User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
5 stars. This was even better than I could have imagined, darlin'. Mariah Carey is an icon and one of my favorite artists of all time. I grew up with her music. I remember when I was a child I had both
Music Box and
Butterfly on cassettes (I'm showing my age, I know) and I wore them out. Literally. The tape had started to unravel on them both, that's how much I played them. I was fascinated with her sound, her voice and everything she did with it. Plus, it was always fun trying to do her whistle tone and failing miserably.
I digress. After reading this, a lot of what you see about her public persona starts to really make a lot more sense. Her childhood really played a huge part in that and it's something that she still struggles with. My heart hurt for her. Her family situation was nightmarish and I applaud her for getting away and making something of her self. She's also very honest about her struggle with her own identity as being bi-racial and I thought that was interesting as well.
We also get a lot of detail into her hellish marriage with Tommy Mottola. I mean, we already know he's trash but damn to read it in her own words of just how bad it was was even worse. If Mariah had actually listened to him she would've never crossed over into Urban and we never would've gotten the legendary
Butterfly album and that's just unacceptable. We also get the real tea about that infamous "Mariah Carey mental breakdown" from the
Glitter era and I think that had to be one of my favorite parts of the book just because I remember all of that happening so vividly, it was all over the tabloids and in the news at the time you couldn't avoid it. Let's just say everything isn't always what it seems.
Also, yes to her giving some background on two of my favorite songs from her! Crybaby from
Rainbow and The Roof from
Butterfly. I got all of my life from those little tidbits.
I loved this book. I love that this was therapeutic for her in helping her to finally move on and close the chapter of her life that was her childhood and that awful first marriage. I will say, the petty in me wanted some shade about She-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named but I guess Mimi
still doesn't know her. Oh, well. *Kanye shrug*
I read this on my kindle and I also listened to the audiobook. The audiobook is absolutely superb. Mariah reads it herself and she sings some songs and I just about died. It's a fabulous experience and I highly recommend going the audiobook route. Overall, a wonderful, raw and entertaining read. We expect nothing less from the Diva honestly.
Rating: really liked it
I am a HUGE Mariah Carey fan. Always have been. Anybody who knows me knows that this was one of my most anticipated reads for the last decade or so. I can definitely say that the juice was worth the squeeze. âïļ The story of her life, in her own words, is told in four sections:
-WAYWARD CHILD
Mariah has had a difficult life, and it was rough from the very beginning. Being biracial in predominately white neighborhoods, with a Black father and white mother, made her an easy target. This section explores her childhood, growing up with: an angry, emotionally abusive and sometimes violent older brother, a troubled older sister who became pregnant in her teens and turned to prostitution and drugs, a father who loved her, but didn’t understand her dreams of becoming a singer, and a mother who didn’t show her much affection and never stood by her side. She and her family moved thirteen times, and she never really had one place to call home. Through all the rare ups and many downs (one of the lowest was when her sister drugged her with Valium and tried to sell her to her pimp), Mariah stayed 100% focused on the grand prize...getting a record deal and finally having some stability.
-SING SING
When Mariah was a teenager, doing background vocals and demo work, she was finally able to record her OWN demo. In a bit of a Cinderella moment, her demo ended up in the hands of Sony Music President Tommy Mottola, a powerful man more than 20 years older than her. Although she felt some attraction for him initially, she really wanted stability...and thought that he would provide it. Instead, he had the home they built and equally paid for equipped with motion sensor cameras, recording devices, and fully armed security personnel. Tommy didn’t like to have Mariah out of his sight, which is why she nicknamed the beautiful upper NY mansion they lived in Sing Sing (as in the Prison). On top of that, Tommy was very unsupportive of her taking her music in the R&B/Hip-Hop direction (although most of her music had layers of these genres from the start). He didn’t like her discussing the Black part of who she was, didn’t like her Black friends, and made it his mission to control every aspect of her life until she was drowning in despair. He got worse as her success rose.
My two favorite parts of this section:
1. Mariah met Derek Jeter, a baseball player with the NY Yankees, as her marriage was falling apart. They fell in love very quickly, and although she didn’t sleep with him until after she found the courage to leave Tommy for good, Derek is the catalyst who gave her the strength to leave. He made her realize she was allowed happiness in her life. Although their relationship was short-lived, it’s clear she is so thankful for him and looks back on their time together fondly. There is also an ADORABLE picture of them in the book that makes me sad they didn’t make it.
2. Something I learned about only days before reading this is that Mariah secretly wrote, produced, recorded and released a grunge/alternative rock album in 1995. No joke! She recorded it simultaneously with the “Daydream” album as a way to let out angst and have some laughs. The album was released under the artist name, Chick. Mariah blended her vocals with her friend, Clarissa, on lead. You can totally hear her all over the album though. And as a bonus, Mariah recently stated that she is digging through her vault to find the original recordings with just her vocals.
-ALL THAT GLITTERS
After her divorce, and leaving Columbia Records, Mariah signed the biggest record deal ever with Virgin Records, and was finally able to add acting to her repertoire (something Tommy forbade). This section discusses the disappointing process of filming the movie “Glitter”, the sabotaging by her ex-husband (who had record executive spies report back to him about the soundtrack she was recording so he could take the samples she used, give them to one of his “artists”, and get that single released before Mariah’s so she wouldn’t be able to use the sample anymore), and Mariah’s so-called “breakdown.” The breakdown was simply stress, lack of sleep, and pure exhaustion. It’s also quite clear that her family sold her out, didn’t have her best interests at heart, and ultimately only cared about her money...ignoring her mental health. This section is scary and disturbing, and ultimately talks to the strength Mariah found in herself to pick herself up, dust herself off, and move on. What also helped was getting the right circle of support around her. “Not all debacles are created equal, dahhhhling.”
-EMANCIPATION
This section is about her triumphant return to the top. All of the pain and hurt and mistrust resulted in a phenomenal new decade for Mariah: Back at #1, albums with HUGE sales, record-breaking chart statistics, a hit film that won awards, new relationships, giving birth to twins, and finally feeling content. This amazing story of her life ends in December 2019, when she scores her 19th #1 single.
I tried to make this short and sweet, but that clearly didn’t happen. ðĪĶâïļ I enjoyed reading this more than I ever thought possible, and really appreciate how open and honest Mariah is about parts of her life she has never discussed before. I have a whole new appreciation for her as a human, an artist, a producer, and successful businesswoman. I also think this explains why she sometimes puts on her “diva” act in public. It all stems from insecurities. Truth is, she loves her fans, loves her children more, and has fought her whole life to get to where she is today. She writes that her family, friends, and lambs ð (Mariah fans) see beyond that, and she is right. Another thing I love is that her song lyrics are sprinkled throughout, most of which are autobiographical and point to specific situations in her life. I would be remiss if I didn’t bring up the humor. Mariah is FUNNY, and has some awesome, quotable material in here to lighten up a sometimes dark story.
All the stars for Mimi!
Rating: really liked it
RELEASE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SHUT. THE. FRONT. BACK. SIDE. AND GARAGE DOOR.
pre-order PLACED. this tea will FLOOD THE NATION! y'all better have your life jackets R-E-A-D-Y
Rating: really liked it
Audiobook...read by Mariah Carey
If you’re a die-hard ‘everything’ Mariah Carey
fan.... then this book will probably be a 5 star read.
Me.....( not a die hard fan)....
I like her fine — but not in a ‘fan-ship’ way.
I could only handle listening to this audiobook- a few chapters at a time. One can only hang out with a diva so long, before needing a break. Not pointing a judgement finger at Mariah—- it’s just that when my reality and stylized-living is so different — I simply needed to step off her platform for awhile.
I ‘am’ inspired by Mariah’s voice - ( I loved when she broke out into a song); her talent is exceptional.
Mariah’s sincere appreciation to her fans, and faith in God is moving.....
But....
at times I was bored - I wasn’t very interested in her closet, shoes, clothes, and thoughts on dating: I felt the details were neutral to flat.
It also wasn’t thrilling to digest Mariah’s blame of her white mother and black father either....( for not understanding Mariah’s feelings).
They didn’t live up to her dreams, or expectations. ( even though they both loved her)
Mariah didn’t sound forgiving—or complete, either. Not to me.....
but....
she uses her ‘unhappy experiences’ for her artistic endeavors.
Seems to work for her.
It ‘was’ interesting to learn about how her lyrics came to her ( from personal life experiences).
Stepping inside her creative head were my favorite parts.
The few times she broke out into song - was great.
I was left wanting more singing and less memoir-writing.
I found it deeply heartbreaking that her most prominent relationships in life: mother, father, sister, brother, ex-husband were complex, sad, bleak, frightening, confusing, dreadful, and often unbearable.
Overall:
Fair - good - not incredible. The writing, sharing, and editing was average.
3 stars
Rating: really liked it
4 stars âĻI remember listening to Mariah Carey all the time when I was a kid in the early 90’s. She has such an incredible voice and so many huge hits, but I didn’t know much about her. I was always a casual fan, but I have to be honest and say I didn’t know much about her life story aside from little things here and there that were in the media.
Books like this are the reason I love reading memoirs. You have no idea what people have been through/are going through. I love learning about people’s lives and listening to them tell their own stories. I think audiobooks, when the author narrates their own story, is the best way to read them.
I definitely feel like I have some insight to the life of Mariah and a new respect for her as an artist and a person.
Audio book source: Audible (purchased)
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Mariah Carey
Narration Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Nonfiction/Memoir
Length: 11 hours and 17 minutes
Rating: really liked it
All the stars of the universe! ð
OMG! I'm so touched I'm actually in tears!! Why did it have to end so quickly?? ðĨš
Oh God, where do I start? I've got a lot I'd like to say about this book, so bear with me ð
First and foremost, Mariah Carey has always been an inspiration and such a big reference in my life since my early teenage. Everyone who knows me knows that I'm a hardcore lamb and that I love this woman beyond words, not only on an artistic perspective but on a personal one ð
This woman has always been there for me through her songs. She's always accompanied my happy and sad moments. She's a lyrical genius that has words for quite every situation (and I sure as hell enjoyed the parts where she told us the stories behind each song. I also enjoyed the singing parts. Heaven). Not to mention the quality of her voice, her musical choices. I mean, come on, she's the best-selling female artist in history. Her achievements speak for themselves! ðĨ
I've always adored and endorsed this woman. And to get to know her on a deep level, OMG.. She's been through a whole lot!!! Yet she's never given up, and that's a lesson we should all learn ð
I chose the audiobook because I wanted to feel like she was right beside me telling her story to me in person. And it was magical!! When I first started the audiobook, I got teary-eyed on the spot. This is how I love this woman ð
Having this chance to get to know MC better is a huge chance, and I can't thank my dearest Oubeid for giving me the opportunity to experience this rollercoaster ride of emotions. I will be eternally grateful for this, because you don't know how much it means to me!! I can't wait to put my hands on the physical copy, which is also thanks to my wonderful friend Oubeid. Thanks a million, a billion, a trillion!! ð
Mariah Carey kept thanking us, lambs, for all the support, for making the impossible possible, for all the love, etc. She doesn't know that we are grateful ourselves for everything she's been giving us since 1990 (the year I was born). She gave us a part of herself, of her soul. She gave us inspiration. As any human being, she had her fair share of ups and downs, but to me she will always be THE diva, THE one! She will always be the best to me and no one can ever replace her âĪ
This book is a must-read! And you'd better listen to the audiobook, because it's a whole different experience. I can assure you! She made me laugh and made me cry ugly tears for her and what she's been through (especially those moments when she was on the verge of tears while telling her story). I'm still having tears while writing this review, OMG! She moved me on a deep level ðĨš
Oh, God! I've been rambling a lot, but that's Mariah Carey's effect on me. I mean, people suffer from reading slumps and I've been suffering a reviewing one (if it's a thing, haha). It's been a while since I last got the ability to write a decent review about a book I enjoyed, and Mariah made me spill the words I kept containing in my heart for so long. Well, that's simply MC! ð
My opinion of the book may be biased by my eternal love for Mariah, but I can't help it! One thing is for sure; if you're a Mariah Carey fan, you will absolutely love this book. But I can assure you that you would love it even if you're not a fan, because you will see MC under a different light. So give it a chance and show Mariah some so much deserved love ð
Rating: really liked it
"If Mariah wants fries, she's gonna get fucking fries." - Da Brat
Rating: really liked it
"I gave them so much money, especially my mother, and it still wasn't enough. They tried to destroy me in order to take complete control. The therapist made an obvious suggestion: if the could prove I was unstable, they certainly could have believed they would become the executors of my affairs. He asked me to look at them objectively- how they viewed the world, how they never really had consistent, legitimate work but still felt like the world owed them something. We all had varying degrees of tough shit to go through in our family, but in this way, we fundamentally differed. I didn't think the world owed me anything. I simply believed I would conquer the world I was born into, in my own way." (PAGE 266) Mariah got sued from brother and sister after the making of this book for the "falseness and lies" she portrayed of them.... Ummmm...
I was back and forth with a 4 or 5 stars but decided on the latter. I have been waiting for this book to be available at the library for so long. I finally got my chance to read it and enjoyed it. I grew up with her music but I don't know anything about her (just stuff I assumed) because she really was/is a private person.
The book starts out with her childhood and being the third mixed child of an Irish Catholic mother and a Black serviceman. By the time she was born it seemed that all the problems in the marriage and the older siblings started. Alfred Roy Carey and Patricia finally divorced when Mariah was a tender age of four. Her sister, Ali, got pregnant at 16, had the baby and then turned to drugs and prostitution eventually endangering Mariah's life to her pimp. Mariah and Patricia (eventually letting her violent older brother Morgan live with them) would move place to place all over Long Island sometimes with new boyfriends, into sad shacks and dirty apartments. She never felt safe and being in prominently white neighborhoods got bullied a lot upon learning her father was Black. At one point she was invited to a sleepover and the girls turned on her and started chanting the "N" word. No adult seemed to be around to help her. Another time she was in a Jewish production of "Fiddler on the Roof" where she was Hadel and when her Black father went to give her a bouquet of flowers everyone got quiet and stared at them. She never got invited to go back. She talks about the racism with hurt but not defeat. I think she just accepted it as part of her life and was confused because her parents didn't have the words to talk her through anything. She is definitely a survivor not a victim.
Then she delves into her marriage with Tommy Mattola. He was a father figure of sorts to the much younger woman. Eventually though he became the nightmare father that wouldn't let her go out, that wouldn't allow her to have friends he didn't approve of, have terrible rages that she soon feared. She was trapped but always looked for the light. No one helped her because they were all under Terrible Tommy's payroll. It was a dark time for her.
Not all is so dark and gloomy here. Mariah has stories without naming names (Uh, Hello Jennifer Lopez and 1998s VH1 Diva Live honoring Aretha Franklin where Celine Dion tried to outsing the honoree!) Funny little quips and 90s pop culture.
The reason why I went back and forth from my star rating was her snotty attitude for small houses people lived in. She really thinks super high of her albums and herself. It made me say "Yuck" a bit but this is her being herself and raw. Opening herself up for peace and more therapeutic purposes so I can't really knock her off a star. She likes big expensive things and lady worked hard. She had one goal in mind and she didn't let anyone take it away from her.
She mentions God a lot and talks about Him in such beautiful ways. I think she couldn't have done it without His grace and Love. She includes Scripture in her songs and I love that. It must be hard to be a Christian in any industry where morals have no place such as Hollywood and the music industry.
(A thought that I must keep saying over and over)
I highly recommend this even if you are no Lamb Lover. It is controversial and entertaining.
Rating: really liked it
I have enjoyed Mariah Carey’s music over the years, her anthems the type of song that one can sing along to over and over again. I have always been partial to Always Be My Baby for one reason or another. When I found out that she had penned a memoir, I was giddy. I know celebrity memoirs can be hit or miss so the best part for me is that I had zero expectations in terms of the quality of writing. All I desired was to be immersed in Mariah’s dream world for a few hours, where I could bop along to her music and discover the creative mind behind the song lyrics.
Like many celebrities and other famous people throughout history, Mariah Carey did not have an easy upbringing and had to overcome many hardships to make it big. Many people will note that she comes across as whiny on the pages, but, Mariah’s childhood made me want to cry. The product of an interracial parents, Mariah’s world straddled black and white, and she never felt entirely comfortable in either. Alfred Roy and Patricia Carey could not provide a stable upbringing for their children, and Mariah’s older siblings Alison and Morgan succumbed to drugs, teenaged pregnancy, and prostitution (Alison) and more drugs and violent tendencies (Morgan). Mariah’s mother Patricia moved with her youngest daughter to an all white Long Island neighborhood, cutting her off from paternal relations and roll models. Often they lived in a rundown apartment or shack, and Mariah could count the number of outfits she had on one hand. School was not much better because no one knew where to place her- black, white, or other. The one thing Patricia had going for herself, however, was her music. She was trained in classical opera, and, no matter how unstable her life was, she was determined to pass this love of music on to daughter.
Mariah got her first break in the music industry while still a teenager and eventually moved up the ranks from backup singer to top musician, hobnobbing with the who’s who of the industry in the process. She is the only female recording artist to have number one hits in four different decades, but, in the words of Langston Hughes, her life was not always a crystal stair. One of her first contacts in the music industry was producer Tommy Mottola, who could tell that Mariah was destined to be a star. He signed her, and eventually married her, keeping her a virtual prisoner for eight years. Meanwhile, all the songs she produced at that time became hits, and all she desired was to be free from Tommy’s spider web. It is little wonder to me that her symbol is a butterfly that eventually did break free, but the domestic strife she went through was as traumatic as the poverty she and prejudice she dealt with as a child. To this day, Mariah’s inner circle is a small few people, her siblings and mother not included. Either they wanted a piece of her earnings or to be associated with her new found fame, but not a relationship with their immediate family member. As with her divorce from Tommy, Mariah eventually “divorced” herself from her mother and siblings, and then her career took off.
As one who enjoys reading these celebrity memoirs, I enjoyed the pop culture mentions, especially Mariah’s relationships with Derek Jeter and Luis Miguel. I know the outcome, but I would have loved for her relationship with Jeter to have lasted- talk about an A-list celebrity power couple. There are anecdotes about performances and recording with Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, and queen of Motown Aretha Franklin. In each instance, it appears that Mariah has not forgotten her troubled roots and was starstruck at the prospect of appearing on stage with these rock and roll icons. At this juncture of her career, upcoming singers would consider her an icon as well, although Mariah would be the first to tell you that she is no where near Ross or Franklin status. With a new decade to chart her career arc in music and now acting, her career is just reaching a pinnacle. It will be interesting to see just what she will do in her second act.
Now a mother to Monroe- named after Marilyn Monroe who she is obsessed with- and Moroccan- after her love of the culture-, Mariah Carey is balancing her time as a mother and internationally famous platinum artist. She has not forgotten her roots and has paid tribute to both of her parents in her music. She is an example of living out one’s dreams. As a girl, all Mariah wanted was to be one of the bright lights of New York City. Now she is, with a penthouse right in the center of all of the action. It will be intriguing to see how her life progresses after exposing all that she went through early on for all the world to see. Hopefully it means even more material for her music, which is still rocking after more than three decades in the industry.
ðķ 3.5 stars ðž
Rating: really liked it
Food For Thought: Why didn't she name the memoir as Memoir Of An Imperfect Angel?
Updated Review as of 31/12/2020 (before we enter the new year, hmmm..)
I've finished reading this memoir some time ago but was too busy and lazy to write an in-depth review. And I still am but I took some time off to write this one.
Now, let me summarize my thoughts:
WHAT I'M DISAPPOINTED WITH:
Look, I'm a huge Mariah fan, listened to the entire debut and E=MC2 albums. But as she had boldly claimed that it's a very revealing memoir. Maybe my expectations were as just as high as the bar she had set for future female vocalists to follow.
* Eminem wasn't featured in this 'tell-all' book. Maybe trivial, but we would like whether did they have a short-lived fling with each other. This, in my book, is just a minor complaint.
* What irks me is nothing about her Idol moments was covered, especially her feud with Nicki Minaj. Since this book is supposed to reveal Mimi's vulnerable side, it struck me as disappointing since we definitely knew(unless you are a deluded stan) that Mimi was the one who had ignited the feud since she didn't like it that she wasn't the only the female judge on the panel. Also, I highly doubt Minaj was jealous of Mimi's success since they definitely have different styles of music and are incomparable to each other's.
* Just when you thought she would have given it a rest, nope you are wrong! If I were given a choice to read which account, I would have preferred Idol to the Divas' 1998 performance. Here, she had mentioned that Celine was trying to 'show-off' her vocals by trying to outsing Aretha that night. However, if you had watched the whole footage of the performance, one would easily know that they(Aretha and Celine) were having the time of their life and it, by no means, was a competition of who was the better singer. As for Mariah, her voice was shot (Butterfly era especially in 1998 wasn't her best vocal era. Sure, there were some good performances like the Patti Labelle's tribute, but most of the time she struggled with upper belts). Also, people were speculating that maybe Mariah wasn't comfortable since apparently Sony had pumped in more money for Celine than Mariah (eherm, Tomato Mozarella again at work)., however, I leave this to your judgement.
WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS BOOK:
* This memoir doesn't reveal just the things that almost all of us fans knew. Instead, readers will be shocked to find out her mother isn't a saint as we all had perceived her to be. I mean , her mom has only appeared publicly in Oprah's show and Mimi's O' Come All Ye Faithful song, so less is known about her. And to be honest, I thought her dad was vile and her mom a saint. How wrong was I until I read this book.
* The lyrics to her songs were mostly related to her real-life experiences. Okay, that we all know, but in what way? Well, readers are treated to snippets of some of her songs and their history. And you will be spoilt with her soothing breathy vocals if you listen to her audiobook. Heck, I listened to Alone In Love and that song immediately grew on me! Also, who would have known the song, Close My Eyes' concept was already conceived way before the Butterfly era?!
* I'm not Christian, but it amazes me how she thanks God for every achievement she has under her belt. It shows she's still very much down-to-earth, albeit the heavily publicised Diva moments in her career.
* Mariah was a prisoner in her early career, but when did it start? Why did she marry Mozarella in the first place? What were the behind-the-scene moments of the making of the Rainbow album? (3 months is especially very fast for any album to be completely produced).
Rating: really liked it
Heartbreaking, inspiring, moving, funny, revealing. Not a typical celebrity memoir. An incredible story about a person's resilience, ambition and will power to overcome their struggles all the way to superstardom. This book will make you cry, laugh, reflect on family relationships and give you a whole new appreciation and understanding of the real person that is "Mariah Carey".
Rating: really liked it
This book was good. Mariah wasn't as open as I had hoped she would be. I felt like she talked too much about the opulence that comes with being famous. I was less interesting in that. I already knew she lived in glorious homes and wore gorgeous gowns and shoes. I don't care about all of that. I wanted to get a better sense of who she is a person. She came across kind of shallow despite her childhood traumas. I was confused about that. I thought she would come across MORE humble because of the fact she came from such "humble beginnings". She seems very cutoff from reality. She did talk about being cutoff from pop culture, that part I understand. Yet, I don't think most regular people will relate to Mariah at all at this stage in her life (she has been famous and had money for so long...she is very cutoff). It was nice to hear her own voice since I listened to the audiobook.
Rating: really liked it
I want to make something very clear before I even start this review....Glitter both the movie and the soundtrack are ICONIC and won't accept any slander towards them.
Now on to the review!
Well not yet...First I give you my Top Ten Mariah Carey Songs
1. Always Be My Baby
2. Baby doll
3. The Roof
4. If It's Over
5. Fantasy (The ODB Remix)
6. My All
7. The One
8. Breakdown
9. Touch My Body
10. All I Want For Christmas Is You
Honorable Mentions
1. Honey
2. Anytime You Need A Friend
3. Forever
4. We Belong Together
5. H.A.T.E.U.
6. Dreamweaver
7. Heartbreakers
8. One Sweet Day
9. I Stay In Love
10. Crybaby
If couldn't tell I'm a huge Mariah fan. Other than Beyonce, Mariah is my favorite artist. I don't remember I time when Mariah's music wasn't being played in my house. My mom and older sister loved her from day one. I can't explain to someone who isn't a fan why we love her so much. Mariah has just always felt like she was writing songs just for us her fans. If other people enjoy them I'm sure she's happy but those of us who will buy any album she releases are her true audience.
From listening to her music I knew that she hadn't had a happy childhood and that her first marriage was not great but reading this book was harrowing. Mariah is tough as nails and I truly don't think I could have survived the things she dealt with. I'm going to listen to all of her songs with a new perspective...especially her Butterfly album. That's my favorite of her albums and now that I know the sexiest songs on that album are about Derek Jeter....Chile!! Oh Baby!!!
I think it's obvious that I loved this book. I put off reading for so long because I was afraid that I wouldn't like her after reading her book but instead I love her even more.
All the Recommendations!
All the Stars!
I Love Mimi!
Now I just need Beyonce to write her book and than I can die happy.
Rating: really liked it
I rarely get angry at a book, but I’m there. I picked up Mariah Carey’s autobiography as a casual fan. I know some songs, heard some high notes, and that’s about it. Not many preconceptions.
But something is wrong. The first chunk of the audio book, voiced by Carey, is crazy. I’m not sure whether it’s an autobiography, revisionist history, a dream sequence, notes from a therapy session, a public relations relevancy exercise, or a manifesto.
Then the real narrative begins, and follows Carey’s journey to stardom. And it’s so completely different from the opening salvo, a completely different voice. The start is mired in rabid description. The remaining pages are unfocused, totally scattered. There is a common thread - nearly everyone mentioned in this book gets thrown under the bus, viciously. The book then loses most of its steam and just falls away.
This book is not fun. Carey’s memories are miserable. Her conclusions are not healthy. The book takes on current racial theming, but comes perilously close to exploitation. Carey is obviously not in a good place. But then again, maybe it’s all intentional, a vengeful and victimized diva persona.
Whatever, I’ve spent way too much brain power on this exercise, I need to learn to accept DNF leanings and I don’t. That’s my takeaway.
Rating: really liked it
This was an 11 hrs and 17 minutes wild ride. I now walk away with an even better understanding of Mariah and all she's achieved and somehow my love as a fan has grown even more for her.
Hearing her narrate the audiobook herself really made this one rise above. She doesn't do bleak narrations. Instead she talks to you as if you're a friend she's telling stories to. Anyone who is a fan is familiar with her mannerisms that are ever present here. Even if you are the biggest stan and thought you knew Mariah well this was full of information you've never heard. This was a book for the lambily definitely and chock full of quotable moments even during the more sad and difficult times. However even someone who isn't the biggest fan could listen to the animated audiobook and enjoy.
This isn't a book that's going to address all the tabloid fodder. This is Mimi at her most open and raw recalling the events that shaped her to be the person she is today. All the highs and lows, people she's lost and gained, and how she's persevered.
Full in depth interview on my blog
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot....
