Music Memoirs

Looking for books that are both entertaining and straight forward? Music memoirs are a fun way to learn about the events behind your favorite performer's career. The story lines are often similar (though that's part of the fun) – a tale of a dreamer, who kept working at his/her craft, either with or against his/her parent’s wishes, proved everyone wrong, went through periods of darkness and doubt, often formed a substance abuse disorder, but rose above and conquered the world, then perhaps (depending on how career-expansive the memoir is) was humbled once again when the new band line-up proved less popular with fans, or they had a drug relapse, then they eventually found spirituality…or something like that. Here are a couple I’ve read recently that I have really enjoyed and below is a link to more of the library’s music memoirs in print and digital formats. Although the print formats may not currently be available while the library is closed, you can add them to your reading list!


Not Dead Yet by Phil Collins


The drummer and lead-singer of Genesis, and solo-artist, shares about his working class upbringing (in contrast to his British public school bandmates), how the drum set he received at the age of three formed who he would become, his early beginnings playing with bands in the swinging 60s clubs of London, and his struggles balancing work and fame with family life (admittedly, not well).  I listened to the audiobook version, narrated by Collins himself. Collins is a good storyteller and hearing him talk about his life is a treat. You can tell he’s a very reflective person and tries to be as honest and candid as possible. Although he does share some of the darker aspects of his life, specifically his affair that led to his third wife, and his period of heavy alcohol abuse in the early 2000s, I often had the feeling that he wasn't sharing everything, or that he was making sure not to hurt his "nice-guy" persona, but hey, you can only degrade yourself so much. Overall, Collins is very likable and tells his story with wit and grace. The only downside of the audiobook is you don’t get to see the photographs from Collins' life that are included in the print version.


Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back) by Jeff Tweedy

Chicago-based alt-country/rock musician and leader of the influential band, Wilco, Jeff Tweedy writes with his kids in mind. You can tell family means a lot to Tweedy (a similar theme that went through Collin’s book) as he reflects on his upbringing, his closeness to his mother and (to a lesser extent) his distant alcoholic father, and how his wife, Susie, helped him through many of the dark points in his life. In fact his love for his wife and kids are some of the most endearing parts of the book. It’s also hard not to get caught up in his excitement about some of his first gigs and meeting some of his idols in the early chapters. Tweedy's unique personality shines throughout. He's a humble, quiet guy, who can joke about his anxiety and neurotic quirks. Although, like the Collins book, it feels like sometimes Tweedy glosses over some of the darker sides of his life—the depths of his pain-killer addiction, feuds with former bandmate, etc. He does write about them often, but maybe it's that he doesn't feel proud of himself. I can't say that about the authors of the next book.


The Dirt by Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx, Mick Mars, Tommy Lee, and edited by Neil Strauss

This may be one of the sleaziest of memoirs (although I haven’t read Stephen Pearcy from Ratt's book, Sex, Drugs, Ratt Roll, which I heard may take the cake). Readers who shy away from reading about glorified tales of debauchery should avoid this one. This one is completely over-the-top. Any terrible thing you could think of somebody doing, probably happened in this book. Like me, you’ll likely find yourself disgusted and in awe, often simultaneously. This one is quite the opposite of the previous two memoirs. Instead of glossing over the darkness, the guys in Mötley Crüe revel in it; brag about it. Alternating between perspectives of each band member, it’s a behind the scenes glimpse of the excess of 80s rock star culture. It's often laugh out loud funny when one band members' story contradicts another, leaving one to wonder how things really played out. Through all the sleaze, there are tragedies in each band members life that force them to grow - for example; Nikki Sixx's several heroin overdoses, or the death of Vince Neil's 4-year old daughter Skylar to cancer. You don't have to find the band likable to find this sociologically fascinating! Note: The Netflix film of the same name does a pretty good job condensing and capturing the tone of the book.

What's Next?

One book I'm looking forward to read is Girl in a Band by Kim Gordon because I'm a big Sonic Youth fan and I'd like to read about her perspective on the grunge scene of the 90s (a genre their band is often thrown in with, but predated) and playing in a mostly male-dominated profession. I also have The Beautiful Ones by Prince in my to-be-read pile because the movie Purple Rain only gave me a small taste of what the performer's life, and the Minneapolis music scene of the 80s, was like.


Click here for music memoirs in print and CD audiobook


Click here for digital music memoirs


What music memoirs have you really enjoyed? Share in the comments.

C-SPL Reader of the Month: Hannah Burke

The September C-SPL Reader of the Month, Hannah Burke, frequently volunteers at libraries—from helping out at her elementary and middle school libraries to currently offering her services at Carnegie-Stout. She also loves buying second-hand books because 1) they're inexpensive and 2) she enjoys reading the margin notes from previous owners.

Q. Can you tell us about your reading interests in general?

A. I read a lot of fiction and am naturally drawn to realistic fiction because I can only suspend my disbelief to a certain extent.  I also really enjoy movies so I find myself reading novels and then watching the film adaptation to compare.  The books are always better of course.  In my opinion, books are better able to provide character development and background in a more cohesive way.

Q. What is the best book you have read within the last year (or ever)?

A. Based on what I’ve read in the last year, I would have to go with either Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn or And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie.  I haven’t read many mystery novels, but I really enjoyed these two.  They are incredibly interesting stories and I had a hard time putting them down.  The twists and turns in these stories had me hooked from the beginning.  I have a really hard time picking one book to call my favorite so here are my top five: Room by Emma Donoghue, Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn, Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg, and The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood.

Q. What is your ideal reading environment (location, sound, snacks, etc.)?

A. I tend to read either in my bed or some of the local coffee shops. Unplanned background noises take me totally out of the story so I usually have my earbuds in with an album playing to block out the sound of other people. I’m not much into eating while reading because I find it a bit distracting and I hate the thought of getting a book dirty!

Q. What book are you most excited about reading next and what about it is most exciting?

A. I am really excited to read Little Women by Louisa May Alcott because the latest film adaptation is set to release this winter and I love the cast and director so I have high hopes for it! 

Q. What book has been the most challenging for you to read? How did it challenge you?

A. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou was a pretty tough read.  It was rough reading about all of the hardships in her life. From childhood abuse to teen pregnancy, Maya Angelou had to overcome some terrible things in her life.  Reading this book makes you appreciate her writing and her grace all the more. 

Q. When do you decide to stop reading a book? (In other words, do you read every book to the last page, or is there a moment when you decide to stop?)

A. I try to make it through about 50 pages of a book before I give it up.  If a book hasn’t gotten me by then, I have a hard time imagining it will hook me at all.

Q. Do you remember when your love for reading began?

A. I always liked reading but didn’t have much free time in high school to read for pleasure. Luckily, my literature teachers always picked a great list of novels for us to read and discuss in class.  Literature was always my favorite class because I loved all of my teachers and had a genuine interest in the subject matter.



Check out more of Hannah Burke's Favorite Books

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See the past C-SPL Reader of the Month blog posts here.

Want to be the Next C-SPL Reader of the Month? Apply here.

Staff Review: Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

When a book I've read becomes a movie or a TV series, there's one important question I ask myself: will they do the story justice or will everything be changed and ruined? I'm here today to (hopefully) help you answer that question for one book turned movie.

If you read an enjoyed Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan, should you go see the movie? Yes.

If you've seen and loved the movie, should you check out the book? Maybe.

I had Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians on my To Read list since I first saw the (original) glittery cover five years ago. I finally found the time to read it this summer because a) I've reached peak wedding season in my social group and b) I really, really wanted to finish before seeing the movie. It can be frustrating to watch a movie and have events or characters you loved in the book removed or changed, but I find that if I watch a movie first, I'm less likely to read the book since I more or less already know what's going to happen.

Crazy Rich Asians combines rom-com and soap opera plots with descriptions of extreme luxury, and just a touch of modern fairy tale fantasy. As a reader, the numerous mentions of luxury brand names could be a little bit exhausting, and this is one area where the movie surpasses the book. It's much easier and less distracting to show a character wearing a gorgeous, expensive outfit (or car or house) than it is to read several sentences describing that outfit.

As a reader, it helped that one of the main characters, Rachel Chu, was equally out of place in this world, and that several of the characters more intensely invested in over-the-top consumerism were used as comic relief. Not that Kwan was arguing that wealth = bad, more of conspicuous wealth = bad manners.

Some of the other changes between page and screen were more significant, but I felt like they made sense for the story and characters. I don't want to spoil anyone, so I'll try to be general. The book explores the ways that extreme wealth and unequal power balances can harm relationships by comparing several different characters' experiences, while the movie narrows its focus primarily to Rachel (our average woman) and Nick (our dashing prince).

Born in China, but raised in America by her single mother, Rachel has created a comfortable life for herself in New York City as an Economics professor. When her handsome, fellow-academic boyfriend, Nick Young, invites her to spend their summer break visiting his friends and family in Singapore, she's happy to join him on an adventure. Nick, however, did not tell Rachel that his family and friends are the elite of Singapore, nor did he warn his family about their relationship, leaving his mother to assume that Rachel is a gold-digging embarrassment.

I enjoyed Kwan's descriptions of his native Singapore, the foods, places, peoples, and hints of its history and culture. I'm also a sucker for a good love story, and I feel like Rachel and Nick earn their happy ending, but that Kwan left enough potential for drama to justify the two sequels. In fact, it's fairly likely that I'll be picking up China Rich Girlfriend (book two) to read next summer.

~Sarah, Adult Services

#ComicsWednesday: Atomic Blonde: The Coldest City by Antony Johnston & Sam Hart

I really enjoyed Mad Max: Fury Road (a.k.a. the car chase movie with interesting female characters), so when I saw previews for Atomic Blonde, another action film starring Charlize Theron, I was excited. So before I saw the movie, I checked out the comic it was based on, The Coldest City (the library's copy is retitled Atomic Blonde: The Coldest City to tie in with the film release), and I can tell you that the comic and the movie are meant for different audiences.


The Coldest City was written by Antony Johnston and illustrated by Sam Hart. Hart's striking black and white artwork with its focus on the characters set the story's emotional tone for me as a reader. I admire Hart's use of shadows to convey the way that secrets were hidden and revealed. The plot was an unremarkable spy story with twists and double crosses I didn't find all that surprising, though the story's setting in Berlin just before the wall came down marking the beginning of the end of the Cold War was interesting.

The plot follows a hunt for a list of the true identity of all spies active in Europe (more or less a MacGuffin) and features a female character in a sea of men who underestimate her. Regardless of the book's historical setting, I expect more from a book written in 2012 than I do one written in 1989, and found this choice exhausting.

The film adaption largely removes the importance of sexism to the plot, and swaps two speaking roles from men to women. However, when you add in the film's increased emphasis on graphically violent action sequences, this change is problematic at best (spoilers). The filmmakers also place a great deal of care into the soundtrack and some strikingly colorful visuals, creating a very different tone from the comic.

The movie was okay, but I prefer action movies with an emphasis on fun over gritty (the above gif was maybe the only funny part). What I really appreciated about the film was the way it made me reexamine my experience of the comic. At first read, The Coldest City seemed bland and predictable, but the movie helped me to appreciate its comparative subtlety and how the use of an unreliable narrator creates space for ambiguity.

~Sarah, Adult Services

Let the Mind Games Begin

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins is the latest psychological thriller to make its way from page to screen.  Rachel Watson (Emily Blunt) is in a deep depression after going through a divorce and turns a little to often to alcohol to numb her pain.  Everyday on the train she sees this perfect couple, a couple she feels is the embodiment of true love.  Then the woman disappears and Rachel was seen in the area.  The thing is, Rachel can't remember what happened due to blacking out and losing time after drinking too much.  If you are a fan of psychological thrillers, this one has quite a twist at the end.

For more dark and twisty stories here are a few books and movies you should try.

I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh
Five-year-old Jacob is killed in a hit and run, an event that sends the police in search of the driver. Jenna Gray flees to Wales to mourn the loss of her son and recover from her past. As the anniversary of Jacob’s still unsolved death approaches, a tip to police results in an arrest and a very different picture emerges. This self-assured debut combines jaw-dropping moments with complex, believable characters and an ending that is hard to see coming. (Jennifer Winberry for LibraryReads)

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (also a feature film)
When Amy Dunne disappears from her Missouri home, it looks like her husband, Nick, is to blame. He claims he is innocent, but he doesn't seem truthful.  But this isn't just a simple case of a husband killing his wife to free himself from a bad marriage.  There is something more sinister going on.  Told in first person narratives with multiple perspectives, Gone Girl is a truly frightening glimpse into a souring marriage. Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike play Nick and Amy in the 2014 feature film.

The Pocket Wife by Susan Crawford
What is a pocket wife? It is a wife whose husband barely gives her the time of day. This describes Dana Catrell perfectly. One day Dana drunkenly argues with her neighbor, Celia and then Celia turns up dead.  Dana can't remember what happened, did she kill Celia?  Even her husband thinks she had something to do with the murder. The Pocket Wife is a gripping, character-driven mystery.

The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison
Jodi and Todd have been married for 20 years, theirs is the perfect marriage.  Unless of course you count Todd's many infidelities and Jodi turning a blind eye.  Then one of Todd's indiscretions turns serious and he tells Jodi he is leaving her, but Jodi isn't going to let Todd go that easily.  Canadian author Harrison delivers a smart, gripping debut novel.  (According to IMDB the movie based on this book is "in development").

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
An intruder in the middle of the night leaves Lo Blacklock feeling vulnerable. Trying to shake off her fears, she hopes her big break of covering the maiden voyage of the luxury cruise ship, the Aurora, will help. The first night of the voyage changes everything. What did she really see in the water and who was the woman in the cabin next door? The claustrophobic feeling of being on a ship and the twists and turns of who, and what, to believe keep you on the edge of your seat. (Joseph Jones for LibraryReads)

 

Gone Baby Gone (2007) 
Adapted from the novel Mystic River by Dennis Lehane, Gone Baby Gone is an intense look at the inside an ongoing investigation into the kidnapping of a little girl in Boston.  As the detectives get closer to finding her, nothing is as it seems and the danger intensifies.  Starring Morgan Freeman, Michelle Monaghan, and Casey Afflek.

Zodiac (2007, based on the book by Robert Graysmith)
Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo, and Robert Downy, Jr., this thriller follows investigators and reporters as the hunt for the Zodiac serial killer who has been terrifying San Francisco Bay area and taunting police with letters and ciphers.

Side Effects (2013)
Emily Taylor, despite being reunited with her husband from prison, becomes severely depressed with emotional episodes and suicide attempts. Her psychiatrist, Jonathan Banks, after conferring with her previous doctor, eventually prescribes an experimental new medication called Ablixa. The plot thickens when the drug has chilling and deadly side effects.  Starring Channing Tatum, Rooney Mara, Jude Law and Catherine Zeta-Jones
 
Shutter Island (2010, based on the book by Dennis Lehane)
Leonardo DiCaprio and director Martin Scorsese team up in this psychologial thriller about a U.S. Marshal investigating the asylum for the criminally insane on Shutter Island.  As the investigation unfolds, the marshal, Teddy Daniels, uncovers shocking and terrifying truths about the island. 

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009 or 2011 Also a book by Stieg Larsson)
A journalist is aided by a young computer hacker as they search for a woman who has been missing, or dead, for the past 40 years.  The original Swedish version (2009) and the English language adaptation (2011) are both supremely chilling thrillers, not for the faint of heart. 

Lock your doors and let the mind games begin.

~ Amy, Adult Services

New Movies - If you like it, you should put a hold on it!

Have you looked at our movies lately? Carnegie-Stout Public Library has a lot of fantastic movies, old and new. We are getting new movies in all the time. Check out our website, or come down to the library to find out the latest and greatest releases on DVD and BluRay.

If the movie is on the shelf right now, we can pull it for you tomorrow. If it is checked out, you will be in line to get it when it becomes available. Ask a Librarian at the Recommendations Desk if you have questions. We are always happy to help. We love movies too.

Read the 2015 Oscar Nominees

Several of the films nominated for a 2015 Academy Award (or 12) found their origins in books. Books which you can check out from Carnegie-Stout Public Library!

Room by Emma Donoghue

A fast-paced and suspenseful novel told from the perspective of five-year-old Jack, who has lived his entire life in one small room with his mother, held captive by the whims of her kidnapper. Though this novel is somewhat disturbing, it might appeal to some older teens.

The Revenant by Michael Punke
A story of survival and vengeance in the Dakota wilderness of 1820. Andrew Henry's adventurous life prepared him well for the day he was abandoned to die by the men tasked to care for him after a vicious bear attack.

Brooklyn by Colm Toibin
Eilis Lacey left Ireland for a chance of a better life in America, but discovers much more when she meets the handsome Tony. A lyrical and richly detailed look at life in 1950s Brooklyn, and the growing pains of a young woman torn between home and new opportunity.

The Martian by Andy Weir
A suspenseful story of survival in extreme conditions that has appeal for readers who might normally avoid science fiction. No one expected astronaut Mark Watney to be abandoned on Mars, least of all Mark or he would've packed an MP3 player.
This title is also available as an eBook.

The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith
This romantic 1952 novel by Patricia Highsmith was originally published under a pseudonym due to the scandal and controversy of a story about two women falling in love. The 2015 film was released as Carol.

The Danish Girl by David Ebershoff
This thoughtful story of love and change is based on the lives of a historical couple, Einar and Greta Wegener, and the challenges they faced as Einar transitions to life as Lili.

The Big Short by Michael Lewis

(330.973 LEW) A thought-provoking, yet accessible look at the complicated economics and plain old greed that led to the housing market bubble and resulting recession. Author Michael Lewis is also responsible for two other notable movies based on nonfiction titles: Moneyball and The Blind Side.

Books and Movies: The Martian by Andy Weir

Think of some synonyms for "intense" and any one of them will perfectly describe The Martian by Andy Weir. Agonizing. Fierce. Excruciating. Harrowing. (I could go on, but I won't.)

Astronaut Mark Watney is stuck on Mars. (What?) He was with his crew when a dust storm hit, separating them, and the rest of the crew evacuated and headed back to Earth, believing he's dead. (No!) But he's not. He's alive. On Mars. By himself. Watney wakes up, realizes he's all alone, and instead of bursting into tears like I would, he gets to work, attempting to contact NASA and grow food (on Mars!), all while keeping a video log. His crew finds out that he's alive and are torn as to whether or not to go back for him because while they feel guilty about leaving him, going back for him could mean their deaths if they run out of supplies. (Because there are no grocery stores on Mars.)

The Martian has been made into a movie starring Matt Damon as Watney. It also stars Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor (starring in his second book-to-film of the year, the first being Z is for Zachariah) and Kristen Wiig. Check out the trailer and read the book if you haven't already. The movie comes out on October 2.

Books and Movies: Black Mass by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill

Black Mass: Whitey Bulger, the FBI, and a Devil's Deal by Dick Lehr and Gerard O'Neill is the story of John Connolly and James "Whitey" Bulger. The pair knew each other when they were children and grew up to take different paths (Connolly becoming an FBI agent and Bulger becoming a career criminal) until they met again when Bulger became an FBI informant. While working together to dismantle the Italian mafia in Boston, their plans lead to multiple murders, drug dealing, and racketeering and they both, eventually, (Bulger was able to evade capture for 16 years) end up in prison.

The intriguing, crime-filled lives of Whitey Bulger and John Connolly are perfect for a movie so of course, one was made. Black Mass opens in theaters tomorrow, September 18, and has a great cast, including Johnny Depp as Bulger, Joel Edgerton as Connolly and, Benedict Cumberbatch as Bulger's brother Bill. Dakota Johnson, Kevin Bacon, and Adam Scott also star.

You Read the Book (Maybe), Now See the Movie (Maybe): Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Gillian Flynn, author of the bestseller Gone Girl, made into a movie starring Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike, now has another book that's been made into a movie.

Dark Places tells the story of Libby Day who was seven when her mother and two sisters were murdered. Libby testified that her 15-year old brother, Ben, was the killer. Twenty-five years later, she is leading a troubled life and is contacted by The Kill Club, who believe Ben is innocent and that the actual killer is free. Starting to doubt what she saw on the night of the murders, Libby agrees to work with the group and goes back to her hometown to relive the murders.

It's another thriller from Flynn and the movie (see the trailer here), starring Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, and Corey Stoll, looks to be as tense and riveting as Gone Girl. The movie opens on August 7.