Status
Available
Publication
Flatiron Books (2016), Edition: Reprint, 384 pages
Description
Simon's memoir reveals her remarkable life, beginning with her storied childhood as the third daughter of Richard L. Simon, the co-founder of publishing giant Simon & Schuster, her musical debut as half of The Simon Sisters performing folk songs with her sister Lucy in Greenwich Village, to a meteoric solo career that would result in 13 top-40 hits, including the #1 song "You're So Vain." She was the first artist in history to win a Grammy Award, an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award, for a song composed, written, and performed entirely by a single artist: "Let the River Run" from the movie Working Girl. The memoir recalls a childhood enriched by music and culture, but also one shrouded in secrets that would eventually tear her family apart. Simon captures moments of creative inspiration, the sparks of songs, and the stories behind writing "Anticipation" and "We Have No Secrets" among many others. Romantic entanglements with some of the most famous men of the day fueled her confessional lyrics, as well as the unraveling of her storybook marriage to James Taylor.… (more)
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User reviews
LibraryThing member froxgirl
The book cover shows Carly Simon, whom we knew as sexy, smart, wild, and free, as a shy, downcast awkward girl. As does this memoir. Both sides, now. Carly recounts her childhood stuttering, her self-absorbed parents, and the birth of the unforgiving lump inside her she calls "The Beast".
Post-blossoming, when she joins her sister Lucy to become performers as The Simon Sisters, all is still not well. A successful career and a seemingly perfectly matched partner in James Taylor still don't fix her. The tone is honest, confessional, and truly touching. Carly is honest about her entanglements with Mick Jagger, Kris Kristofferson, Cat Stevens, and Warren Beatty, all of whom tried her on for their own satisfaction. For a public figure, she's touchingly vulnerable and shocked through with nerves and self doubts.
The epic story of her marriage to Taylor is the highlight of the book. Joyous when she describes their on stage energy and complimentary voices, and tragic when their private personas and problems destroy their luminosity. Those of us whose lives were bracketed by "Sweet Baby James" and "Anticipation" will be completely caught up in the magic and misery.
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Post-blossoming, when she joins her sister Lucy to become performers as The Simon Sisters, all is still not well. A successful career and a seemingly perfectly matched partner in James Taylor still don't fix her. The tone is honest, confessional, and truly touching. Carly is honest about her entanglements with Mick Jagger, Kris Kristofferson, Cat Stevens, and Warren Beatty, all of whom tried her on for their own satisfaction. For a public figure, she's touchingly vulnerable and shocked through with nerves and self doubts.
The epic story of her marriage to Taylor is the highlight of the book. Joyous when she describes their on stage energy and complimentary voices, and tragic when their private personas and problems destroy their luminosity. Those of us whose lives were bracketed by "Sweet Baby James" and "Anticipation" will be completely caught up in the magic and misery.
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LibraryThing member indygo88
Before reading this memoir, my knowledge of Carly Simon and her life was pretty basic. I was familiar with her music, although mostly just her chart-topping songs, knew that she married & then divorced James Taylor, and knew that she suffered bouts of stage fright & didn't do a lot of public
A large portion of the book centers on Carly's years growing up: living with her business-oriented father (co-founder of Simon & Schuster), her not-so-faithful mother, & 3 siblings; her struggles with stuttering, her budding sexuality, and her music debut as one half of the Simon Sisters. She then branches out into her break-out solo career, her marriage to James Taylor, motherhood, and the more heartbreaking years when her marriage began falling apart. There's a fair amount of name-dropping, but rightly so, as Carly became popular fairly quickly in the early 70's and was often in the right place at the right time. She also shared quite a bit about the history behind some of her more well-known songs, most of which she wrote or co-wrote. She ends this particular memoir at the period shortly after her divorce from James, so there really isn't much in this book beyond that point, but that seems appropriate, given that the time period of her increased popularity (70's & early 80's, primarily) would seem to be what appeals to most readers.
I read this on audio, and though I think the book itself would also be enjoyable, I would recommend doing it on audio if you have the chance. Not everyone can read their own memoir effectively, but Carly does a good job of it and you would never guess that she's had a history of stuttering. The audiobook does have a fair amount of (mostly) instrumental music throughout, which is nice, although sometimes a little too prominent, making it difficult to hear Carly's speaking voice at times. It's hard to describe why I enjoyed this book so much, but I did find myself fully immersed in the story (especially in the middle) and was always anxious to get back in the car so that I could continue listening. I am a sucker for most any type of book, fiction or non-fiction, set in the decade of the 1970's, so that may have been part of it. But as a straight memoir of someone who lived, and continues to live, in the public eye, this was a well-written book.
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performing. But I liked her well enough to be curious about what her memoir would have to say, so I looked forward to reading it.A large portion of the book centers on Carly's years growing up: living with her business-oriented father (co-founder of Simon & Schuster), her not-so-faithful mother, & 3 siblings; her struggles with stuttering, her budding sexuality, and her music debut as one half of the Simon Sisters. She then branches out into her break-out solo career, her marriage to James Taylor, motherhood, and the more heartbreaking years when her marriage began falling apart. There's a fair amount of name-dropping, but rightly so, as Carly became popular fairly quickly in the early 70's and was often in the right place at the right time. She also shared quite a bit about the history behind some of her more well-known songs, most of which she wrote or co-wrote. She ends this particular memoir at the period shortly after her divorce from James, so there really isn't much in this book beyond that point, but that seems appropriate, given that the time period of her increased popularity (70's & early 80's, primarily) would seem to be what appeals to most readers.
I read this on audio, and though I think the book itself would also be enjoyable, I would recommend doing it on audio if you have the chance. Not everyone can read their own memoir effectively, but Carly does a good job of it and you would never guess that she's had a history of stuttering. The audiobook does have a fair amount of (mostly) instrumental music throughout, which is nice, although sometimes a little too prominent, making it difficult to hear Carly's speaking voice at times. It's hard to describe why I enjoyed this book so much, but I did find myself fully immersed in the story (especially in the middle) and was always anxious to get back in the car so that I could continue listening. I am a sucker for most any type of book, fiction or non-fiction, set in the decade of the 1970's, so that may have been part of it. But as a straight memoir of someone who lived, and continues to live, in the public eye, this was a well-written book.
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LibraryThing member cherybear
Well, Carly's a singer/songwriter, not an author. But I learned a lot about her. It is interesting to know more about her childhood, and the stories behind some of the songs she wrote, and where the inspiration came from. I'm always surprised to learn that musical geniuses suffer from stage fright
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and panic attacks--but I guess that happens more than we think. A little heavy on all the "sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll" stuff for my taste, but that seems to be part of the story of people like Simon, and it was probably her intent to be as honest as she felt she could. Show Less
LibraryThing member deldevries
read by Carly Simon. Her lyrics and voice are beautiful, but after listening to the story of her life, I realize the pain and personal heartbreak (and joys) that were part of her musical creations. The ending is almost painful to listen to as she forgives James Taylor and herself. Listen to the
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music and enjoy the book. Show Less
LibraryThing member Dianekeenoy
Another book that I had to read too quick. A friend of my husband gave it to me and then decided she wanted it back! So I had to read it in one night so he could take it back to her yesterday.
There was a lot that was interesting in this book, but there was also something about the book that just
There was a lot that was interesting in this book, but there was also something about the book that just
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kind of rubbed me the wrong way. If you love Carly Simon or are musical, I'm sure that you would like this book. I'm not that musical and not a huge fan. Show Less
LibraryThing member revliz
Wasn't worth my time
LibraryThing member bereanna
This was a very readable autobiography. From a wealthy, but anxious childhood, Carly emerges as a beautiful singer with a stutter sometime that humiliated her. She aims perfection that she sees in others. After sex with many famous entertainers, she falls deeply in love and marries with Janes
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Taylor forever, but his infidelity ends the marriage. I am impressed by Carly erudite-ness and her articulate writing. Wouldn’t want to live her life, though. Show Less
Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — Audiobook of the Year — 2017)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2015-11-24
Physical description
384 p.; 5.59 inches
ISBN
1250095913 / 9781250095916