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50books_pocLady Sings the Blues by Billie Holiday with William Dufty.
The blurb on the cover of my copy described this autobiography as "searing" and it is. The heartbreak and abuse Holiday suffered all her life is astounding. What's even more astounding is that she survived for as long as she did despite it all. Holiday is matter of fact about her life, but her rage and pain shine through.
Despite my fully justified praise, somehow the book feels incomplete. One feels that Holiday was holding quite a bit back. Which was her right, of course, but it makes one want to know what's not being said.
The part of the book that's still strongest in my mind is when a completely unknown Holiday is trying to get a job in a club with her sub-par dance skills. Finally the pianist asks her, "Girl can you sing?" Holiday describes thinking that of course she can sing but what does that have to do with anything? It's the kind of moment that's only grand in hindsight.
More than anything, this book makes it clear that my inferior knowledge of music history should be remedied.
The blurb on the cover of my copy described this autobiography as "searing" and it is. The heartbreak and abuse Holiday suffered all her life is astounding. What's even more astounding is that she survived for as long as she did despite it all. Holiday is matter of fact about her life, but her rage and pain shine through.
Despite my fully justified praise, somehow the book feels incomplete. One feels that Holiday was holding quite a bit back. Which was her right, of course, but it makes one want to know what's not being said.
The part of the book that's still strongest in my mind is when a completely unknown Holiday is trying to get a job in a club with her sub-par dance skills. Finally the pianist asks her, "Girl can you sing?" Holiday describes thinking that of course she can sing but what does that have to do with anything? It's the kind of moment that's only grand in hindsight.
More than anything, this book makes it clear that my inferior knowledge of music history should be remedied.
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