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A review by caitlyn888
Lord of the Dance: My Story by Michael Flatley
1.0
As someone who Irish danced for 10 years, watched "Feet of Flames" on VHS religiously, and even saw Michael Flatley live a couple years ago when he brought "Dangerous Games" to Chicago, I figured this autobiography would be of interest to me.
Also, fun fact: One of my dance teachers actually hung out with Michael Flatley back in the day, and she said he was incredibly full of himself.
This book proves that statement to be true, a hundred times over. I powered through 48 CHAPTERS of Michael Flatley telling the reader 1) how wildly successful he is in everything that he does, thanks all to himself and his hard work, 2) how obscenely rich he is, 3) how many, many, MANY women he's slept with and simultaneously cheated on but who somehow still think he's great, and 4) how any failure he did face was other people's fault. I had to approach this grandiose writing from a humorous mindset to ensure I wouldn't lace up my old hard shoes and treble all over the pages 'til they shredded.
The way he recalls key moments in his life is like reading an overly dramatic movie script. He walked for HOURS through Chicago as a little kid just to get to a music shop so he could ask for flute lessons, but the whole place ROARED WITH LAUGHTER when they saw his pitiful instrument. When he finally broke up with the sexy 19-year-old woman he was a "slave" to, he chased her through the pouring rain, bought a whole stand of flowers, and swept her into his arms for a long kiss goodbye just before she got in the taxi. Gimme a break.
And this so-called journalist who helped Michael Flatley with this book contributed by interjecting into Michael's story with interviews from friends and family of Michael who all continue to confirm just how GREAT he is and how he was always destined to be a winner. (He cured his sister's depression! He bought everyone a Mercedes Benz!) We get it, he is a god amongst men. Never has a journalist been so blatantly starry-eyed in their report of a celebrity. It was as if he pulled every single positive quote about Michael Flatley that exists in the newspaper archive. I should've known this book was going to be an eye-roller when I saw that the first page is a quote from Nelson Mandela saying that we need more people in the world like Michael Flatley.
To be fair, Michael Flatley is an amazing dancer and showman. He is incredibly determined and does not give up on his goals. And he really did reinvent Irish dance with his wildly successful show, "Lord of the Dance." I appreciated reading the parts about Irish dance itself. But this was wholly overshadowed by ego. (And many typos. Was there even an editor for this book?)
Guess the old saying is true - don't meet your idols.
Also, fun fact: One of my dance teachers actually hung out with Michael Flatley back in the day, and she said he was incredibly full of himself.
This book proves that statement to be true, a hundred times over. I powered through 48 CHAPTERS of Michael Flatley telling the reader 1) how wildly successful he is in everything that he does, thanks all to himself and his hard work, 2) how obscenely rich he is, 3) how many, many, MANY women he's slept with and simultaneously cheated on but who somehow still think he's great, and 4) how any failure he did face was other people's fault. I had to approach this grandiose writing from a humorous mindset to ensure I wouldn't lace up my old hard shoes and treble all over the pages 'til they shredded.
The way he recalls key moments in his life is like reading an overly dramatic movie script. He walked for HOURS through Chicago as a little kid just to get to a music shop so he could ask for flute lessons, but the whole place ROARED WITH LAUGHTER when they saw his pitiful instrument. When he finally broke up with the sexy 19-year-old woman he was a "slave" to, he chased her through the pouring rain, bought a whole stand of flowers, and swept her into his arms for a long kiss goodbye just before she got in the taxi. Gimme a break.
And this so-called journalist who helped Michael Flatley with this book contributed by interjecting into Michael's story with interviews from friends and family of Michael who all continue to confirm just how GREAT he is and how he was always destined to be a winner. (He cured his sister's depression! He bought everyone a Mercedes Benz!) We get it, he is a god amongst men. Never has a journalist been so blatantly starry-eyed in their report of a celebrity. It was as if he pulled every single positive quote about Michael Flatley that exists in the newspaper archive. I should've known this book was going to be an eye-roller when I saw that the first page is a quote from Nelson Mandela saying that we need more people in the world like Michael Flatley.
To be fair, Michael Flatley is an amazing dancer and showman. He is incredibly determined and does not give up on his goals. And he really did reinvent Irish dance with his wildly successful show, "Lord of the Dance." I appreciated reading the parts about Irish dance itself. But this was wholly overshadowed by ego. (And many typos. Was there even an editor for this book?)
Guess the old saying is true - don't meet your idols.