Customer Reviews

Faith Hill: Piece of My Heart

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Watch out Faith Hill fans. You might get a little more than you bargained for with this biography of the country music glamour queen. But then again, you might gain appreciation for her. The author tosses away the layers of glitz and fan worship for an honest, thorough look at her life and it's not always so glamourous. Childhood, marriages, and her climb up the gold ladder of the country music industry are detailed here from an honest, healthy distance. The interviews are concise and relevant and while some of her fans may not like hearing the revelations about her road, others will appreciate what a resourceful and now powerful woman has emerged. Pulling no punches brings out the best in many cases and Faith Hill's bio shines in its honesty and thoroughness. Seems she's to be admired for her survival skills as well as her beauty and music. Not to be missed.

Isn't it great when an author actually pulls off what he promises us readers? Dickerson starts out "I defy you to read parts of this intimate story without shedding a tear or two." Not being a country music addict, this avid biography reader scoffed. Much to my pleasant surprise, Faith Hill: Piece of My Heart was a thoroughly researched, compassionate read. I've read another Dickerson book (Colonel Tom Parker) and am amazed at how he seems to unearth so many never-heard-before facts. Especially with his take on Faith Hill, this works to make her totally three-dimensional. Did this skeptic shed a tear? I'm embarrassed to say that the tissues came out when the door was slammed in Faith Hill's face (and on her heart) for the umpteenth time. And I thought she was just a Barbie doll.

As a fan of Faith Hill's music, I wanted to probe the exterior of her career and delve into the beginnings of her success. Reading more like a book report, this text does an adequate job of summarizing Faith's life up to the debut of her album Breathe. That's about as far as I'll go. I think the book really suffered on three fronts: 1) there were no interviews between Faith and author James Dickerson. If Dickerson had conducted those interviews (he cites past interviews with Faith and other journalists), he would have established his credibility. This is the biggest problem I have with this book--Dickerson just wrote a 150-page report; 2) The resources used and way Dickerson presented Faith's life seemed storybook-like. Although it does mention them, this book does a poor job at probing how Faith's roadblocks ultimately shape her course to success; 3) this is only a minor criticism, but for me, the writing was too simplistic and didn't really challenge me at all. A celebrity biography isn't supposed to have the same flow as a presidential bio, for example, but the writing could have certainly been cleaned up to make it a little more interesting.
If you're interested in Faith Hill's life, leave the book at the library and watch Faith's feature on the Biography channel. It goes quicker and is more entertaining.

Hello:

James L. Dickerson gave me the honour of a lifetime. He included a small contribution of my thoughts in this book about Faith Hill.

I bought the book to read it truly from end to end, but not because of my name in it, but for the story of Faith's life and her road to stardom.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and found I couldn't put it down once I began. For all of Faith's fans, do yourself a favour and buy this book. You'll be very glad you did. It also makes a wonderful gift for the "Queen of Country"!!!

Thank you James.

Diana E. LeBlanc
Memramcook, NB
Canada

Quite simply the best music book I've ever read. The author interviewed Faith Hill's very first boyfriend and it doesn't get any cooler than that. I did not attend her concert at the Jackson Ms. Zoo, but after reading about it, I dont think I will ever forget it.

This is an excellent book! Its very thorough and interesting. A lot of times when you hear the word biography you think 'boring' but this book is anything but boring. Its exciting, emotional, and humerous, too! Faith is a wonderful person and I was so glad I got the chance to get to know her through this book! Any Faith fans, this is a must have book!! Go Faith!!

I Loved reading this book about Faith. I really felt her pain and longing to reach her goals and to let her little Elvis "as she put it" out. And I really admire her for being so honest with her feelings about her dreams of her biological parents. I grew up not knowing my father and I had the same thoughts and feelings that she talked about. Her hard struggle to the top was well worth it. Go Faith! Lywanna Ward

An excellent book on the life of a very successful woman. Singer, mother, wife and success!! Who says you can't have it all with very hard work.

Good luck James!... Would have sent you the review, but you are no longer available by your e-mail address)......

Everything that I get from Amazon is always on time and in great shape. This is the only place that I will go to get what ever I need or want. You just can't beat the service or anything else.

Out of curiousity, I purchase this book written about Faith Hill, because after enjoying listening to her songs for eight years; and more recently my six young cousins whom are struck by her glamorous beauty. I, however, never saw Faith Hill as beautiful; instead I found her music to be felt rather than heard, and its subtle suggestions of melodic beauty and rhythmic patterns are perceptive. Faith has a conscience. Her music has a heart and soul that I admire.
Why? What's so special about Faith Hill? Why this lady with the very succesful music career? What is there about this sweet southern lady that is such a demand for? Surely, there are girls more extraordinary-looking, prettier, smarter, style, more sophisticated, I've attended a girls' school, and they were many? Absolutely, but the world doesn't know them. The bottom line: Faith has a face that is instantly understood and instantly appealing, right across the board, rich, poor, young, old, male, female, everybody loves her. It's part of our national mythology: The All-American Beautiful Blond Dream Girl. My great-grandfather had it. My grandparents had it. My father had it. In the forties, Anita Colby had it. Grace Kelly had it in the fifties. Kim Alexis had it in the eighties. Faith has it now.
That elusive, fabulous, sublime quality known as charisma! Her enthusiasm for life and people, her ability to make others feel excited and alive, and her exquisite sensitivity that make her popular, her successful, and forceful in work and relationships. She gives off radiance. Her account of finding her biological parents with her family's blessings is a happy inspiration of her courage. Many adopted children might not want to find their biological lineage for fear of the unknown.
Having ones personal life story written is intrusive. Yet, in this story about Faith without writing about her private life is a story that expresses the old adage that nothing is impossible. That with alot of hard work, determination, and luck your dreams can come true.