If you want to know about Liz Phair’s musical career, you’ll be disappointed.

I am a long-time fan of Liz Phair’s music and was really excited to hear this. But there are about two sentences that given insight into that (literally), nothing more. There’s nothing about her trying to find her sound, recording any of her albums, or her development as an artist. There are some stories that revolve around performances, but the shows are very much in the background. I’m really disappointed.

The most generous thing I can say is that this book is about finding the beauty and meaning in the mundane. Phair does that well. She knows how to tell a story. But her narrative position is that her experiences are somehow more interesting because they happened to her and they aren’t. Everyone has had a grandparent die or misunderstood a culture. Everyone has been cheated on and gaslit.

I suppose if she had written from the perspective of the “every woman” she could have done more to identify the universality in her experience. That could have been interesting. But instead, you get the sense that she is completely unaware of the privilege with which she was raised. I don’t mean she hasn’t earned her place in the rock ‘n’ roll pantheon. She has and I will continue to love her music. But since she has chosen to only discuss personal vignettes she leaves all of that aside and we have to take her interestingness on faith. I al unconvinced.

If you enjoy personal essays about day to day life, you’ll like this book. If you want insight into art, creativity, and the nature of being an artist, this is not the book for you.

5 people found this helpful

My 90's heart rejoices

So many things, Liz Phair says here, needed to be said. So many of her stories, closely resemble my own. Thanks Liz, for speaking words I could not and sharing "our" stories. The stories of women who need to be heard.

4 people found this helpful

Even better than I expected

Liz Phair is a gifted storyteller. I expected a mostly behind the scenes memoir of her rocker life, and there is plenty about the music business and life on the road, but it is her insights on a range of her life experiences that are the most rewarding. Every man and boy needs to read her "hashtag" chapter on her own me to experiences and every woman should read it so they don't feel alone or don't unwittingly succumb to the exploitation. It's the best memoir I've ever read. She narrates it which just makes it all the more personal and authentic. Thanks Liz!

4 people found this helpful

Loved it!

I am a big Liz Phair music fan so I was excited to read (listen to) this! It is not like a typical memoir with a life story, but different meaningful points of her life that were scary or sad or times of change. The stories were very captivating. We all have those bad memories that stick with us and make us feel awkward or sad. Her writing is amazing. You feel like you are going through everything with her.

3 people found this helpful

Don't even consider wasting your time with this

Comically, I read several good reviews of this book, one even calling it "explosive." It is in fact a stultifying exercise in narcissism, related with an earnest tone and details as nauseum, as she obviously thinks she's a keen observer of unique events - she isn't, and they weren't. entire chapters consist of topics such as climbing a tree when she was a kid, feeling guilty for ignoring a passed out girl in a bathroom, feeling guilty about a dog, what her birth labor was like, how excited she was to hang out with Courtney Taylor-Taylor in NYC during a blackout, a conversation with a girl in a car who was going to get facial surgery the next day, an encounter with a makeup stylist who was crying because she got caught in the rain and her makeup smeared, an incident at a beach where she saw a guy beat his son and did nothing about it, and I have 10 chapters to go (which I won't be bothering with). she also manages to mention all sorts of details that let you know how wealthy and privileged her background and life has been. not sure what they publishing company was thinking when they financed this. It's an embarrassment.

2 people found this helpful

Lyrical and Beautiful

I really enjoyed this audiobook. The way Liz Phair writes is poetic and accessible. I felt myself there with her with such evocative, lush descriptions, and found myself nodding over and over again in agreement to her raw honesty. I was sad when it was over.

2 people found this helpful

Loved it!!!

I really love this book the author is incredibly candid and truthful about things that we all need to read more about

2 people found this helpful

Honest, Raw, Inspiring, hopefully Book

I love it I have to say that right off the bat. I wasn’t sure what I would think but I am a fan of hers so I thought let me give it a chance. I think the book is very honest she takes you to private thoughts and events it made me recall childhood memories long forgotten from listening to her book. It takes you through life events but with such careful accuracy it’s kind of incredible. I think a fan or not quite a fan will enjoy listening to her and her life accounts.
Just buy it already
Enjoy.

1 person found this helpful

Ugh

Growing up in Chicago during the same time as Liz... even having the same Rainbo photo booth photos- I’ve loved everyone of her albums. As a writer myself, I couldn’t make it though the chapters... it was so boring. She’s got another book in her for sure. If she says if she died tomorrow is she doing her best work with this book? Uh... no. I can’t wait for the real story of her life. The clock is ticking for all of us. A true fan who just wants more. 💔

1 person found this helpful

The music & beyond: Reflecting on an amazing life

Never a full moment in this rocker's life. a fun and deep reflection on Liz's childhood, career and attempt to be an adult. She does a great job narrating.