Rating: 
Summary: Too many "More on this later" comments, piques your curiousi
Review: This is a poorly written book on a subject, Aretha Franklin, whose talent I greatly admire. The book doesn't do her justice as she has a great deal more class than the book would leave you thinking. Why include a street fight that she had as a child? We know more about the food she ate than important details that are glossed over, such as the men in her life and a certain diva that she didn't get along with at a White House appearance. Aretha seems to be defending herself from so many comments made about her mother and what others said about her in the press without giving us enough of her side of the story. Many instances are brought up about various people in her life without giving us enough information and leaving us dissatisfied. Will someone please write a definitive biography about this fascinating woman? This one doesn't add anything to our knowledge of her.
Rating:
Summary: The Queen of Soul Is Petty
Review: I love Aretha's music. She and Etta James are my favorite singers in the whole world. But I dislike Aretha's attitude and this book in another example of it. Why is the Queen of Soul so petty? Her feud with some of the biggest divas of all time disturbs me deeply. This book does the Queen no justice. It really makes her look bad. She avoids talking about heavy subjects like her parents, her husbands and her brothers, but rips into her sisters Erma and Carolyn like there is no tomorrow. It's amazing that she was the one with all the fame and glory, but is still jealous of her sisters (who by the way was AMAZING singers). I also HATED how she kept talking about food all the time. As I was reading this book, I started timing her to see when the next subject of food will pop up. This book is trash. I am no closer to learning about the Queen. The only thing that I learned from this book is that she is PETTY. I will forever love her music, but I can do without her pettiness and meanness.
Rating: 
Summary: Like other fans, I don't like the putdowns
Review: While I wasn't bored by this book (as a musical retrospective of her career, it is good) I was put off by Aretha's comments about other singers. She comes off as cold, arrogant and self-serving. I was particularly disappointed in her comments about Cissy Houston and especially Gladys Knight (she says that Gladys has been under "stress" due to "career disappointments" and that she will pray for her. Whatever). That is a cheap shot and Ms. Knight is totally undeserving of that comment because 1)despite some lows, Gladys Knight has had many successes in her career and 2)it only makes Aretha look petty. While Aretha does give herself too much credit in terms of her musical influence (humility is not one of her strong points), you cannot deny how integral she has been to the growth of modern pop/soul music. I did enjoy reading about the making of the "Amazing Grace" album and its aborted film project (which remains unrelased, unfortunately) as well as her years at Atlantic and Arista, respectively. It would have been nice if there was some additional text from her music producers and collaborators. I do recommend the book if you are interested in reading about her music career. But just hold your tongue whenever her pen embarks upon writing about other female singers.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Reading...For Whatever That's Worth
Review: I mostly enjoyed her accounts on blackmusic history, for example, meeting Sam Cooke, Dinah Washington, andMarvin Gaye which actually proved most interesting in her book. Ican't deny her talent for I have a great CD collection of hers so shewill always be the Queen of Soul to me. But you won't find anything deeply soul-searching here. Many times she comes off as being too "Little Richard-y", trying to give the impression that gospel would have never made the charts if it wasn't for her. Or better yet, her son was the first dancer to wear a suit and tie on Soul Train (perhaps he should get an award for that-Whoooo!) Yeah, like Aretha and her family started it all.... She also does not really set the record straight about "lies" in the press. No self-defense whatsoever. All she wrote was that Natalie Cole lied, Cissy Houston lied, Mavis Staples lied, Time Magazine lied about her and Ted White...Lied about what? Aretha, tell your side of the story otherwise the so-called "lies" will just keep perpetuating. Or perhaps they might have been a little "true" but you can't get a decent rebuttal going for fear of contradicting yourself? And why is it that so many people are rude to you? Like one of your lovers saying something nasty to the press? She doesn't mention much about her personal life,just what she wanted to reveal, which was fine by me because it didn't seem too relevant. And it's not necessary to reveal her children's father's names either-I mean, she WAS underaged at that time. But she did drop a lot of other people's names like there was no tomorrow (most of whom I wouldn't know or give a darn about) and named just about every food place that she's been to. And the weight, she knows what's behind that, she just won't let out a lot of things. Overall, I really didn't think this book was horrendous nor was it a spectacular novel. But if you are satisfied with knowing but so much about the Queen (and what she's been eating), then this is the book for you. It is a quick, interesting, and sometimes amusing read. END
Rating:
Summary: "These roots" are tangled and nappy.
Review: I belong to a book club, in which several of those members have commented on this book. I withheld my comments(mainly because i didn't read the book in its entirety) but now i have done so and I am ready to speak (Derrick, Shayna,watch out). I was terribly disappointed in this book. I am saddened to reveal that I share the views of the many who reviewed this book since print-And I adore this woman- but how could she be so delusional and misleading. From the babies to her ode to sing, sing, and sing, I did nothing but shake my head in sympathy that such a talented woman can be caught up in such a state of confusion and denial. She seems to offer no remorse to her family for her behaviors, especially after they appearingly raised her children in her absence. She speaks very little of the children and does not even offer the reader a glimpse of their faces. I was a bit saddened for her, as it appears that she still has not dealt with the desertion and eath of her mother, which she tries poorly to write off as a lie. Her not being reared by her mother, however, clearly explains her relationship with women. She is a tad cruel and condescending towards her sisters, acting as if they were always trying to take from her or begrudge her. And when she finished with them, she moved onto the cousin. I am sure they could write a pretty memoir on her, as well. I mean, this attitude that eludes from this book, I sincerely hope this is not the real Aretha, for if it is, I truly feel sorry for her and everybody around her. I really wish I had held my ground and never read this memoir. For all you others out there who truly love this woman, this is not the book to read. p.s. However, Aretha Girl, I want to give you a bravo for romancing Dennis Edwards. He was absolutely gorgeous in our day.
Rating:
Summary: Queen of Soul... falls off her throne.
Review: Lord have mercy! I bought this book when it first came out in 1999, but I had to re-read it. For some reason due to purchasing her latest projects "SO DAMN HAPPY" and " ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM "I began to pick up her book and skimming through it, also I am a member of a church whom my Pastor was a protege of Rev CL Franklin. I remember watching Aretha on Oprah during the time the book first came out. Oprah was very standoffish because Aretha's attitude in answering certain questions. Aretha is talented in every sense of the word, but I really don't understand how she has gotten away with being so ARROGANT, SELF CENTERED, AND POMPOUS. I'm sorry but somebody needs bring her down to humility. It's been almost five years since the book has been written so maybe she has changed because of the reaction from her fans towards the book. No regrets, no advice about those wanting to be in the music business, no shame in being a preachers daughter having sex at 13 years old (I'm sure a devout Christian like BIG MAMA had to be embarrased about her pregancies, I know she and the other church mothers were shaking their heads.) Having four different baby daddies!!! Running from one man to the next! Glamourizing disputes with other entertainers- Natalie, Gladys, Cissy, Mavis, Luther, and the "INNOCOUS COMMENT" about another singers escort at the WHITE HOUSE. I don't believe Ms Franklin is proud of this book! I don't understand a Man of God like Rev Franklin would push his daughter into singing secular music and the lifestyle that was associated with it. I believe Aretha would have been a great asset to the Body of Christ in sticking with Gospel. Aretha didn't talk about her sons, daughter in laws, grandchildren, how she feels being a grandmother. NO DEPTH ABOUT CERTAIN AREAS ABOUT HER LIFE. Her latest project "SO DAMN HAPPY" is excellent especially the songs "GOOD NEWS", "WONDERFUL" and "YOU ARE MY JOY". Keep on putin out the hits MISS REA, PLEASE WRITE A TRUE BACK-UP TO YOUR MEMIOR. PEACE OUT.
Rating:
Summary: The Queen hits numerous flats with this book.
Review: Lord, I love me some Aretha!!! But I sure don't this book. what was she thinking y'all? Was she ever a guest star on Fantasy Island because it's obvious she never left. I mean, no sense of reality here. Her odes of advice giving and support to Whitney, Natalie, and Lauryn were so laughable, for it seems that they can offer her some useful tips. I wanted to know why she split from Glynn Turman. Didn't happen. I also wanted to know about the drastic chnage in her Atlantic years that resulted in their lack of promotion in their once most prominent star in the late 70's. Didn't happen. And just of glimpse of her sons would have been nice. Grandkids, if any. This book was horrible. She blames everybody else for the wrongs in her life and takes no accountability whatsoever. So sad. and then the blatant lies!!!
Give me a break-she couldn't remember why she wasn't married in her dad's church to Ted White. And 'who's' drinking ultimately destroyed that marriage-his or hers?
I love this woman and I will purchase any of her recordings. But written work? Never again. And I would urge all readers to do the same.
Rating: 
Summary: A waste from a great talent
Review: Where have I been! I was totally clueless that the Queen wrote a memoir. But believe me, this is no royal piece of literature. I did not get the impression that Aetha is being totally honest with us readers, and in viewing others comments, I see we are on the same page. I did not know she was having children at such a young age. And I am no idiot to believe that she "is unaware" of any controversy that resulted in the church after she virtually births two children almost back to back. I think ole C.L would have smacked her right down if he read that "Bravo daddy" comment- Some things you just keep to yourself. Unfortunately, she did just that in relation to her relationship with Ted White, which has always been alleged to be filled with action and confusion.
I guess Divas will always have their share of catty-tudes with other performers, but Aretha takes the cake. It's real cute near the end of the book when she names specific divas in her book. As if now, that she has christened these women divas, they have now entered Diva-Dom. Yeah right!
This book leaves you with a sour taste and does not give off the perception of Aretha being a nice person. I am so disappointed. I think this book alone will destroy any chances for future comebacks. I really did not enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: I Love To Sing And Eat .... But Mostly I Love To Eat!
Review: I have been a life long fan of Miss Franklin's. I have listened to her promise a book that would set the record straight abought rumors, innacuracies and fables for along time. Was this it? Aretha wants us to believe that her father was a paragon of virtue and a dedicated pastor though he lived with a woman to whom he was not married (Lola). He seemed to be no fine example of Christian morality perhaps that is why he was so cool with her two pregnancies. I personally did not need to know the names of her children's fathers but something, even a little something of what is was like to be a teen mother not once but twice before she was 17. I am well aqauinted with black church culture and I KNOW there was a lot of drama there especially in the era she became pregnant. Aretha left out many relevant points of her life (and her father's) that would have made a more honest and readable tome. We really learn nothing about the lady's true feelings about nothing; other than her father. Miss Franklin reveals herself as a petty, ego-rich diva; talented but vey shallow. If this is not the case then she should've written a more detailed and honest book. The best parts of the book are her remembrances of all the food she ate throughout her life and career. These are vivid and full of lucious detail. In one part of the book, in a mere 4 paragraphs there were no less than four food references; they seem to be memory starters for her. She can recall with great verve and relish the food experiences she's had; from the Apollo Theater in New York to Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles in Los Angeles. I wish she'd been more forthcoming with her life experiences. This book was a true waste of my hard earned money. I enjoyed Patti Labelle's memoirs much more. They were honest, balanced and did not always paint the author in the most flattering light. In other words she was real. C'mon Auntie Ree what's the real deal. Give me something I can feel.
Rating:
Summary: WHY ?
Review: After finishing up this book, the only words left in my mind were "Ree, how could you! Though I do not think the book was as poor as other reviewers, I must admit I expected much more from her in terms of speaking on her experiences, highs AND lows, in the music business, as well as the significant lessons she has learned reaching this point in her life and career. But what did I learn most about her? She's a greedy pig! Every piece of food she has ever eaten she can recall, but recording dates and personal issues she's all a-blur.
I did appreciate her vivid memory of her early gospel days and of her dad back in Detroit. That was clearly the best part of the book and seemed the most unbiased accounts recollected for this memoir. In light of David Ritz's prior works, I am quite puzzled as to what went wrong with this assignment? I think Aretha should stick to writing songs and leave the books for the experts. I love her and am forever a fan.
| 
