If Only [Paperback]

Geri Halliwell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2, 2002

Like many starstruck girls, Geri Halliwell grew up with one ambition. She wanted to be famous. She had the drive, the energy, the fierce determination to succeed. If only she could get that one lucky break - that one chance - she'd prove to all the doubters that she could make it, and make it big. But as Geri discovered, the road to fame can be a rocky one. Often broke and desperately lonely, her life became an endless round of failed auditions and dead-end jobs. Even her stint as a glamour model and her role as a game show host in Turkey failed to gain her a foothold on the ladder to fame. Until one day, almost reluctantly, she answered an ad in "The Stage". Someone was looking for candidates to form an all-girl band. The rest is history. As Ginger Spice, Geri's stage presence was formidable, her outfits legendary. The Spice Girls enjoyed a succession of number one hits, two successful albums and a box office hit movie. But Geri wanted her feet back on the ground. It was time to walk away, to find out who she was when she wasn't Ginger Spice. Amidst a blaze of media speculation Geri left the Spice Girls in May 1998. Now focusing on her solo career, and with a number one hit single and bestselling album already to her credit, Geri also works tirelessly for charities such as the UN's Breast Cancer Care campaign and Comic Relief. At its heart "If Only" is about fame and the rollercoaster journey one young girl took from obscurity to the world of her dreams. Believing fame would provide the answer to life's problems, she came to understand that the real solutions lie elsewhere.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The superficiality of this book cannot be overstated. Still, it is a useful pop-cultural document. Halliwell was Ginger Spice in the Spice Girls, the Monkees-/Bay City Rollers-/Sex Pistols-style prefab band that rode a carefully crafted "girl power" media assault to fame and fortune. She treats us to page after page of growing up as the perky, undersized issue of a moderately ne'er-do-well Swedish dad from Liverpool and a feisty, Spanish, Catholic-cum-Jehovah's Witness mom. She pays special attention to her slow bust development, reports wanting to marry George Michael, and says that Lady Di's marriage and transformation into Princess Di show that fairy tales do happen. Snippets from her diary appear throughout, and though only a cynic would question whether they are genuine, they reveal the living, breathing, thinking, feeling human being behind the carefully crafted persona of Ginger Spice. It should be noted that Geri says that Ginger Spice is dead and she, Geri, has matured: "Last week in Los Angeles, I tried on a dress that was a little too tight around the bust. The old Geri would have tried to squeeze into the smaller size, but instead I chose the next size up. For me this was an important step toward self-acceptance." So, publicity ploy or soul-baring journal of a contemporary artiste? Anyone familiar with Geri's role model Madonna's legendary inability to realistically assess herself and her "art" should have no trouble answering that one. There is no denying the probable appeal of this parable in pink gauze, but the sugar sensitive should also be alerted to adequately prepare for it. Mike Tribby --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Halliwell bares all in this thoughtful, honest, well-written biography."
-- Chicago Sun-Times

"Powerful. . . poignant. . .with frank, funny reflections on fame."
-- People


From the Paperback edition. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Transworld Paperbacks (September 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553815296
• ISBN-13: 978-0553815290
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.3 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (82 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #735,356 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book proves Geri is the most talented of Spiceworld, November 21, 1999

By 

Mark Sando (Essex) - See all my reviews

This review is from: If Only (Hardcover)

This book is great, funny, amusing and even sentimental: thisis a must read book which had me coming back for more.

If Only is arefreshing breath of fresh air to all the media trash that is written about Geri all the time. At last with this book she has proved she can write a book as good as she can write her song lyrics.

If Only also answers the question "why did you leave the spice girls?" And unfortunately your just gonna have to buy the book, and give something towards the breast cancer charities.

A funny, charming and inspirational insight into the life of Geri Halliwell.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thumbs up Geri Halliwell!, January 15, 2000

By 

Ellen - See all my reviews

This review is from: If Only (Hardcover)

I read this book a few days ago and I couldn't put it down! Geri Halliwell is a brutallly honest and frank person ,one who isn't afraid to tell you about the more embarrasing parts of her life.I found her to be very down to earth and a very funny person.In short,she is REAL! She tells an excellent tale of her claim to fame,including the ups and downs.For those of us who like to read about famous people Geri has given us a book that I'm sure anyone can relate to.She tells it with humour,sadness and honesty,even telling the world about her eating disorder. What made me like this woman so much is that even after all the bitterness and nasty comments that seem to have surfaced from the other Spices,Geri maintains a friendly approach towards other members of the band.This could have been the ideal opportunity for Geri to have her say but she remains a lady and doesn't slag off the other girls.Good to see that she is using her fame in a positive light. Good on you Geri for opening up to us and giving us an excellent insight into one of the worlds most succesfull bands!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BOOK!!, October 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: If Only (Hardcover)

A book capturing the life and times of Geri Halliwell. A Spice fan may love this book as well but it proves to be a full-force autobiography on the woman formerly known as Ginger Spice.

I would not recommend this book to kids, because the truth does hurt. Ginger Spice was a part of the character known as Geri Halliwell. The book shows many different viewpoints of her life. From nieve English girl to a confident superstar. From being a former glamour (nude) model to a television presenter, maybe the suburban moms/dads might want to flip through the heavily detailed pages before they let their kids read it.

The book "If Only" is very down-to-earth and contains so many subjects that each of us readers could relate to. After the book triggered many memories of my own, I couldn't help to think - Dreams really do come true.