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jackiepreston's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
skelleybean's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
kokonatsu's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug abuse and Physical abuse
kelly_e's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
4.25
Title: Me
Author: Elton John
Genre: Memoir
Rating: 4.25
Pub Date: October 15 2019
T H R E E • W O R D S
Candid • Glitzy • Surreal
📖 S Y N O P S I S
In Me Elton John details his extraordinary life. From dreaming of being a pop star as a kid to early rejections, to touring the U.S. for the first time at twenty-three, to spinning out of control as a chart-topping superstar to getting clean and changing his life, John's memoir details the ups and downs of his storied life and career.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I always love a good celebrity memoir, because it's so tough for me to imagine what life would be like being famous, and Me did not disappoint. Elton John held nothing back. Writing with raw honesty, he doesn't paint himself exclusively in a positive light rather taking the reader along for all of the highs and lows, revealing his quirks along the way. As a reader, I was given an inside look into so many parts of his life that I had no idea about. I really appreciated how he connects to the reader with universal struggles, and how they contrast with some of the unbelievable experiences of his life.
Maybe this is to be expected, but for me there was just a little too much name dropping, celebrity gossip, and cussing, which ended up detracting from my enjoyment.
At the end of the day, this is a story of redemption and overcoming some of the harshest struggles, all while living life in the fast lane. If you're thinking of picking this one up, I highly recommend the audio and it pairs well with the Rocketman movie.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Elton John followers
• fans of audiobook memoirs
• readers who like redemptive stories
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"You want more time, you need to learn to live like this, you have to slow down."
"I had no idea how to live, but I didn’t want to die."
"Sometimes, you just have to step up to the plate, even if the plate is miles outside your comfort zone."
Author: Elton John
Genre: Memoir
Rating: 4.25
Pub Date: October 15 2019
T H R E E • W O R D S
Candid • Glitzy • Surreal
📖 S Y N O P S I S
In Me Elton John details his extraordinary life. From dreaming of being a pop star as a kid to early rejections, to touring the U.S. for the first time at twenty-three, to spinning out of control as a chart-topping superstar to getting clean and changing his life, John's memoir details the ups and downs of his storied life and career.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I always love a good celebrity memoir, because it's so tough for me to imagine what life would be like being famous, and Me did not disappoint. Elton John held nothing back. Writing with raw honesty, he doesn't paint himself exclusively in a positive light rather taking the reader along for all of the highs and lows, revealing his quirks along the way. As a reader, I was given an inside look into so many parts of his life that I had no idea about. I really appreciated how he connects to the reader with universal struggles, and how they contrast with some of the unbelievable experiences of his life.
Maybe this is to be expected, but for me there was just a little too much name dropping, celebrity gossip, and cussing, which ended up detracting from my enjoyment.
At the end of the day, this is a story of redemption and overcoming some of the harshest struggles, all while living life in the fast lane. If you're thinking of picking this one up, I highly recommend the audio and it pairs well with the Rocketman movie.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Elton John followers
• fans of audiobook memoirs
• readers who like redemptive stories
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"You want more time, you need to learn to live like this, you have to slow down."
"I had no idea how to live, but I didn’t want to die."
"Sometimes, you just have to step up to the plate, even if the plate is miles outside your comfort zone."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Minor: Cancer, Suicide, and Death of parent
bethsbooketlist's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Wow - I did this on audio and i think it's one of the best I had ever listened to. It was Taron Egerton mostly narrating and his voice was so enigmatic and had my full attention from start to finish. I have always been fascinated by Elton John's life, especially after watching the film Rocketman, and his book dives so deep into different areas of his life. But the thing that really hit me is how much he has experienced and gained in life, but how much he has significantly lost. So many close friends - his chosen family - lost and a lot of these through traumatic circumstances. His family life had a lot of toxic moments, just like his first real relationship. And he is extremely open about it all - his diva behaviour, his addictions, the way he has treated people and himself with disregard throughout his life. He is no angel, he is just apologetically him. And it was such a brilliant, brilliant listen ❤️ can't recommend it enough
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
bwaymadeline's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
love you elton
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Cancer, Death, Physical abuse, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
elisetutt's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Enjoyable read and I liked that he didn’t censor his mistakes and the problems he’s had in his life.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Physical abuse, and Death of parent
ilana_pop's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.5
From Reggie’s childhood to the birth of Elton John, from the rocking seventies to the hazy nineties, from singing in a Donald Duck costume to celebrated music maker.
A candid memoire written in a fascinating way, with incredible humor, honest and raw, moving, compelling… including tantrums. One of my favorite artists in all honesty.
Elton John has lived the real '70s pop star life' you imagine when you hear the words '70s pop star life'. A colorful period with crazy outfits, sex, drugs and rock and roll… He experienced it from the front row (or rather from the stage) and paints a particularly intense portrait of the period. Mercilessly honest, he doesn't shy away from exposing the ugly things as well. His drug and alcohol addiction are discussed in detail, as is his eating disorder. It's not a happy story, but it's part of the story. There is so much to discover about him.
An incredibly layered person who writes great music, lost a lot of people, lived a completely crazy upside down life but also laughed and loved a lot.
A man who has lived many lives himself. A man who has had meaning in many lives. Has stood on the barricades against homophobia and AIDS. Dared to go against the press and paparazzi and stand up for themselves.
An artist whose music I already loved, but now I also respect it very much as a person.
The impact Elton John has on music yesterday, today and tomorrow across different genres is huge. Rock, disco, classical, pop, musical, film… He has done just about everything, a real musical centipede. And boy, can that man sing and write music. Not everyone is a fan of his music (which is completely okay) but you can't deny the impact he has on music.
I listened to the audiobook and highly recommend it for long car rides. The full book narrated by Taron Egerton, who also plays Elton John in the great movie Rocketman, is available in full on Spotify.
The impact Elton John has on music yesterday, today and tomorrow across different genres is huge. Rock, disco, classical, pop, musical, film… He has done just about everything, a real musical centipede. And boy, can that man sing and write music. Not everyone is a fan of his music (which is completely okay) but you can't deny the impact he has on music.
I listened to the audiobook and highly recommend it for long car rides. The full book narrated by Taron Egerton, who also plays Elton John in the great movie Rocketman, is available in full on Spotify.
After 12 hours with Elton, it feels like saying goodbye to a friend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Murder
faithtrustozdust's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
4.75
A week ago I did not know anything about Elton John beyond the cursory he's gay and he wrote Your Song. I picked up this book after watching Rocketman and instantly falling in love with it and wanted to get his memoir to know more. I have come out of this book a true fan and excited to dive into his music. The book has such a warm conversational tone (helped by the amazing Taron Egerton who reads the audiobook!) that makes the funny parts laugh out loud hilarious, and the more serious parts hit me like a ton of bricks.
In particular I was touched with the way he discussed meeting and falling in love with his husband and them having their sons. Yes the stories about rock and roll legends are hilarious. Yes his story about getting sober was deeply moving. But hearing a queer person, an older queer person, have a fulfilling and happy marriage and two amazing sons, was so touching to me. Stories like that are far too rare.
Even if you don't think you like Elton John, I insist you pick this up. There really is something in here for everyone, and you may come away like I did as a new fan.
In particular I was touched with the way he discussed meeting and falling in love with his husband and them having their sons. Yes the stories about rock and roll legends are hilarious. Yes his story about getting sober was deeply moving. But hearing a queer person, an older queer person, have a fulfilling and happy marriage and two amazing sons, was so touching to me. Stories like that are far too rare.
Even if you don't think you like Elton John, I insist you pick this up. There really is something in here for everyone, and you may come away like I did as a new fan.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Emotional abuse and Physical abuse