Hi all -
I'm thinking we ought to regroup at the end of September for our next
meeting. August is CRAZY.
I have another book suggestion:
Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness, or My Life as
a Fabulous Ronette
By Ronnie Spector
I stumbled across this book in a list of the top 20 best rock biographies
of all time, and read a sample of it. I was immediately drawn in by the
intersections of being black, female, in an abusive marriage, and handling
fame in a time when feminism was on the rise, practically unheard of in the
music industry. In the excerpt I read, it was evident right away that she
uses honest humour as a narrative style, written in the first person.
Here's the overview from Rolling Stone that hooked me:
The New York doll of the Ronettes
<https://www.rollingstone.com/artist/the-ronettes> had one of rock & roll's
biggest voices. She also had one of rock & roll's most famously nightmarish
marriages, as she was practically kept captive by Phil Spector
<https://www.rollingstone.com/artist/phil-spector> for years. But if you're
looking for self-pity, you'll be disappointed, because her book, like her
voice, is full of cocky, smart, self-aware humor. And yes, in case you were
wondering, it totally sucked to be married to Phil Spector.
If anyone has any other suggestions of books/activities, no problem - I did
choose the last one after all! I'm a sucker for music biographies and will
eventually read this anyway, but thought it would be appropriate for our
group, with enough time for everyone to get into it.
As well, I do have the e-book (actually paid money for this one LOL), so I
can send it to you in whatever digital format you require for your
e-reading pleasure!
Thoughts??
Hope you're all having a wonderful summer.
Danae
