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Summary: A very personal and objective view of of Marvin Gaye's life.
Review: "Divided Soul" thoughtfully illustrates the life of Marvin Gaye through the eyes of an objective and perceptive observer. Author Ritz reflects Gaye's life with honesty and candor. Ritz had been Marvin's biographer and friend for many years, and the countless hours they spent together shows through in the very personal and in-depth look into the life of Motown's most popular and controversial male artist. This book offers very interesting candid insight into Marvin Gaye's life from birth to his untimely death, and is highly recommended reading. Review by Son Dexter
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Summary: An intimate and honest look at the life of Marvin Gaye.
Review: "Divided Soul" thoughtfully illustrates the life of Marvin Gaye through the eyes of an objective and perceptive observer. Author Ritz reflects Gaye's life with honesty and candor. Ritz had been Marvin's biographer and friend for many years, and the countless hours they spent together shows through in the very personal and in-depth look into the life of Motown's most popular and controversial male artist.
This book offers very interesting candid insight into Marvin Gaye's life from birth to his untimely death, and is highly recommended reading.
Review by Son Dexter
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Summary: This is the most candid and true look at a musical genious!
Review: Being a great fan of the late Marvin Gaye, I thoght that Divided Soul was a true work of great quality. Not only does it reveal the struggles and battles that Marvin had within himself but it shows the true nature of terrible side of success and life. This book opens the mind in that it shows Marvin behind the scenes and out of the public eye. Marvin Gaye was and always will be remembered as an innovator, leader, and genious with one downfall......a truly DIVIDED SOUL. This is one of the most interesting books that I have read in that it captures your full and total attention from the very beginnig. Marvin was full of life, love, and confusion and yet only needed love to be shown to him....a price to pay for success! This book will make you look at yourself and be humble!! The world lost a great soul the dya that Marvin Penz Gaye died!!
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Summary: a deeply moving book
Review: David Ritz did a damn fine job at revealing the true Marvin, the genius and the troubled man who struggled all his life to make things better, despite all his problems. This is an exclusive look into the divided soul of a genius, one whose story will touch your heart and leave you crying. It's so sad that Marvin had to go through all this tragedy and pain. He couldn't survive but his amazing story and personal music do, and always will. This a great book I couldn't put down, and it will leave you touched until the end. "Father, father, we don't need to escalate. War is not the answer, for all in love can conquer hate." I just wish that Marvin could've lived to settle his demons with his father instead of paying the price of his life. Marvin Gaye lives on forever!!!!!!!
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Summary: Great book about an even greater musical genius.
Review: David Ritz did a wonderful job at portraying one of the greatest entertainer of all time. He was able to recount all of Gaye's troubles and how this reflected with Gaye's brilliance as a musical genius. It was so sad and tragic to read Gaye's unending strugle with his inner demons, his fear of performing and of his own self, who never really was ever content with his life, dispite all that he'd accomplished. Ritz recounted all this in a masterful way and evokes images that is tragic, sad and at times brilliant, just like Marvin Gaye's life.
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Summary: Marvin's naked Soul revealed
Review: David Ritz did a wonderful job with seperating the man from the myth. Growing up, I listened to Marvin's music with my father, and there was always a spirit in the music, that to this day, I still can't explain. Just his voice had a presence, which could either frighten or enlighten you. He was truly one of the best.I got a hold of this book about four years ago, and have read it a few times. There are some parts of the story that are hilarious (like him wanting to beat up Lou Rawls for "stealing" the grammy from him), and some parts are just tragic (his candid talk about his cocaine use, suicide attempts, and death), but overall, it makes you wonder how someone with such an incredible artistic mind could be so self doubting, and self destructive. It makes you wonder: had he not been killed, would he have done something to himself to end his own life? His honesty in regards to his envy and admiriation of other artists was something you won't find in too many biographies, considering the auhtor will try to glamorize it's subject; not the case here. No matter how many charm classes the Motown artists were required to take or how poised Berry Gordy wanted them to be, in this book Marvin bares all, and voids pride. Although I was only 7 when he was killed, I remember not knowing all too well what a loss the world had suffered- that was until I got older. All I knew then was that man who had the voice that could scare me, or make me feel safe was dead, and I cried. Being a young adult, it is easy to identify with the man's music, considering the world we live in now, is the world he was telling us was to come. Like his music, Marvin is timeless, and his story is one of the greatest tragedies ever recorded. Beautifully written, and painfully honest, this is a must have for music lovers in general.
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Summary: Marvin Gaye: Simply the best!
Review: David Ritz I would just like to say Thank you. I think I can speak on behalf of the legendary Marvin Gaye's fans; You did an exquisite Job on documenting the life of this troubled Genius. I recieved the book November 3 in the mail and I finished it November 5. I have never read a book so quickly in my life, All the while dreading the end. I recommend it to any fan out there who only knows marvin through his music and want to learn more about him as a person. I could relate to Marvin in the fact that I had to move past personal demons in my life, But I was able to defeat my dark forces; While tragically he succumbed to them. He was a master of telling us how he felt through song, Whether he was asking us "WHAT'S GOIN ON?" or telling a young lady "LET'S GET IT ON"..we all loved him because he echoed how we feel as human beings. I was far to young to appreciate Mr. Gaye when he was alive(I was 7 when he died)But now that I am older I truly appreciate the genius and I have the utmost respect and love for him. There will never ever be another Marvin Gaye; And I am glad because he was a precious gem. His light was extinguished far to soon but He will live forever in his music. Mr. Ritz put a human face on Marvin..A person who was struggling with himself, and ultimately lost the struggle. He was a complex person who wanted love but did not know how to accept it. It shows how the acts of a parent can influence a child..Gay sr. Was truly a dispicable human being; and marvin and his dear mother both had to pay the price for it. I happen to be a person of faith and I believe that Marvin is in Heaven and his soul is still singin! I love you marvin gaye! You will never be forgotten! simply the best!
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Summary: Soul Stirring....
Review: Divided Soul gave me an in depth look to M. Gaye and his life. I felt so sorry for him because he had this sinner, saint battle going on within himself. He was a true artist. A true artist has to experience pain in order to deliver a soulful work such as those of M. Gaye. He was way ahead of his time. Crystal Williams
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Summary: fantastic book
Review: first of all david ritz is a great writer period.now on to the book i've dug marvin gaye since i came into the world.his music is a reflection of society at large.race,sex,class,economics,&faith.this book points those things out and so much more.the highs&lows.this man is one of the most influential artists ever.you take the good with the bad.all books that have motown related artists seem to be very good reads that says alot about not only the aritst but also the company.i also love to hear what one artist thinks and feels about another artists work.a must read for not only folks that dig marvin or motown but also music in general.
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Summary: Haunting
Review: For someone who grew up listening and swaying to the beat and words of this prolific entertainer, I was amazed and sadden in reading about his tragic and triumphant life. David Ritz had the resources, energy and unquestionable ability to bring Marvin Gaye's past to life. Read it, and sometimes, you will definetly weep.
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