Bjork: Wow and Flutter [Paperback]

Mark Pytlik (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2003

The life and music of Iceland's Björk Gudmundsdottir, from her origins as a burgeoning child star and her days spent training on the battleground of Iceland's notoriously seditious punk scene to her eventual emergence as one of pop music's pioneering figures, are explored in this comprehensive biography. Punk extremist, teenage mother, fashion iconoclast, fierce independent, emotional conduit, feminist antihero, reluctant actress, unabashed music geek, and lover-no side of the complex artist is left unexamined. Described are Björk's merging of naturalism with technology, self-empowerment with unflinching vulnerability, and elements of avant-garde and experimental music with her own irrefutably unique sensibilities. Containing a detailed songbook and more than 30 exclusive interviews with close family members, past band mates, and frequent collaborators, this is an exhaustive and revealing look at the life, music, and philosophy of one of modern music's most compelling innovators.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mark Pytlik is a music journalist who has written about music for a wide variety of publications, including The National Post, NME.com, HMV.com, Canoe.ca and Allmusic. He currently resides in Toronto, Ontario.

Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: ECW Press (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1550225561
• ISBN-13: 978-1550225563
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #191,190 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 86 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars i've been wow'ed and fluttered ;), June 26, 2003

By 

Jocelyn Stewart (eureka, california United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bjork: Wow and Flutter (Paperback)

first, let me start out by saying, i've been a björk fan for 10 years now. many unofficialy "björkgraphies" have been released over the years, and i've read every one of them. when i first noticed "wow&flutter" on amazon earlier this year, i thought to myself .. another one, meaning, another björk book i will read, and kick myself for not writing one myself ;)

when i got "wow&flutter", i quickly flipped through it to look at the pictures. saw several that i didn't have, flipped through the pages, noticed it had a song guide and a mini discography. so far i was impressed.

but tonight, i decided to read the book. i really wanted to since none of my friends had the book, and no one on the bjork.com 4um had the book either. so i would be the first in my circle of friends to explore.

the book covers björk from her birth to present day, even talks about the birth of her daughter this past october. the author, mark pytlik, i can tell is like me. he is a fan. not just a casual fan, not someone who just knew her as "the lady who wore the swan dress". that's what made reading the book so exciting. it is a book i can relate to.

while i don't want to "give away" everything in the book, i will tell you that reading this has made me even more excited about her (i didn't think that was possible!) i know this review probably sounds a little corny and a lot obsessive, so i think i'll just stop here :)

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed (pun intended), June 15, 2010

By 

Willow - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bjork: Wow and Flutter (Paperback)

I like the diversity of subjects this book covers -- her evolution, music, personal journey, sociology. I learned a lot about where she came from, her driving forces, and other things that were inspirational. Björk is a very inspirational person and musician, and any fan will definitely enjoy this book. Mark Pytlik researched his topic with excellence, and he is a great writer. I'd love to read a sequel Mark.