Nobody Ever Asked Me about the Girls: Women, Music, and Fame

 Nobody Ever Asked Me about the Girls: Women, Music, and Fame  by Lisa Robinson  242 pages

Description from Goodreads: "From the effects of fame on family and vice versa to motherhood and drugs, sex, and romance, Lisa Robinson has discussed every taboo topic with nearly every significant living female artist to pass through the pages of Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair.

Here, in Nobody Ever Asked Me About the Girls, her interviews with and observations of fabulous female pop and rock stars, from Tina Turner and Alanis Morrissette to Rihanna, show how these powerhouse women, all with vastly different life experiences, fell in love with music, seized their ambitions, and changed pop culture."

The chapters in this book are divided into topics, which makes it interesting but also means that the author jumps around a lot and it doesn't usually feel like there is a good thread going. I found some of the book interesting but I also found it overall to be a frustrating read. It's clear that the author has clear admiration for Joni Mitchell, Patti Smith, Linda Ronstadt and Beyonce. She has clear disdain for Taylor Swift. And that's fine - that's her opinion. But, her focus on certain women leaves out so many others --- there's token mention of some women, but I really wish she had been a little more inclusive. Beyonce is great but what about Salt-n-Pepa, and Queen Latifah? What about Tori Amos? Thinking back to artists of the 1970s, what about Debbie Harry? Carly Simon? Diana Ross?  I felt like she was exclusive to women she felt a connection to, but it felt like I was reading about the same handful of women in each chapter.

Gold Dust Woman

Gold Dust Woman: A Biography of Stevie Nicks by Stephen Davis     320 pages

This is an unauthorized biography, although it was clear that the author had done a lot of research and also worked with Mick Fleetwood on Fleetwood's own memoir.  Per the Goodreads info, "Gold Dust Woman gives "the gold standard of rock biographers" (The Boston Globe) his ideal topic: Nicks' work and life are equally sexy and interesting, and Davis delves deeply into each, unearthing fresh details from new, intimate interviews and interpreting them to present a rich new portrait of the star."

I didn't know that much about Stevie Nicks, although I own a few of her CDs, as well as a copy of Rumours by Fleetwood Mac.  I've read bits about her over the years and when this book got a number of good reviews, I picked it up as soon as it hit the library.  I found it to be an interesting read, although the author's personal tone comes through at times.  Which is fine, although the book can sometimes come off as being pretty critical of Nicks. However, if this were a book that made it sound like Nicks was a perfect person, it wouldn't be accurate.  I appreciated that the author went into a lot of detail about Nicks' life and her artistic process, as well as how her decisions would have far-reaching impact on not only her own work but the work of other musicians.  If nothing else, it gives me a little more insight into Nicks' own music, which I've started listening to again after reading this book.

Instrumental

Instrumental:A Memoir of Madness, Medication and Music by James Rhodes     304 pages

This memoir is unapologetic, candid, outspoken, bold, somewhat harrowing and at times, a little funny.  It's less about his life than it is about the therapeutic powers of music and how his passion for music has been his lifeline (and saved his life).  Each chapter begins with him writing about a particular piece of music and included at the beginning is a link to a site where you can hear all of these pieces.  I liked that bit, because you can read the chapter, then go back and listen to that particular piece.

Admittedly, I found parts of this book difficult to read, which is expected because Rhodes has lived through some pretty horrendous abuse.  I also didn't find him likeable. Interesting enough to read this memoir, yes, but I wouldn't want to have him for dinner, and I definitely think his intensity about classical music would wear me out.  And that's coming from someone who has studied classical piano.  However, I can appreciate his writing about music, and how it can be transformative and life-changing.

If Not for You

If Not for You by Debbie Macomber Book 364 pages

This is the story of Beth and Sam. Beth is a friend of Nichole, the protagonist of the book A Girl's Guide to Moving On, so if you liked that one you will like this one. Two people who couldn't be more different and yet circumstances pulled them together and they can't (or rather don't want to) pull apart. This book is a case for the old adage "opposites attract". A woman from a sheltered, gentile background meets a rough man with a chip on his shoulder and cynicism in his eyes. Filet mignon meets hamburger basically, both are good but you wouldn't normally catch them together much less going well together.

This book was typical of the author. It starts off as the two people not really caring for one another but indifference gradually morphs into attraction. The story is a nice one with a predictable ending. The characters are semi-believable and semi-lovable but not particularly enigmatic and I don't think they were written to be so. Debbie always does a good job telling a story, there are never any lulls in the middle. One guarantee is that there will be a lot of emotion and this book was no different. One can tell she really puts thought into saying "they kissed" or "she was hurt" as many different ways as is humanly possible. That in and of itself is no small task. So if you enjoy romance and take comfort in knowing how the story ends, you will enjoy If Not for You.

The Disenchantments

The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour, 308 pages

I'm not sure I should be allowed read books like this. For the first 1/3 or so, it has this all-too-familiar feeling, where main character Colby is in a fight with a friend - someone that he cares about too much to leave or do anything against - and thus is left with only one option: batten down the hatches and pout. It may sound like I'm making fun of him, but I'm actually so familiar with the tactic (and the book is written well enough) that it basically transferred that mood, that feeling, to me. I was reading the book, pouting on Colby's behalf, as though I were the one in an argument with no leverage. That's a strong statement, when a book makes you empathize that way.

The characters all start as disheartening band-on-a-roadtrip stereotypes, but break out of them pretty quickly, and all but shatter those stereotypes by the end. There are a few too many instances of "sage characters with a lesson to impart," and the last chapter or so feels like it can't decide if it's gotten its message across, so it keeps throwing out "profound statements" hoping one sticks. But everything in the B section of this A-B-A journey is intelligent and emotionally resonant, and most of the As aren't bad either.

The characters are great (one of the side characters in particular is great enough I wish I could discuss them here), and their motivations and reactions are believable. In the end, this is the kind of book that makes you believe in the goodness of people, without coming across as sappy or patronizing. A wonderful read with a few small hiccups.

Bellweather Rhapsody

Bellweather Rhapsody by Kate Racculia
340 Pages


 The book opens with Minnie Graves complaining about the bridesmaid's she has to wear for her sister's wedding.  As she wanders through the hotel she comes across the scene of a murder/suicide. 

Fifteen years later the Hatfield twins are traveling to the same hotel for a statewide music festival.  Minnie is also returning to the hotel to confront her ghosts.  When Alice's roommate Jill is found hanging in the same room, Alice calls for help only to return and find the body missing.  Everyone is a suspect and Alice and her twin Rabbit must find out what happened.

The strength of the book is not the mystery but the way the author describes the world of music and how the performers create new experiences through their playing of music.  The end is actually a mish-mash with too many plot lines and red herrings coming together.  The book has moments of very good writing but attempts to do too much.