Simon and Schuster Canada, 2010
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT’S TIME TO REALLY MEET THE BEATLES.
For John Lennon, a young, idealistic zombie guitarist with dreams of global domination, Liverpool seems the ideal place to form a band that could take over the world. In an inspired act, Lennon kills and reanimates local rocker Paul McCartney, kicking off an unstoppable partnership. With the addition of newly zombified guitarist George Harrison and drummer/Seventh Level Ninja Lord Ringo Starr, the Beatles soon cut a swath of bloody good music and bloody violent mayhem across Europe, America, and the entire planet.
In this searing oral history, discover how the Fab Four climbed to the Toppermost of the Poppermost while stealing the hearts, ears, and brains of smitten teenage girls. Learn the tale behind a spiritual journey that resulted in the dismemberment of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Marvel at the seemingly indestructible quartet’s survival of a fierce attack by Eighth Level Ninja Lord Yoko Ono. And find out how the boys escaped eternal death at the hands of England’s greatest zombie hunter, Mick Jagger.
Through all this, one mystery remains: Can the Beatles sublimate their hunger for gray matter, remain on top of the charts, and stay together for all eternity? After all, three of the Fab Four are zombies, and zombies live forever. . . .
From Simon and Schuster Canada website.
Word of warning: make sure that you don’t have to pee before you read ANY of this book. Why? Because it’s freaking hilarious! And I mean that. This was one of the funniest books I have read in a long, long time, if not ever.
As soon as I read the premise of Paul is Undead, I knew it was going to be funny. But I honestly didn’t expect it to be as funny as it was. Told in a series of interview snippets, we get to hear from the Fab Four themselves and a whole slew of others, including Hunter S. Thompson and the Queen herself. Oh, and Jesus. Yes, folks, Jesus makes an appearance. And he curses.
One of the funniest characters for me was Mick Jagger, zombie hunter. The scenes where Mick is trying to take down The Beatles were over the top and just perfect.
I loved Goldsher’s sense of humour. I mean, there were times I was laughing but kinda felt icky about it, you know? Sort of like when you see an old lady slip on a piece of ice: you know you shouldn’t laugh, and maybe in the moment you don’t. But as soon as you are away from prying eyes? Yeah, you laugh your ass off.
I’m not a huge fan of The Beatles,(everybody gasp!) so I have no idea how accurate the book is as far as their rise to fame. The hubs is an uber fan and as I read the book and chatted with him about stuff, he knew what I was talking about so that’s a plus. I am familiar enough with the band to know that Goldsher took traits that each is known for and either exaggerated them, or turned them upside down. John Lennon has, hrm, a wee bit of an anger problem while Ringo, a 7th level Ninja, still pretty much does what the others want.
Goldsher’s next book is also a mash-up, this time about FrankenElvis. Uh,huh, you heard right. If it’s half as funny as Paul is Undead, I know I’m going to love it. With all the literary mash-ups out there and the fact that the genre is getting pretty saturated, these celebrity mash-ups are coming at just the right time.
Paul is Undead was a right good read and I hope that others eat it up like I did.
*No celebrities or old ladies were hurt in the making of this review.
Thank ya Simon and Schuster Canada for the review copy. Thank ya very much.
Browse inside Paul is Undead.
Lavender Lines 
This sounds hilarious, but maybe not one for me. Not being a huge Beatles fan (possibly due to my age?) it just doesn’t strike me as something I want to read.
Yeah, this book may not be for everyone. But honestly, it was so hilarious and I love zombies so even though I wasn’t a huge Beatles fan I loved this book.
I hadn’t heard of this book, but I think it sounds pretty funny. Am now asking our library to get a copy. 🙂
You’ll have to tell me what you think of it once you read it.
Wonderful, hilarious review! I definitely have to get this book now!
You should def pick it up. I laughed all the way through it.