to do a more journalistic biography on Norman. For now, this will do.

That's all for now.