Reviews

Never Broken: Songs Are Only Half the Story by Jewel

bibliovino's review against another edition

emotional inspiring fast-paced

4.0

Having overcome homelessness, poverty, betrayal,, cults and infertility, Jewel channels her very self in her music and poetry and the pages of this inspiring memoir. Her haunting voice revealed so much of her heartbreak and fight, but the depth of her struggle was hidden as she pushed to live with her head up. I’m so happy she’s found the peace she worked toward for so long and her gentle advice to readers mirrors the lessons she’s learned. 

clubtwenty's review

5.0

I highly recommend the audio version- nothing like hearing someone tell their own story in their own voice. Bonus: acappella singing that will give you goose bumps. I was woefully ignorant of all she has been through in her life.

axrobertson's review

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

5.0

"Happiness is not a perpetual state. It's not like saying, "I found Europe, I'm living in Europe now." You have to get happy with the process. To me, there's a real peace in accepting that, and being able to say life is never one thing. It's all things. The whole universe is expanding, stretching, tearing down, and creating, and we are made of the same stuff. We expand, contract, decay, and grow all at once. We are mirrors of the universe and the natural world and what created us. We are made like trees, with our roots firmly planted in the ground, and if we can see we are built to bend and give, then the winds of life will pass through our branches without breaking us. Some days it passes through with fury. Some days with a gentle caress. Each morning I wake up with gratitude that I can have the confidence to meet these ups and downs without being uprooted. The faith to step into pain when it comes and the courage to let it ravage me and pass through instead of hanging on to it and letting it tear me down. Life is ever-changing. What is consistent is knowing I am up for anything. That I am never broken." 

Beautifully done. Goosebumps the whole time. So many stories intertwined with real life thoughts and acoustic parts of songs. Would recommend to anyone + everyone.

dawnzdrea's review

5.0

I loved this book so much. Jewel’s view on the world is a beautiful and rare one. We all can learn something from her by reading it.

le_corbeau_romantique's review

5.0

"Hard wood grows slow."

classicartemis's review

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

thefrea's review

5.0

One of the best bios I've read in a long time. Not a traditional bio. It's more like a look into Jewel's mind as she goes through the many ups and (many more) downs she experienced that make her who she is. I loved the insight into her creative process, which she reveals from the experiences that caused the need to create to performing in live venues. I read biographies because I want to know why someone is the way they are (and how they do what they do). This book does exactly that. The raw, vocal-only tracks and lyrics woven between are the icing on the cake and a nice touch. One of my favourite books.

bee_isreading's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse and Physical abuse

Minor: Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Grief

doublel11's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

2.75

I liked learning about her life, especially how she grew up in Alaska. Sometimes there were needless descriptions, and the last couple hours were rough - too much preachy self help. 

katiehawkes's review

3.0

This needed to be about 30% shorter than it was, but that’s also what the music industry told Jewel about her songs so at least she’s on brand! She had a fascinating and very rural childhood and no easy path to fame and I liked reading her account of it. She’s also weirdly innately good at mindfulness and managing her trauma, like somehow she was born with these skills?? Super interesting. At times it veered a little too “she’s not like other girls” but to be fair….she’s not like other girls.