By Jewel
Blue Rider Press, 2015. 386 pgs. Biography
Jewel’s “Never Broken” is an impressive addition to this year’s list of celebrity autobiographies. She presents a very genuine depiction of a unique life lived with courage and determination.
Raised in Alaska by dysfunctional parents, Jewel was taught to yodel at age five and was quickly incorporated into the family’s traveling act, singing in bars and hotels. As a teenager, thanks to support from her community, she was able to attend an arts academy in Michigan and, soon after graduation, struck off on her own. By the time she was twenty-one she had a multi-platinum debut but the road to her unprecedented success was difficult and did not get easier as her career took its inevitable ups and downs.
While I was familiar with some of Jewel’s songs and aware that she had spent some time homeless on her road to fame and fortune, I knew little of her story. “Never Broken” is surprisingly hopeful and positive, despite the author’s struggles. This is another inspiring story by a brave individual. The audio version, narrated by the author, includes a number of solo recordings which fans will want to hear.
CZ
No comments:
Post a Comment