Rating: 
Summary: Raw, Honest, and Painful
Review: I cannot even imagine the strength it took for Melissa Etheridge to bare her soul the way she did in this autobiography. In this frank, unembellished, and painfully honest account of her life, from her earliest days as a sensitive child abused by an older sister to her rise to fame to her terribly painful relationships and subsequent breakups, Etheridge simply opens her heart for all to see.The result is a book that is often painful to read. I frequently got the sense that I was a peeping Tom, peering in at secrets and feelings that should not be shared with anyone. Some of Etheridge's experiences, such as her early attempts at heterosexual dating, her dysfunctional early relationships, her love of music, and her dogged determination to be recognized in the world, are not that different from any other celebrity bio. What makes the book different is the pain that Etheridge does not, or cannot, hide. What emerges is an unflinching portrait of a woman whose sensitive inner soul belies her tough public persona. Yes, we've seen it all a hundred times before, but something about the extreme honesty of this tale gets under your skin. I came away with a strong and almost protective admiration for Etheridge, a desire to own all of her CDs, and a prayer that she have inner peace. She certainly deserves it.
Rating: 
Summary: Raw and Honest - She is not the only one...
Review: Well - I started reading and was hooked - finished in two days. Not bad considering I am STILL working on my Anne Rice novel (ugh). Reading her words about her life experiences, there were times that I felt she was talking about my life (except for the rock star part). I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a dreamer, lover and a person who shares passion like MLE does. It is very raw and honest. Sharing her breakup from Julie after 12 years was a daunting and painful task, yet very well written. I particularly enjoyed the parts of the book where she explained her lyrics - why she wrote them and the circumstances driving them. It was interesting to read what she was going through and the misunderstandings that became of some of them. I listened to a few of her songs after finishing the book and heard them for the 'first time'. I am not a HUGE fan, but I respect her music, her life and can relate to how she is living it - which this book truly articulates. Bottom line - go buy it, if you're not a fan, so be it - you may very well be after you read it. If you are a fan, it is a must read. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Melissa's truth brings insight into her music to her fans
Review: A very good read. Melissa has had her share of ups and downs, and she shares them with her audience. I liked reading about her songs, why she wrote them, what they mean to her, and having the lyrics included in the book. Melissa is very open about her past, her affairs, and the end of her 12 year relationship with Julie (the love of her life). Melissa shares her life lessons in this memoir and I would recommend this book to others. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Highest Recommendation
Review: Excellent read, highly recommended -- Bought a few more copies and they made excellent presents for the holidays. I couldn't put it down myself and finished the book in a day.
A very down to earth, well-written interesting view of Melissa's life which I will, no doubt, read a few more times. I think what I enjoyed the most was looking at the handwritten copies of lyrics she wrote when she was a teenager. And the way each chapter was named after a particular song -- Really a lot of insight to be found reading between the lines as well. Getting a glimpse of what Melissa was feeling/thinking at the time she wrote a certain song was simply facinating to me. Julie really made a mistake, it sounds. ;)
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Autobiography about an Amazing Artist
Review: Whether you think you know everything about Melissa Etheridge or only know her as that lesbian rocker who's made headlines several times in the last few years, this book will draw you in and you won't put it down until you've finished it. I considered myself in the latter category and purchased this book just because she was on the cover. As I read the introduction and the first chapters I began to feel as if Melissa and I were just old friends and she was telling me all about her life over coffee. I've been listening to her music for years but hearing her explain the inspiration for different songs and know where she was in her life when she wrote some of my favorite songs was enlightening. I would highly recommend this to book to anyone who has ever heard a song that touched them in some way. I would challenge those same people to go out and buy one of her cds, any of them, and not be touched by at least one of her songs. Once you've done that, buy this book and find out why she's one of the the most powerful singer/songwriters making music today. And then onced you're hooked on her music and everything else about her, catch her live show, I guarantee you'll be drawn in and you'll thank me :-)
Rating:
Summary: HONEST AND RAW, "THE TRUTH IS" IS MELISSA ETHERIDGE
Review: I read this book as soon as it arrived, I couldn't put it down. As a staunch fan of Melissa's gut honest, emotionally raw music I expected nothing less from her recent autobiography. I was not disappointed. The book reads as she lives her life, unafraid to tell the truth and willing to share her deepest pain and joy. Curled up in my living room with the book, I felt as though a friend, a sister, was in the other chair sharing the chronological herstory of the discovery, the joy, and saddly, the loss of her most treasured relationship. Just as the lyrics of her songs always touch and reveal my own vulnerabilities, this book brought tears to my eyes. Melissa's willingness to reveal her journey from the unphathomable darkness of her pain to the "evolution" that returned peace and brilliant light to her soul as a result of this experience is just another source of my respect and admiration for her as a person, a woman, a mother and entertainer.
Rating:
Summary: A Fantastic Read.
Review: A true insight into a very talented women who has never been afraid to share her life and her feelings. As a long time fan of Melissa, I found her honesty refreshing. Again, she is not afraid to share her true feelings.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Wonderful
Review: I rarely read a book in two days, but I did this one. I was a fan of Melissa's before I read the book, but now I have a much deeper appreciation for her and her music. It was a very easy read, and honestly once I started reading, I couldn't stop. She expressed herself very well pretty much laid her life out like an open book. I highly recommend this book!
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring woman, inspiring book
Review: Melissa Etheridge has always been a sort of hero of mine (which is wierd because I'm a gay man, I'm not musically inclined, and the closest I've come to Kansas is watching the Wizard of Oz too much) because she is a truely inspiring lady with a truly inspiring story. And she tells it in this book. If you love her you'll love this book and love her even more! The book relies on her lyrics alot which is interesting and you'll earn a greater appreciation for her music after hearing the personal struggles that go into almost every single one of her songs. I had to think hard whether I wanted to give this 4 or 5 stars because obviously it isn't Shakespeare, its the autobiography of a young rock star! But I had to go with 5 because as far as autobiographies go its one of the best I've read and Melissa's inspiring, powerful, soulfull presence permeates it.
Rating:
Summary: Janis of the 90's ...but the behaviour differs
Review: I read that book after I noticed the songs of MLE. It's a great journey from where the music comes from, where the emotions, expressed in her lyrics, came from.I was surprised that in our days somebody is able to be that honest to fans;to herself, that was the most impressing mystery for me I think. But if you expect a life such as Janis Joplin's life you may will be unsatisfied because in comparison to "Piece of my heart" this book (MLE) tells a story about a girl trying to find herself with the help of music, quietly struggleing around with people and family. It tells about love affaires...the bad and the happy ones and later on it shows her fight for being different, for being acceppted and loved the way she is. She found her way. So if you are really interessted in soulful and meaningful music and you would like to know where that music came from then "The Truth is..." would be an exiting experience for you. If you want to have some action such as drug stories or sexual inspiration...crime ...whatever you should try to find another literature for you. My private conclusion is: Respect Melissa, you are the version of Janis that found her peace, her freedom and satisfaction.
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