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samikoonjones's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
nhusain14's review against another edition
3.0
"Every man or woman in this life has a song, and if you’re lucky you can remember it. The song of your wedding, the song of your first love, the song of your childhood. For African Americans, the song of our life, the song of our entire history, is embodied in the life and times of James Brown."
christinalepre's review against another edition
3.0
Brief book about James Brown told through interviews with people who knew him during his life. As McBride finds, though, no one really knew him all that well. McBride digs into why such a dynamic and talented man wouldn't want to be known, and how his distrust of institutions led his will to be fought over brutally and his wishes to donate his estate to poor children wasn't carried out, among other things. This isn't a biography, but an interesting lens to look at the life of a legend, written by someone with a strong voice and style, which is often lacking in this kind of reporting.
beergeekgirl's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting book. Often felt like more of a biography of the people who surrounded James Brown. All of whom were fascinating.
McBride obviously has great respect and admiration for Mr. Brown. At times this meant that it felt like seriously issues (domestic violence, abusive behavior towards friends and staff) were brushed off as mere quirks of personality. While those seen as "against" him were well and truly taken to task.
People are complex. Mr. Brown maybe more than some.
McBride obviously has great respect and admiration for Mr. Brown. At times this meant that it felt like seriously issues (domestic violence, abusive behavior towards friends and staff) were brushed off as mere quirks of personality. While those seen as "against" him were well and truly taken to task.
People are complex. Mr. Brown maybe more than some.
mandkips's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Racism
8little_paws's review against another edition
4.0
A series of essays, really, about McBride's travels to learn about James Brown, and many interviews with family and friends. This was my first McBride, and his writing style sings with an original sound on every page. Particularly of note is the chapter about his first wife and their 2 sons, one who died in a car accident as a young adult.
rincey's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
See me talk about this briefly in my May wrap up: https://youtu.be/47JHKR_6JAs?t=11m30s
See me talk about this briefly in my May wrap up: https://youtu.be/47JHKR_6JAs?t=11m30s
dmendels's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully written. Not a typical celebrity bio. Not even a bio really at all. A series of essays on race, American history, the American South, (in)justice, African American Music using the "search" for James Brown as a raison d'être. Angry, thoughtful, erudite, empathetic. I am not sure it would appeal to a person really looking for a book on James Brown. Also not entirely sure it works as a book for someone not interested in James Brown (it might, try it!). But it was just about perfect for me.
zachkuhn's review against another edition
3.0
The style suits the subject but the book falters when it's more about McBride and his response to Brown.