Shania Twain

Rating:
Summary: it was ok
Review: I am a come lately fan of Shania's and I was excited when I found the last copy of this at a local bookstore. The book was packaged as having some new and interesting insights on her life and work. Personally, I didn't like it. It was simply a patchwork collection of old articles and rumors. He painted her in contradictory shades of hometown girl and calculating megastar. One has a hard time believeing that the woman he writes as being very in touch with her roots is also the kind of woman that would fire a faithful friend, by way of Fed Express. I think he should have enlisted the help of friends and Shania insiders in compiling his information in this book. There are some very nice pictures of Shania, but I think the boast that they were never before seen photos are also inaccurate. All in all I don't reccommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: This is not Shania Twain!!
Review: I have to agree with many of the reviews I have read about this book, there is nothing new, nothing different and nothing nice. The author repeats himself way too much and contradicts himself. At one time he is bashing her and the next saying that its easy to see why she is adored. I love Shania Twain and I felt like reading this book was just as bad as reading all the articles of people that love to bash her. Also, I agree that the author should have done a little more research instead of creating more rumors. Next time, try talking to Shania herself, thats the only book I want to read. I have read all the other books about Shania and they are so much more worthy. I will say one good thing, the info that is true in this book is written well, but I dont recommend buying it.

Rating:
Summary: it was ok
Review: i think this book was ok, but it was better than the one by dallas williams, and way worse than the one by barbara hager.

if you're gonna write a biography, you should interview the person for the book (or research a little, and not writing it on rumors).

over all, i guess it was an ok book

Rating:
Summary: Same old...same old...
Review: I thought this book was more or less a summary of the other three books about Shania that I have read. It did have a few new things that I did not know and the pictures in the book are great, but I wish it wouldn't have bashed her on one page and then prasied her on another. I give it four stars just because I love Shania and I really would read anything about her.

Rating:
Summary: A Decent Look at Country Music Today
Review: I'm a professional Nashville songwriter who has had off-and-on success providing material for country singers over the last 15 to 20 years. Shania Twain has been somewhat of a mystery to me, and because I devour anything I can read about country music (or any popular music), I thought I'd pick up this book. I have to say I was influenced somewhat by being familiar with the author, who I don't know personally but am familiar with through his writing for publications in Nashville and in national publications about country music. His perspective is usually knowledgeable and sometimes controversial (at least around here in Tennessee), so I wanted to see what he had to say about Shania.

Well, there's not a lot of opinion in it, though he does do a fair job of explaining why so many fans like her and why some of us don't. What readers may find interesting, besides the details of Shania's climb to fame and the struggles and tragedies she overcame -- you certainly have to give her credit for that! -- is the segments where Mr. McCall goes into the current history of Nashville and how Ms. Twain has rebelled against the old guard and effected many changes on how songs are written and music recorded here (for better or worse, I might add!) I'd have to dispute the fellow here who says anyone could have written this book: believe me, telling a story simply and clearly is almost a lost art these days -- I know from how many people think they can write a country song! I've sometimes disagreed with McCall's writing and opinions, but he's always been a clear, direct writer who makes sense of complicated music bidness dealings. I learned something from reading this, and I think most other music fans will to.

Rating:
Summary: The real Shania
Review: Just finished reading the new book on Shania and, despite having read everything under the sun that I can find about her, I learned a lot. I'm glad the writer didn't just make her out to be too-good-to-be-true nor did he make her out to be a totally bad person. I think what comes through is that she's a hard working and very ambitious and very talented(!!) person who had to fight the system to make it. She may have made a few bad decisions along the way, but she never stopped believing in herself. I find that truly inspirational. The book is well-balanced and factual. As a fan, I don't expect someone only to show the good side of someone, and I hate the kinds of books that only show the bad side. This book has a lot of insider quotes, a lot of information that is fresh and new, and most of all an interesting and insightful perspective on why Shania made it when others don't. I appreciated the background information on the music industry, and the knowledge that Shania really had to fight for herself and her music in order to become a star rather than a one-hit wonder. I think there's a lesson in there for all of us. I know there was for me.