jcpdiesel21's review against another edition
3.0
I haven't regularly listened to Amos' music since her heyday in the 90s and early 00s while I was in high school and college, yet felt distinctly drawn to this book. Although the end result is a little too scattered to add up to something that really packs a punch, the portions that work provide some interesting insight into to her writing process, inspirations and stances on a wide range of topics. It's amazing how several of her songs immediately came flooding back into my brain after just reading the lyrics listed before and after each passage. At the very least, this book has helped me rediscover the beauty and power of Amos' musical oeuvre.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this title.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this title.
katekate_reads_'s review against another edition
4.0
Is there an artist or album or song that takes you right back to a certain time in your life? For me - one of those albums is Little Earthquakes by Tori Amos. I hear it and immediately time travel to fall of 1997.
It’s really incredible the power that music has - to remind us of a time, to amplify or change our mood, to make important statements, to teach us to look at something differently.
I didn’t read much of the description of this book before starting it - just got excited about a new book by Tori Amos. I expected it to be like other songwriter books I’ve read - a memoir interspersed with some behind the scenes info on song lyrics.
This book has a bit of that - but really it’s more about ways artists can really use their art/music to amplify a political view. Amos covers a lot of heavy topics through the book - female genital mutilation (fgm), sexual assault, September 11th, the 2016 political election - but all through the lens of her music and art.
I learned that when touring - Tori Amos doesn’t have a set list she uses every night. She works to make each show appropriate to what’s going on in that location - and really works to learn what the issues are in that place.
I learned a lot from listening to this book and recommend it, especially if you are an artist or musician. Even if you aren’t (I’m not) - there is a lot to take away from this read.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.
It’s really incredible the power that music has - to remind us of a time, to amplify or change our mood, to make important statements, to teach us to look at something differently.
I didn’t read much of the description of this book before starting it - just got excited about a new book by Tori Amos. I expected it to be like other songwriter books I’ve read - a memoir interspersed with some behind the scenes info on song lyrics.
This book has a bit of that - but really it’s more about ways artists can really use their art/music to amplify a political view. Amos covers a lot of heavy topics through the book - female genital mutilation (fgm), sexual assault, September 11th, the 2016 political election - but all through the lens of her music and art.
I learned that when touring - Tori Amos doesn’t have a set list she uses every night. She works to make each show appropriate to what’s going on in that location - and really works to learn what the issues are in that place.
I learned a lot from listening to this book and recommend it, especially if you are an artist or musician. Even if you aren’t (I’m not) - there is a lot to take away from this read.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.
efabri123's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderful insight bringing new meaning behind the songs of one of my favorite musicians. I'm so glad Tori wrote this book. I now have new perspective into music that I've been listening to since I was twelve. A goddess among us, Tori Amos is one of the most underrated creative geniuses of our time.
kindledspiritsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve been a massive fan of Tori Amos ever since I stumbled across a copy of Little Earthquakes when I was in my early teens. This book is such a gift for fans of hers - it’s a mixture of autobiography, song commentary, life advice and above all a guide for artists on how to continue to create and use your art and your gift to resist and rebel in these troubling political times. The chapter on Silent All These Years, my favourite song of hers, moved me nearly to tears. I recommend listening to the songs she’s discussing as you read, it really enhances the experience.
thebookofdanny's review against another edition
5.0
The music of Tori Amos has been a huge part of my life for 17 years, I discovered her music at 16 and it's been like my spirit guide. I love every damn song she's ever written and damn girl, she's written a lot. This book really emphasises her altruism, she writes of the events surrounding her life and the music gifted to her from her muses. She refuses to take sole credit for her oeuvre, instead she sees herself as a co-contributer with the aforementioned muses (seriously, if you're not a fan this will get on your nerves quite quickly) and the stories she's been told by her fans - she's just a "vessel".
What a woman.
What a human.
What a woman.
What a human.
allanvdh's review against another edition
5.0
Insight to a really powerful woman that Tori is.
Understanding her thought process in writing some of her songs and hearing about her compassion for her fans and her family is a truly heartening experience.
Having been a fan of Tori Amos from high school it’s amazing to hear her read her story on how she keeps up the good fight and how her muse works.
Understanding her thought process in writing some of her songs and hearing about her compassion for her fans and her family is a truly heartening experience.
Having been a fan of Tori Amos from high school it’s amazing to hear her read her story on how she keeps up the good fight and how her muse works.
overmonroeville's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.5
sheena_00110101's review against another edition
I'm not what you would call a fan of Tori Amos. Not that I dislike her or her art, she's someone I definitely have admired from a far given what I knew, but I'm not interested enough to spend more time on this. Read at an incredibly slow pace. And tied to her songs but since I don't know her songs, so it read (audio) very odd and random to me.