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nuhafariha's review
5.0
I loved James McBride's writing ever since I read The Good Lord Bird and Kill 'Em and Leave did not disappoint. Rather than a simple history of the illustrious James Brown, McBride served up a history of the forgotten people of the American South. The writing is slow, pondering and deserves to be savored, like a slow-cooked pork chop. It reads like a love note from one musician to his mentor of sorts. McBride forces the reader to consider other forces in Brown's life that stand to make a profit from his story and how its portrayed. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone with a passing interest in history or even good writing.
chichi27's review
4.0
An interesting book about James Brown that takes a look at those that worked for him, along with a look at his messy estate following his death.
readingwithhippos's review against another edition
4.0
This book is not a balanced, unbiased, chronological account of James Brown’s life and musical career. It is, however, an impassioned, sometimes meandering defense of a music legend and his complicated legacy, which for my money makes it much more interesting than a straightforward biography.
James McBride clearly has a lot of love for James Brown, and I could appreciate his point of view without being entirely won over. McBride doesn’t go into much detail about some of Brown’s personal struggles, glossing over or excusing them in favor of extolling his showmanship and lamenting his misfortunes. I’m not quick to brush off things like domestic violence and rape accusations, so I remain skeptical as to Brown’s true level of virtue, but I can readily agree that he was a cultural icon, and often a misunderstood one.
I chose the audio version, and really enjoyed the narrator’s impression of Brown’s raspy Southern drawl. Since I’m not familiar with much of Brown’s music (which fact I intend to rectify), the narration made him more real to me.
Kill ‘Em and Leave is as much about McBride as it is about Brown, and that’s not a bad thing. I’m a big McBride fan, and I jump at every opportunity to talk about the time I saw him perform live with his band as part of [b:The Good Lord Bird|16171272|The Good Lord Bird|James McBride|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1385349791s/16171272.jpg|22018722] book tour. He’s a musician as much as he is a writer, and as such he’s the perfect person to tell Brown’s story. Or at least one very interesting side of it.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
James McBride clearly has a lot of love for James Brown, and I could appreciate his point of view without being entirely won over. McBride doesn’t go into much detail about some of Brown’s personal struggles, glossing over or excusing them in favor of extolling his showmanship and lamenting his misfortunes. I’m not quick to brush off things like domestic violence and rape accusations, so I remain skeptical as to Brown’s true level of virtue, but I can readily agree that he was a cultural icon, and often a misunderstood one.
I chose the audio version, and really enjoyed the narrator’s impression of Brown’s raspy Southern drawl. Since I’m not familiar with much of Brown’s music (which fact I intend to rectify), the narration made him more real to me.
Kill ‘Em and Leave is as much about McBride as it is about Brown, and that’s not a bad thing. I’m a big McBride fan, and I jump at every opportunity to talk about the time I saw him perform live with his band as part of [b:The Good Lord Bird|16171272|The Good Lord Bird|James McBride|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1385349791s/16171272.jpg|22018722] book tour. He’s a musician as much as he is a writer, and as such he’s the perfect person to tell Brown’s story. Or at least one very interesting side of it.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
the_lilypad's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
2.75
This book attempts to figure out who the real James Brown was. A very private man. Who was both generous and mean it seems. But it turns out he didn’t really want to be known, and thus didn’t let very many people know him. So the book seemed a little redundant.
vanlyn87's review
3.0
The parts about James Brown, his history, and his meaning to culture and society: awesome.
The parts about James McBride's personal history with James Brown: great.
The parts about James McBride's struggle to write this book because he needs money for his divorce: a bit much.
The parts about James McBride's personal history with James Brown: great.
The parts about James McBride's struggle to write this book because he needs money for his divorce: a bit much.
bobbo49's review
4.0
A deep look into the life and times of the Godfather of Soul, and the harsh realities of life for black Americans, even famous and high-flying entertainers - in the Southern states (and elsewhere in this country) in the 1940s-1990s. Brown's personal frailties only exacerbated his hardships. The only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is that the reality of McBride's strongly stated conclusions about James Brown's estate battle, based on personal interviews with many of Brown's associates and family, isn't yet clear; if McBride is right, Brown's effort to leave over $100 million to charities to educate poor children in Georgia and South Carolina has been hijacked by Brown's children, wives, and a greedy series of lawyers and accountants. McBride's writing, and Brown's story, are, nonetheless, compelling reading, particularly for fans of music or students of American history.
owloutstanding's review
4.0
I can't say that I knew much about James Brown before this book and now I understand a bit more about those sources of unknowing. I appreciate McBride's research and musical passion--I'm left feeling like I've been somewhere new and have the opportunity to continue learning, especially about southern American music.
Also, the table of contents, with its chapter summaries, is the best. I'm so glad McBride thanked the person who did that--she (Faith Briggs) excites!
Also, the table of contents, with its chapter summaries, is the best. I'm so glad McBride thanked the person who did that--she (Faith Briggs) excites!
amarti's review
5.0
After MLK, James Brown is arguably the most famous Georgian ever. Certainly, the state's greatest entertainer. At one point in the 60s, he was the most famous man in America.
This book is not so much about Brown, but more about his legacy: his friends, where he came from, and the long sad trail of lawsuits left behind. McBride is a gifted writer, inserting himself in the story. McBride tracks down friends of Brown's, visiting forgotten backroads, in search of the true Brown.
Highly recommended.
This book is not so much about Brown, but more about his legacy: his friends, where he came from, and the long sad trail of lawsuits left behind. McBride is a gifted writer, inserting himself in the story. McBride tracks down friends of Brown's, visiting forgotten backroads, in search of the true Brown.
Highly recommended.