Scan barcode
mohawkm's review
3.0
I really enjoy James McBride's other two books, and as a fan of soul music, expected to enjoy this. However, it reads like McBride struggled to get those he interviewed to tell him useful information, and pulled together a book anyway.
He talks about what a difficult man James Brown was to work with and to get to know - and how he helped and hurt different people in his life. But the material is enough for a long article, and is stretched out into a book by constantly remarking on how difficult it was to learn about life with James Brown in his research.
I recommend picking up The Good Lord Bird (really good!) or The Color of Water for better works by the same author.
He talks about what a difficult man James Brown was to work with and to get to know - and how he helped and hurt different people in his life. But the material is enough for a long article, and is stretched out into a book by constantly remarking on how difficult it was to learn about life with James Brown in his research.
I recommend picking up The Good Lord Bird (really good!) or The Color of Water for better works by the same author.
elibar's review
4.0
This is an eloquently woven tapestry of lives, including McBride's. Not something that I would normally read, but it came up as recommended on my library's website. I was looking for something available to read (I have a lot of titles on hold). I do like James McBride, so I thought I'd give it a go. I'm glad I did. If for anything, read it to get history and insight into race relations and civil rights. It's a story that took hold of me and won't let go.
voya_k's review
4.0
I liked how honest McBride was about how his perspective as an African American musician was going to get him different stuff in interviews. Also, I had no idea Rev. Al was James Brown's surrogate son. Also, the chapter about The Last Flame was spectacular -- a sad story perfectly, angrily told.
meiklejohn's review
4.0
Not a traditional biography, and quite scattered, but beautifully written and passionate.
booknrrd's review
4.0
3.5 stars.
I picked this up solely because I loved James McBride's last book, The Good Lord Bird, which was about the abolitionist John Brown. I am not particularly interested in James Brown. McBride's book was interesting. However, I felt like it glossed over some of the more unsavory aspects of Brown (most notably for me his treatment of women). His treatment of women is mentioned and repeatedly; it just didn't feel like it had much weight. A lot of the book is about Brown's work ethic, unusual financial habits, and life history. McBride's interviews Brown's family members to try to get at the truth of James Brown.
I picked this up solely because I loved James McBride's last book, The Good Lord Bird, which was about the abolitionist John Brown. I am not particularly interested in James Brown. McBride's book was interesting. However, I felt like it glossed over some of the more unsavory aspects of Brown (most notably for me his treatment of women). His treatment of women is mentioned and repeatedly; it just didn't feel like it had much weight. A lot of the book is about Brown's work ethic, unusual financial habits, and life history. McBride's interviews Brown's family members to try to get at the truth of James Brown.
booksuperpower's review
4.0
Kill ‘Em and Leave: Searching for James Brown and the American Soul by James McBride is a 2016 Spiegel & Grau publication.
I always liked James Brown. His music, his showmanship, and the way he often found himself stepping in to keep the peace, and his promotion of education.
While I know the same facts about James that anyone else knows, I’ve never read any books or watched any movies based on his life.
So, when this book was recommended to me, I was very eager to learn something more comprehensive about ‘The Godfather of Soul’
Musical biographies often walk on a fine line with too much of one thing, but not enough of another. It depends on the author as to which approach to take and while I was in the mood for a very detailed portrait of James Brown, the author took a different tack, but it was, in its way, kind of refreshing.
The author didn’t attempt to gloss over, sugarcoat, or make excuses for James’ darker side, revealing the performers crimes, his penchant for being difficult, his mistreatment of women, his numerous marriages, his drug use, and various other ways he was unpredictable or contradictory.
Yet, the author’s goal seemed to be focused on how James was remembered, the battles he won, the ones he lost, and the incredible mess his estate turned into once his will was discovered. We learn who James really trusted, who were the people closest to him and who stuck by him all his life, and this is as much their story as it is Brown's or McBride’s, in many ways.
The author also takes a look at the racial climate and atmosphere James was raised up in and the way this environment influenced him. This part of the book, I think, is supposed to help explain why James felt like he did, what shaped his attitude, and prompted him to act or react the way he did during his adult life.
But, the author’s spirit also penetrates the book, which under any other circumstance might be considered a biography faux pas, but in this case, it actually creates a dual look at James Brown. Not only do we get personal reflections from the people McBride interviewed, but we see the how the information seeps into the author’s soul, and the obvious effect writing this book must have had on him.
I wouldn’t say this approach is one everyone will appreciate and I don’t know if would work with any other subject or author, but I thought it was a nice touch and made the journey appear more personal.
Still, at the end of the day, I’m not sure if I really got that intimate portrait the author was going for. I do think I understand James Brown a little better, but his vital spirit or essence, just didn’t bleed through, despite the personal tones employed.
This was not exactly the type of biography I was hoping for, but was one that gave me deeper insight into the man behind the electric voice and performances that set the world on fire.
If you are an aficionado and already know all the facts about the man, his music, songs, and all the rest, then this is a book you will want to add, in order to get a deeper understanding of James’ roots.
If, like me, you are a fan, liked his music and enjoyed his amazing on stage presence and showmanship, but didn’t know a lot about him otherwise, this might not be the best book to give you that in depth look at his recordings, his political work, the inner workings of his relationships with wives and children, or a closer inspection of his addictions and events leading to his prison terms. However, once you have gained more than a basic knowledge about Brown, I think this personal assessment will take on deeper meaning.
Overall, this is a fresh approach to examining James Brown’s life and is an enjoyable journey, which has increased by my curiosity about the private performer. Thanks to McBride, I know which places I should perhaps avoid in my search for accurate information, which will be very helpful. I’m stalling just a bit here, not sure of how I want to rate this one. I keep waffling between a three and a four -star rating- so, for my personal record- 3.5 stars will have to suffice.
I always liked James Brown. His music, his showmanship, and the way he often found himself stepping in to keep the peace, and his promotion of education.
While I know the same facts about James that anyone else knows, I’ve never read any books or watched any movies based on his life.
So, when this book was recommended to me, I was very eager to learn something more comprehensive about ‘The Godfather of Soul’
Musical biographies often walk on a fine line with too much of one thing, but not enough of another. It depends on the author as to which approach to take and while I was in the mood for a very detailed portrait of James Brown, the author took a different tack, but it was, in its way, kind of refreshing.
The author didn’t attempt to gloss over, sugarcoat, or make excuses for James’ darker side, revealing the performers crimes, his penchant for being difficult, his mistreatment of women, his numerous marriages, his drug use, and various other ways he was unpredictable or contradictory.
Yet, the author’s goal seemed to be focused on how James was remembered, the battles he won, the ones he lost, and the incredible mess his estate turned into once his will was discovered. We learn who James really trusted, who were the people closest to him and who stuck by him all his life, and this is as much their story as it is Brown's or McBride’s, in many ways.
The author also takes a look at the racial climate and atmosphere James was raised up in and the way this environment influenced him. This part of the book, I think, is supposed to help explain why James felt like he did, what shaped his attitude, and prompted him to act or react the way he did during his adult life.
But, the author’s spirit also penetrates the book, which under any other circumstance might be considered a biography faux pas, but in this case, it actually creates a dual look at James Brown. Not only do we get personal reflections from the people McBride interviewed, but we see the how the information seeps into the author’s soul, and the obvious effect writing this book must have had on him.
I wouldn’t say this approach is one everyone will appreciate and I don’t know if would work with any other subject or author, but I thought it was a nice touch and made the journey appear more personal.
Still, at the end of the day, I’m not sure if I really got that intimate portrait the author was going for. I do think I understand James Brown a little better, but his vital spirit or essence, just didn’t bleed through, despite the personal tones employed.
This was not exactly the type of biography I was hoping for, but was one that gave me deeper insight into the man behind the electric voice and performances that set the world on fire.
If you are an aficionado and already know all the facts about the man, his music, songs, and all the rest, then this is a book you will want to add, in order to get a deeper understanding of James’ roots.
If, like me, you are a fan, liked his music and enjoyed his amazing on stage presence and showmanship, but didn’t know a lot about him otherwise, this might not be the best book to give you that in depth look at his recordings, his political work, the inner workings of his relationships with wives and children, or a closer inspection of his addictions and events leading to his prison terms. However, once you have gained more than a basic knowledge about Brown, I think this personal assessment will take on deeper meaning.
Overall, this is a fresh approach to examining James Brown’s life and is an enjoyable journey, which has increased by my curiosity about the private performer. Thanks to McBride, I know which places I should perhaps avoid in my search for accurate information, which will be very helpful. I’m stalling just a bit here, not sure of how I want to rate this one. I keep waffling between a three and a four -star rating- so, for my personal record- 3.5 stars will have to suffice.
lulureads365's review
4.0
A very fitting title for this book. The author, James McBride had to make a trip to the American South to learn about one of the world's greatest entertainers from the people who actually knew him. Because of James Brown's philosophy of kill 'em and leave, I don't think the world ever got a chance to see the man outside of his genuis. So McBride tries to bring to us a more realistic view of the man, which ends up being a sad story.
I enjoyed the format and the story telling, this is not a typical biography of any sort. There aren't a bunch of dates or "important" names being thrown at you, but what you get are the people who actually meant something to the man.
I enjoyed the format and the story telling, this is not a typical biography of any sort. There aren't a bunch of dates or "important" names being thrown at you, but what you get are the people who actually meant something to the man.
ksteele18's review against another edition
5.0
Learned a lot of interesting info on James Brown that I did not know.
lindsayb's review
3.0
This is no traditional, linear biography. McBride gives us a view of James Brown as complex as the man himself. There were times where I really liked that, and I certainly learned more about Brown than I knew previously, but there was enough repetition and circularity that I became impatient at times and wanted more story. Still, this served as a good reminder of how I actually do like to read about music more than I think I do, and I look forward to exploring in more depth some of the musical tangents discussed in this book.
********
Read Harder: Biography
********
Read Harder: Biography