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A review by eavans
Nina Simone's Gum by Warren Ellis
2.75
*3.5
This is a difficult book to review as I do not usually read music biographies (despite my love of music) as this is an ARC read. I liked the energy of Ellis—I’d love to sit and hang out with him, to hear more about his youth. I appreciate that he was able to write this as a artistic mark in his career, and I understand that insanity surrounding the musicians you love. He seems like a gentle soul. I also have a new love of listening to Arleta.
My main issue was precisely the music elbow rubbing music autobiographies tend to be. It felt like it was written for a cohort of friends and acquaintances that I am not a part of. If I went and saw this exhibit I’d buy a copy and probably rate it higher. I also have a big discontent with spirituality, and I’d probably appreciate it more if I like, believed in God still. It’s not a bad book, or story—it can actually be quite beautiful—but it just wasn’t for me, a random 21-year old with no knowledge of the people in it beside Simone.
Would pay $20 to see Nina Simone’s reaction to this though. I can’t believe she’d be the nicest about it.
This is a difficult book to review as I do not usually read music biographies (despite my love of music) as this is an ARC read. I liked the energy of Ellis—I’d love to sit and hang out with him, to hear more about his youth. I appreciate that he was able to write this as a artistic mark in his career, and I understand that insanity surrounding the musicians you love. He seems like a gentle soul. I also have a new love of listening to Arleta.
My main issue was precisely the music elbow rubbing music autobiographies tend to be. It felt like it was written for a cohort of friends and acquaintances that I am not a part of. If I went and saw this exhibit I’d buy a copy and probably rate it higher. I also have a big discontent with spirituality, and I’d probably appreciate it more if I like, believed in God still. It’s not a bad book, or story—it can actually be quite beautiful—but it just wasn’t for me, a random 21-year old with no knowledge of the people in it beside Simone.
Would pay $20 to see Nina Simone’s reaction to this though. I can’t believe she’d be the nicest about it.