"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me lay an invincible summer" - Albert Camus

Monday, January 26, 2015

I Found My Friends: The Oral History of Nirvana by Nick Soulsby

I Found My Friends: The Oral History of NirvanaI Found My Friends: The Oral History of Nirvana by Nick Soulsby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Nirvana, one of rock history's greatest bands, started as two simple guys in Washington. Through this book, author Nick Soulsby gets to a more intimate side of the history of the band. Using interviews from other musicians and people who knew them from the start, he tells the story of how the band came to be, their rise to stardom, the struggle to find the right drummer, the drug abuse, emotional trauma, and ultimately the demise of the band following Kurt Cobain's tragic death.

This book reveals how the music community in Washington, was more than just that. They were a family. When Kurt died they lost a family member.

As a HUGE Nirvana fan, I throughly enjoyed this book. I loved reading the history, and getting a view from people who knew them when they were sleeping in their cars. It amazed me to read just how in 8 short years, Nirvana was just a local Washington band, then hit stardom, and then sadly, after Kurt, was no more.

I like reading the interviews and the POV's of other local musicians. Their view of Kurt, who is one of my favorite people in the world. I loved the fact that it revealed, that Nirvana felt there weren't above all other bands. They just felt like part of a musical family.

I loved this view in the preface:

"Victor Poison-Tete, Rat at Rat R: Why do and/or should we love Kurt Cobain and Nirvana? They will not be given the opportunity to disappoint us. No future song entitled "Smells Like the Interior of a New Lexus." No duets with a current octogenarian to broaden the audience demographic. No holiday specials or department-store clothing line (pre-washed grunge apparel), sugary soda downloads, halftime wardrobe malfunctions, or attempts to build an alternative marketing strategy that actually works, omly to turn and appear on lamestream media shows that flash signs prompting you to clap or laugh. And Nirvana will never attempt to bring sexy back, buy a basketball team, or act as a judge on a talent show."

Nick intervied over 150 other musicians to get a more personal history. More than 20 years after Kurt's death, Nick takes us back to the beggining of what has become one of rock's last immortal bands.

I'm so glad I got to read this book. After reading it, I felt I understood the band more. I felt more connected to Kurt and felt so grateful to be able to experience his gifts.

*I recieved a complimentary copy of this book, from, St. Martin's Press, in exchange for honest review and opinons.*

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Saturday, January 17, 2015

Jagger Starts Scholarship

Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger has started a Fashion Scholarship in honor of his late girlfriend, L'Wren Scott. Scott was found in her apartment March 2014 after an apparent suicide. The couple had been dating for 13 years.

Mick has provided the scholarship fund to London's Central Saint Martin's College to go towards students with a carrer in fashion.

L'Wren Scott was 49 years old.

Click HERE to read more about the story.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

A Thing of Beauty by Lisa Samson

A Thing of BeautyA Thing of Beauty by Lisa Samson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Former Child actress Fiona Hume left Hollywood a decade ago, right after she left rehab. She moved to Baltimore, bought an old run down mansion, and has dreams of restoring it and becoming an artist. She would be forgotten as an actress and live a life of art.

That was her plan.

Ten years later, Fiona's old mansion is filled with junk found at thrift stores, yard sales, or just picked up off the curb. Each piece was supposed to be for a project . . . but so far the only project she has, is a piece of twine with some old buttons threaded on it.

She's thirty-two years old and she still gets recognized for her childhood career, but the money has run out. She's gotten deperate. So desperate that she decideds to rent out the maid's quarters.

Josia Yeu, a local blacksmith, ends up renting the room from Fiona. He is everything she isn't: peaceful, in control with out being controlling, and in short - happy.
As Josia's light begins to brighten up the old mansion, something inside Fiona brightens as well. Something she sees is beautiful. With peace growing inside of Fiona, she decideds to mend her relationship with her father and to stop letting her mother bring her down.


I loved this book. I liked how the author opened up the life of former child actors and how sometimes they end up, living a life outside of Hollywood. Lisa did a wonderful job, making these characters eally come to life. I would love to read more of Fiona. I would like to know where her relationship goes with some of the characters in the book.

The Christy-award winning author of nineteen books including the Women of Faith Novel of the Year Quaker Summer, Lisa Samson has been hailed by Publishers Weekly as "a talented novelist who isn't afraid to take risks." She lives in Kentucky with her husband and three kids.


*I recieved a complimentary copy of this book, from Booklook Bloggers, in exchange for my honest review and opinons.*

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