throatsprockets's review against another edition
2.0
I suspect that Gilmore heard that Aretha Franklin had died, flicked through a couple of biographies and knocked this out in a weekend.
rjproffer's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't really know a lot about Aretha Franklin before listening to this book. I feel like because of Aretha's secrecy and distrust of the media, we are only able to guess at details of her life, and the lack of her personal words and opinions I feel a lack of richness, though the prose almost makes up for it. It paints a beautiful picture of a young girl growing up in racial adversity and shining despite it all.
wanderlustlover's review against another edition
3.0
This book was very informative and straightforward, but I am uncertain that I really found myself loving it. It did fill in a lot of things I did not know, and was very curious to end up researching a bit more of the background of.
gigisxm's review against another edition
4.0
A life well lived. Not a frilly biography it does get gritty.
just_tosh's review against another edition
2.0
This audiobook would have been better by adding snippets of the songs mentioned. Other than that, it sounded as if the narrator read like an essay paper - very bland.
ltmurr's review against another edition
2.0
I understand that she was a private woman, but why is this story told through the perspective of the men in her life?
bookdragon_mel's review
4.0
It was difficult to rate this, as the first biography of Ms. Franklin that I have read. There is no doubt that the book pays homage to a rare talent, but I also found myself wondering if the picture it paints is balanced. No punches are pulled in painting the picture of a diva, someone defensive of her standing as best in her field and jealous of those who had the potential to be compared favorably. However, the quoting of multiple sources does lend support to the image that is presented. I enjoyed the book, even if the events related did give me pause at times.