Finished this one recently and have many, many thoughts about it.
First, I relate to her childhood abuse and the lifetime of trauma that follows. Her love/hate relationship with her mother is familiar. I’m sad that she struggled to escape the distractions that most of us survivors turn to for comfort or for camouflage. Makes me realize that I am tough as hell and God’s love and mercy have no bounds.
Second, I appreciate her love of music and her disdain of the music business. It is clear that she loves music when she says that “music is for the things that cannot be discussed.” It is just as clear that her jaded view of the business may not be that jaded. “Kids are the market, but you have to keep them believing they’re worth less than the stars or they won’t think they need what the stars are selling.”
Finally, while I find her trauma and PTSD relatable, I struggle with her inability to learn the elusive discipline of selflessness that adults must learn when becoming parents—responsible for another human’s life as only made possible by divine intervention. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever attempted and struggle with it daily (along with the PTSD) but I will not give in—Jesus said he’ll help me.
So, that’s pretty deep review of an artist’s biography of which I’m not even a real fan. Glad I read it and maybe I’ll check out more of her work and become a fan. Thanks for the recommendation, Mrs. King.
Other favorite quotes:
“It’s hard to recollect what I wasn’t present at.”
“No one in the industry wants their top floors threatened by either the wrong skin color or the wrong mindset—that is, anyone who cares about truth.”
“…you go to therapy to find out there’s nothing wrong with you.”
MyKillerBlog 