View all 14 comments. Grace Jones is the definitive controversy. Some hate her with passion and believe she's trashy and pontificates everything wrong in the music industry and others love her to death as the ultimate idol. Progressive, strong, interesting and an absolute delight, no matter in which category you belong, there is no way you won't enjoy this book.
Funny, lighthearted, and even hilarious one moment and the next, it transforms into a deep and raw psycho-gram. A story that is a bit repetitive in 3,5 Stars! A story that is a bit repetitive in its manners and themes but not tedious at all, with strong ties to the Entertainment Industry and anything it entails. This book is a brilliantly crafted work filled with anecdotes, music, fame in every page and of course character.
Exactly like Grace Jones herself, but it could have been better in some aspects. For example the photographic material isn't as extensive as it should have been, or the fact that sometimes she contradicts her own self in a matter of a page. All in all, it's flamboyant and fascinating, provocative and unique.
For those who like to peak at the backstage scene, its an interesting read. It contains, drugs, Studio 54 stories, expected namedropping -which doesn't seem forced or artificial-, glam and even religion. The following pictures are not included. Dec 06, Carmen marked it as to-read. I had to be a bitch to maintain any kind of authority. Well, if I were a man, I wouldn't have been considered a bitch. I wouldn't have had other people running about filming things behind my back. View all 3 comments.
Nov 06, Suzanne the Bookaholic and Proud rated it it was amazing Shelves: I don't read many autobiographys, I can count on one hand how many I have read, but with Grace Jones everything is fantasy and wild and no hjolds barred. I just love Grace Jones, from the first time seeing her in film as Zula in Conan, alongside Arnie, then to seeing her in James bond as Mayday, I have always been intrigued with her flamboyant actions, to her excitement over things, well now you get to read where it all started and take a trip through the years with grace by your side. I have to I don't read many autobiographys, I can count on one hand how many I have read, but with Grace Jones everything is fantasy and wild and no hjolds barred.
Accepting Grace Jones with the fast paced stardom, to the finish of a jigsaw puzzle. It can get very frustrating for her to have relationships where the other person thinks that even at home she dances on tables, and gets drunk every night, to realise that she is very quiet and otherwise boring at home, I mean no one has that much energy, if they do I want a pint of it , but of all her energetic antics they are not a publicity stunt, but who she is. I really liked reading the parts of when she met the royals, and what prince Charles had said to her at the premiere of 'A View to a Kill', when he remarked about the small blonde bond girl, 'I wonder how she got the job' remark, and how she didn't want to be dressed like others at the Queens jubilee and wore a small outfit with lots of leg showing and also twirling a hula hoop while performing, to the Queen wondering why she got changed before meeting her.
Sep 17, Alex Sarll added it. Grace Jones has written a memoir. Yes, like a lot of famous non-writers, there's an 'as told to' - but that's not some hack who's flattened her out, it's her once and future collaborator Paul Morley. And this emphatically does not read like a Paul Morley book, it reads like Grace Jones telling her life story. You need more than that?
But for the most part, she does outclass them. Stories about her hosting orgies? Being an old hippy, she prefers the term 'love-in', and objects to the implication of non-participation in the word 'host'. She thinks her reputation for lateness is unfair, then goes on to detail the times she kept multinational companies waiting, and turning up late to the ceremony on the day Arnie married into the Kennedy clan her date for the day? Oh, just Andy Warhol. Her dad thinks all famous people know each other or something, how crazy And yet this never becomes a book about knowing famous people, because who could overshadow Grace?
She's fascinating on her divided identity - the ambivalent relationship with faith which she traces to her strict Jamaican upbringing; the non-binary sense of her own gender; the way she was initially oblivious to racism, instead thinking for some time that the hurdles she faced as a model were down to the same outsider nature that had caused her trouble even in Jamaica.
And describing her as a force of nature is a cliche, but she describes herself powerfully here as an almost supernatural entity, "rampageous", possessor of a "five thousand year stare". And it doesn't feel like hype, because this is Grace bloody Jones. Of course, she does also write about how much she enjoys doing jigsaws, and which ones she prefers. Because nobody can channel primal forces all the time. There's the times she lived through - the evolution of the gay scene and its sudden darkening in the eighties with the horrified realisation that "Naughtiness had become toxic".
There's disco developing from funk, and on into house, with Grace at all the key clubs when Chic got turned away from Studio 54 that notorious night, it was Grace who'd invited them along. And there's a wonderful, bizarre way with words; sometimes it's profound, elsewhere hilarious.
I especially enjoyed her noting that Roger Moore had "incredibly hard legs". Oct 23, Victoria Sadler rated it liked it. I adore Grace Jones but perhaps she should have stuck to her original promise to not write her memoir because this book is all over the place and, worse, at times seems to destroy the mystery. And this part of the book is interesting. But too often she seems an unreliable narrator - One moment she's saying she was the only person to get Michael Jackson on the dance floor at Studio 54, the next she's saying she barely kn I adore Grace Jones but perhaps she should have stuck to her original promise to not write her memoir because this book is all over the place and, worse, at times seems to destroy the mystery.
But too often she seems an unreliable narrator - One moment she's saying she was the only person to get Michael Jackson on the dance floor at Studio 54, the next she's saying she barely knew him. It's an interesting read but ultimately, how much do you want to know about her private gigs and why it's like to smoke dope in Jamaica. That editors let the writing meander is good in that, well that's Grace. But it is tough to read.
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Oct 24, Andre rated it liked it. Grace is quite the character and much of her persona was crafted to fill a void. All the world is a stage and the men and women merely players. This truism is exhibited in Grace Jones' memoirs.
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She was very detailed about her early upbringing in a strict Pentecostal home on the island of Jamaica. Once she was able to join her mother in New York, she was able to breakout literally and figuratively. She found a space for the shocking, outrageous, outspoken and outlandish female and stepped into tha Grace is quite the character and much of her persona was crafted to fill a void.
She found a space for the shocking, outrageous, outspoken and outlandish female and stepped into that role with remarkable aplomb. The candidness she showed about her early life doesn't continue throughout the entire book and I feel she becomes a little more guarded when talking about industry relationships. Her career crossed three of the glamour industries; modeling, acting and singing to various degrees of success. Her journey has been an interesting and no doubt a lively one, but the dictated feel of the memoir doesn't allow the fun of it all to shine brilliantly.
There are areas that are covered more than once, which obviously was missed by the editor, and that is undoubtedly due to Grace sitting with the author on various occasions and repeating herself. The story of Grace and her theatrics deserve a more detailed handling with some moments that truly can be defined as candid. Jul 11, Jesse rated it really liked it Shelves: Because while it could have used some substantial and judicious editing and condensing, overall what's here is mostly a pleasure to read, a raucous romp through the second half of the twentieth century through the perspective of one of pop culture's most iconic—and iconoclastic—personalities.
Of all th "I can be a pain, but most of all, I can be a pleasure. Of all things, this this memoir constantly brought to mind Candide , Voltaire's epochal satire. Early on Jones insists she "love[s] secrets" and promises that sharing her memories will not "spoil the mystery" of her life. And for all the information packed into these pages, I do believe she managed to stay true to her word. Each paragraph is so packed with dazzling names—Warhol! The British Royal Family! Etc, etc, etc—that the reader slides along in a kind of happy buzz without necessarily realizing that how all of this happens remains, in the end, an enigma.
How exactly does one keep a schedule of regularly staying out until dance clubs until 7am? Manage experimental drug use she says one acid trip lasted two weeks? Seem to be everywhere in Europe and America simultaneously? Time bends and blends, she seems to pack into months more than most people are able to experience in a lifetime. Reading this memoir, I got a sense of one layer of who Jones is, the facade that operates in the realm of contemporary pop culture myth, larger than life, something beyond mere celebrity or notoriety. But like the expert showsperson that she is, she cleverly camouflages the nuts and bolts that keep everything in place.
But the private Grace Jones? That Jones has been secreted her away from public display. The primary and vitally important exception to this, I will say, is when it comes to her art and image creation. For most of her career Jones has been characterized as the muse and ultimately the creation of others, and primarily of men. Here Jones demonstrates over and over again the personal agency behind everything she has accomplished: We're just barely starting to come to grips with the artistic legacy and sheer fabulosity that she hath wrought.
Dec 13, Carisa added it. In almost pages, Jones goes from her birth and childhood in Jamaica to her early career in New York and Paris ending in her present life between Britain and Jamaica. Oct 08, Martin rated it really liked it. I've always loved Grace Jones, been fascinated with her since the very first time I heard "La Vie En Rose" as the club was closing and the lights were coming up some late night in something.
I have all of her albums, was the first one in line to see "Vamp" when it came out, have danced to "Pull Up To The Bumper" innumerable times and chilled out to "Libertango" on my WalkMan.
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I ordered and advance cd copy of "Hurricane" as soon as it was available. She is ageless, timeless, fascin I've always loved Grace Jones, been fascinated with her since the very first time I heard "La Vie En Rose" as the club was closing and the lights were coming up some late night in something.
She is ageless, timeless, fascinating and a one-of-a-kind artist.
How to Write a Memoir: 6 Creative Ways to Tell a Powerful Story
I was always drawn to her sense of theater and mystery, wondering if it was all real. Well, thanks to this memoir I finally know that it is all real - real music, real acting, real life stories, real actions acted out by a real woman. She doesn't mess around with this honest recount of her life thus far. She lives her life on her terms and tells all without being gossipy or tell-all. She told enough to keep me reading late into the night and almost missing my bus stop but she left enough to the imagination to leave me wanting more.
She did it all. She does it all. She will do whatever is left - her way - with style - and Grace. Oct 06, Matt rated it it was ok. I think she is an amazing performer and her music is fantastic. Upon reading the preface, you think you are going to get so much dirt that even Kitty Kelly would flip out.
However, what we are left with is nothing but memedrugsdrugsmemedrugsmemusicme. Some names are changed so you never really know who she's talking about so what's the point. Anyway, Grace has had an interesting life, but there are better bios out there. I struggled to get through this one, th Two words: I struggled to get through this one, though. May 24, David rated it liked it. My brother took me to see Grace Jones perform when I was still living at home, which is so long ago, I don't remember the year. I'd never heard of her, but I bought her albums afterwards.
She was clearly a link to queer culture, which I was a bit starved for, living in suburban Bethesda. So when I saw her memoir at the library book sale here in Ohio, I couldn't resist. The book turned out to be both better and not as good as I'd hoped I know, that makes no sense, but that's what reading this bo My brother took me to see Grace Jones perform when I was still living at home, which is so long ago, I don't remember the year. The book turned out to be both better and not as good as I'd hoped I know, that makes no sense, but that's what reading this book will do to you. On the one hand, Grace jones turned out to be much more interesting than I thought, which made this a fascinating read.
I'll Never Write My Memoirs
On the other, it's one of those "as told to" books, and it reads like one. I'm tempted to say it wasn't well edited, but in fact, it may have been edited a lot, just to get it into readable shape. I quite enjoyed the book, but it got more rambling and hard to follow as it went on, so I wasn't sorry when it finally ended. However, I came away with great admiration for Grace Jones, as she seems to be one of the self-invented artists: She was determined to make something of herself, so she did.
She's wonderfully frank about the limitations of her singing voice, but also about her determination to find its strengths and work them for all they were worth. I've enjoyed the results over the years. She's kind of like Marlene Dietrich in that way: Who cares if she can sing or not, she's mesmerizing.
The flip side is that she seems like she might be a bit crazy, but, hey, it seems to have worked for her, at least according to her memoir. Thanks for being you, Grace Jones! Aug 21, Pamster rated it really liked it.
Cool to read about other famous people, like her sharing an apartment in Paris with other young models Jerry Hall and Jessica Lange, but really the best was following the development of her ideas around art and how she conceived of her own image. On One Man Show: Take the reader with you to your lowest point, and show what you did to try to remedy things. If your experience happens to fit the rest of the structure, so much the better. Great novels carry a book-length setup that demands a payoff in the end, plus chapter-length setups and payoffs, and sometimes even the same within scenes.
The more of these the better. The same is true for your memoir. Virtually anything that makes the reader stay with you to find out what happens is a setup that demands a payoff. Even something as seemingly innocuous as your saying that you hoped high school would deliver you from the torment of junior high makes the reader want to find out if that proved true.
Avoid using narrative summary to give away too much information too early. To me, that just took the air out of the tension balloon, and many readers would agree and see no reason to read on. Better to set them up for a payoff and let them wait. Not so long that you lose them to frustration, but long enough to build tension. Usually a person painted in a negative light—even if the story is true—would not sign a release allowing you to expose them publicly. Changing names to protect the guilty is not enough. Too many people in your family and social orbit will know the person, making your writing legally actionable.
You could even change the offense. If your own father verbally abused you so painfully when you were thirteen that you still suffer from the memory decades later, attribute it to a teacher and have it happen at an entirely different age. Is that lying in a nonfiction book? Not if you include a disclaimer upfront that stipulates: Thoroughly immerse yourself this genre before attempting to write in it. I read nearly 50 memoirs before I wrote mine Writing for the Soul. Are you working on your memoir or planning to? Do you have any questions on how to write a memoir?
Share with me in the comments below. Before you go, be sure to grab my FREE guide: How to Write a Book: Everything You Need to Know in 20 Steps.
Just tell me where to send it: How to Write Your Memoir: Maybe you came from: The wrong side of the tracks A broken home Having been a victim of abuse Addiction An orphanage To a position of: Wealth Status Happiness Health Faith You might start with memories that show how bad things once were for you. Want to save this guide to read, save, or print whenever you wish?
How to Write a Memoir in 4 Steps 1. What happened to me can also happen to you. Cosmic Commonalities All people, regardless of age, ethnicity, location, and social status, share certain felt needs: Knowing or understanding or relating to nothing else about her, I understand love of family. Telling My father was a drunk who abused my mother and me. Showing As soon as I heard the gravel crunch beneath the tires and the car door open and shut, I dove under my bed.
Character Arc As in a novel, how the protagonist in this case, you grows is critical to a successful story. Point of View It should go without saying that you write a memoir in the first-person.
- La case de loncle Tom (Les grands classiques Culture commune) (French Edition).
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- I'll Never Write My Memoirs by Grace Jones.
- Gli Angeli Custodi Rolf e Carmelo (Italian Edition).
For fiction, Koontz recommends writers: Setups and Payoffs Great novels carry a book-length setup that demands a payoff in the end, plus chapter-length setups and payoffs, and sometimes even the same within scenes. If you tell the truth, are you allowed to throw them under the bus? In some cases, yes. But even if they did, would it be the right, ethical, kind thing to do?
So, What to Do? So change more than the name. Common Memoir Mistakes to Avoid Making it too much like an autobiography missing a theme Including minutiae Bragging Glossing over the truth Preaching Effecting the wrong tone: If you start slowly, you lose readers interest. Jump right into the story!