John Osbourne, "I Am Ozzy" (2009)

Ok, so this is a bit of a departure from the fare I traditionally write about here. I am a big Ozzy fan, however, and this bit of fluff seemed like a nice palate-cleanser for 'on the subway' reading. And it was. There's nothing here that will greatly surprise fans of Ozzy or Sabbath. Most of the stories have been told before. They are entertaining nonetheless, and much of the tone of Ozzy's speaking voice is kept in the text (I presume these are more or less transcribed stories told by Ozzy to some nameless assistant). There is more information than I expected about Ozzy's personal life - his first wife, his kids, and Sharon's role in his life - and much less about the dynamics, discoveries, and excesses of his musical career. For those who've never known much about Ozzy, this is a simple, informative, and pleasing primer. If nothing else, it's a short, simple book that won't tax your brain, while giving you some intriguing insights into the development of the 1970s music industry, and a rock icon who has been reduced to a bit of a parody.