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aoifemarie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
If you love Carole King and music history this is such a great book. Her experience in an abusive relationship is hard to read but important nonetheless.
A few of the stories I may have skimmed through but on the whole, a really great memoir and journey through the 20th century.
A few of the stories I may have skimmed through but on the whole, a really great memoir and journey through the 20th century.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Mental illness, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse
robinsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
More like 3 3/4 stars. Enjoyed listening to Carol narrate her own memoir and I'm glad I didn't tackle the book or I might have ended up bagging it or skimming. More to come...
tschmitty's review
3.0
Carol King is an inspiring musician who has crafted some incredible songs. Her memoir while a little dry and matter of fact in parts was enjoyable. The audio version was a treat since Ms King broke into song a time or two.
kristaallysa1's review against another edition
3.0
In A Natural Woman, Carole King tells the story of her life from growing up in Brooklyn to composing music for other artists to performing her own work in what would be an illustrious musical career.
I read this book in preparation for going to see Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. It was great to hear about Carole King's life from Carole King herself. The musical really only covers the time in her life at the beginning of her career when she was married to her first husband, Gerry Goffin. This book goes so much further, sharing stories from every stage of her life and how they helped shape her into the woman and musician she is today.
It was a good read, but overall the book and the stories within felt tempered. When I pick up a celebrity memoir, I expect honest and relatable recollections. This wasn't that. It felt like she was trying to just be nice about everyone and everything, so that no one could get offended or in trouble for anything she wrote. As a result, the whole thing felt a little sugar coated and not quite as relatable as I might have expected.
Additionally, I listened to the audiobook and was disappointed that she didn't include sound clips of the various songs she mentioned throughout the book. As someone who is not super familiar with Carole King's repertoire, I didn't necessarily know the songs she was referencing. It would have added so much to hear them (or a clip of them) as part of the reading experience.
I read this book in preparation for going to see Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. It was great to hear about Carole King's life from Carole King herself. The musical really only covers the time in her life at the beginning of her career when she was married to her first husband, Gerry Goffin. This book goes so much further, sharing stories from every stage of her life and how they helped shape her into the woman and musician she is today.
It was a good read, but overall the book and the stories within felt tempered. When I pick up a celebrity memoir, I expect honest and relatable recollections. This wasn't that. It felt like she was trying to just be nice about everyone and everything, so that no one could get offended or in trouble for anything she wrote. As a result, the whole thing felt a little sugar coated and not quite as relatable as I might have expected.
Additionally, I listened to the audiobook and was disappointed that she didn't include sound clips of the various songs she mentioned throughout the book. As someone who is not super familiar with Carole King's repertoire, I didn't necessarily know the songs she was referencing. It would have added so much to hear them (or a clip of them) as part of the reading experience.
in2reading's review against another edition
4.0
Carole King started gathering the material to write this book in 2000 and the time she took to talk to her friends and relatives and bring up old memories was well spent. A very thoughtful and well written account of a fascinating life. Her glimpses into the details of the life of a songwriter and time on the road touring are well worth reading. But her kindness, self-awareness and optimism really won me over. I would highly recommend this book.
kather21's review against another edition
4.0
Loved that Ms. King narrated the audio version. It really made it feel like her story and was a real treat to hear her break out in song throughout the narration.
tjyodj123's review against another edition
5.0
Listen with audible she is really amazing and inspiring!
madfoot's review against another edition
5.0
You must, must, MUST get the audiobook over the book-book. Carole King sings and plays piano here and there throughout. Her story is powerful. Terribly exciting in the beginning, as she's launched into career, motherhood and marriage all before the age of 20 ... and then has to play a little catch-up in her 20s. She reveals some things that are really mind-blowing and discusses them with empathy for herself and for other women going through the same thing. No spoilers.
attytheresa's review
4.0
I was drawn to this book years ago when a chapter or two was excerpted in The New Yorker and I was captivated by the writing, the story and the narrative voice. After finally reading it, my faith in succumbing to purchasing it was more than justified, even though memoirs are not a genre that I read often, especially ones by musicians or celebrities.
Carole King is a great artist from whom great music just flows. Is there anyone in my generation that didn't wear out the LP/cassette tape of Tapestry? She is also a Jewish girl raised in Brooklyn wanting only to be a wife, mother, and create a beautiful stable family life. That juxtaposition creates an interesting tension at times as you read.
Sometimes wry, other times self deprecating, often funny or brutally painfully honest, her story is the story of women Baby Boomers spanning the traditionalism of the 50s to the independence of the 21st Century. It is in many ways my story though I am 10 years younger, the end of the Baby Boomers, and women like Carole carved the rudimetary path in the wilderness that I widened and smoothed.
It is also the history of songwriting and the rise of the singer/songwriter in contemporary America. If you are at all curious about songwriting process, this book is for you.
King wrote this herself; it is engagingly written. Yet there were times I felt things were glossed over, or there were truths or stories that she shied away from. It is odd to say that when there are some incredibly painful disclosures. Towards the end it dragged. It is a long book - over 500 pages with photos and notes.
But it is still a terrific read. Now I need to download and listen to Tapestry again. It has been a while.
Carole King is a great artist from whom great music just flows. Is there anyone in my generation that didn't wear out the LP/cassette tape of Tapestry? She is also a Jewish girl raised in Brooklyn wanting only to be a wife, mother, and create a beautiful stable family life. That juxtaposition creates an interesting tension at times as you read.
Sometimes wry, other times self deprecating, often funny or brutally painfully honest, her story is the story of women Baby Boomers spanning the traditionalism of the 50s to the independence of the 21st Century. It is in many ways my story though I am 10 years younger, the end of the Baby Boomers, and women like Carole carved the rudimetary path in the wilderness that I widened and smoothed.
It is also the history of songwriting and the rise of the singer/songwriter in contemporary America. If you are at all curious about songwriting process, this book is for you.
King wrote this herself; it is engagingly written. Yet there were times I felt things were glossed over, or there were truths or stories that she shied away from. It is odd to say that when there are some incredibly painful disclosures. Towards the end it dragged. It is a long book - over 500 pages with photos and notes.
But it is still a terrific read. Now I need to download and listen to Tapestry again. It has been a while.