I'm about three quarters of the way through NO SURRENDER, Johnny Rogan's biography of Van Morrison. It's also a decent little social history of Northern Ireland, but the main impression is one of wonderment that a man with such little personal grace can produce such exquisite music. Plus, it's hilarious the lengths Rogan will go to in his quest to prove Morrison is the Ian Paisley of rock. "Here's a picture of Paisley in his cossack hat - and look! Here's a picture of Van in a hat a bit like it!"