Customer Reviews

Rage To Survive: The Etta James Story

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I dont remember when was the last time I read such a honest autobiography - while others would be tempted to describe themselves in the best light,Etta James achieved to be likeable BECAUSE she is honest person.Everything she went through,happy times,bad times,brutal,funny and sad,she tells with such a original style that her talking voice almost leaps out from the pages.I read this book in 2 days without a break,what a original character,never afraid to say it as it is,even if occasionally her story may sound down-right depressing,then she makes it clear that she still have that life-saving sense of humour.Besides making me laugh and cry,Etta also describes music legends from different perspective - Chuck Berry,Jackie Wilson,Sam Cooke,James Brown,Ike & Tina,Aretha,Keith Richards,Mick Jagger,Bo Didley,Ray Charles,Jesse Belvin,Esther Phillips... Etta knew them all and paint the picture as we may never knew it,from the backstage.While Tina Turner's autobiography curiously lacks any personal comments,Etta James book is all about its subject,this is the woman who is not afraid to say what she thinks and what a story she have to tell!

This is basically a recorded miracle. Reason being is that Etta James lived hard, played a even harder, and is still alive to tell about it.

Etta's story is one that all music lovers- even if you're not a fan of hers- should read. I think that ALL women should read the stories of relationships gone wrong, and what can happen to you if you don't have faith enough in yourself to make it without using nonsense as crutches. But while reading this, you have to respect the candid honesty that flows from one page to the next, and the stories about friends and lovers, that are told so vividly that you feel as if you're speaking to Ms. Etta, herself.

This is one of the best autobiographies I have ever read, and one that I couldn't put down. If you read it, you'll love it!

Despite all odds, Miss Etta is still with us: read this book if you have the courage to learn what life 'on the road' was like for an entertainer in the 50's and 60's, with the difficulty enhanced tremendously for African-Americans. The debt today's divas owe Etta and others from 40 years ago will never be repaid. The book pulls no punches: white record label owners shafted their acts in every way imaginable, yet there's a snapshot of Leonard Chess that you'll be thankful for. Etta writes of doing heroin with Little Esther, being in and out of jail, being up and down, getting her "X" by joining the Black Muslims, touring with Little Richard, the dangers of driving through Dixie in the late 50's and early 60's with a blond 'do' (and a monkey).

There's another reason to buy the book: you can dine out for weeks by sharing the story of Etta's father. The book includes a photo of the two of them side-by-side. Yup, amazing resemblance. And no, I'm not going to tell.

Etta did the Letterman tv show a few weeks ago; is still making music. She's a national treasure. When she appeared in Dallas I slipped a note to a member of her crew to pass along, thanking her for all the music that has meant so much to me. If you've never heard Etta, look for that two cd set of her Chess recordings. One listen, and you'll be hunting for a pen and pad to send her the same kind of note.

Maybe my expectations were too high. I've never heard Etta James sing a song I didn't love. Not only does she have one of the most breathtaking voices in popular music, but she uses it brilliantly. She sings every song from the depths of her soul, and at the same time she's a very intelligent singer, obviously very much aware of, and in control of, her craft. I was hoping she'd bring the same kind of feeling and intelligence to telling the story of her life.

And it's a great story. Abandoned by her father and growing up in poverty with a difficult mother, Etta James became a juvenile delinquent, and over the course of her life faced down just about every form of addiction you can think of, from food to heroin. She was saved by a gift for music, which other people, thank god, recognized almost as soon as she opened her mouth.

So I began reading, knowing I was digging into a great story written by an intelligent and sensitive woman. But as I read, I found myself growing more and more disappointed. The book has some wonderful anecdotes about the nastiness of the music business and the foibles of a lot of famous people. They're entertaining and sometimes even enlightening - and they're the reason I wouldn't rate this book any lower than three stars.

But something goes wrong when she writes about herself. A lot of reviewers have praised her "honesty" in accepting responsiblity for her mistakes and addictions.That's certainly an admirable quality, but it doesn't necessarily make for interesting writing. Again and again, James tells you the sordid details of her mistakes, says it was her own fault, and then goes on to something else. And every time she does so, I felt cheated of any insight into what led her down the paths she took. She sounds like someone who hasn't really come to terms with her problems, and therefore most of the book seems rather superficial.

The story is inherently interesting and it would probably make a great movie, but its unwillingness to probe below the surface kept it from being a great book.

Loved reading Etta James' story. I didn't know much about her life, but was quickly drawn into the story line. Etta James was very candid and the story was written so well that you felt that she was sitting at a kitchen table telling her story. The Etta James story tells the successes and failures of the music industry. This is one of the best biographies which I have read.

If you're going to see Etta, read this book first. It will put some perspective on where this Diva has come from and help you understand some of her stage comments. To make your experience finer, read it while listening to "Her Best-the Chess 50th Anniversary Collection" and her newest CD "Roll On".

It's an honest and fresh read, very revealing and very scary as to how she survived racism, drug addiction and recovery. It also gives alot of insight on the R&B world players in the 50's, 60's and 70's.

I'd recommend it as a supplemental text in feminist/african-american/sociology college courses. It may be too controversial for high school courses but it would certainly get students talking. It's also a great summer read.

this book has so much realness.i've listened to her music for years but this book puts the power,angier&Passion all into the Power of her voice.the Politics of the Music Business and her Personel Life are all here.this is the kind of Honesty that is Lacking from Artists of Today.Her Life&Career were a SpringBoard for Tina Turner.very powerful and Upfront.she never forgot her roots.also another Gem by David Ritz.

I have always felt that Etta James ranked with the very best of R&B singers. She might not have had the chart hits as often as Aretha Franklin, but in my mind Etta's rendition of "At Last" rivals Aretha's best known hit: "Respect", for sheer power and raw emotion. I read her biography: "RAGE TO SURVIVE" in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. It told me in a very detailed way what I had always thought Etta James was about: Class, Talent, Courage, Craziness at times, and a real trooper in the game of life--the hand she was dealt was a rough one, but Etta survived!! And because she overcame countless obstacles, we know her and her music today. One of the 5 best biographies I have ever read! Thank you Etta James! Thank you for your music, and thank you for just being Etta James!

Etta James. Powerful vocals and supremem attitude. This blues/jazz diva can only have a story that's as dramatic as her musical repetoire.

The biogrpahy is an easy read but full of emotional impact from her youth to her dificult struggle with her weight while climbing up the ladder to success. Family members bob and weave in and out of her life while she struggles to keep her head above the waters of black society.

Read about her survival and the road she took to make it there. Again, it is an easy read but the themes she brings up from her life are tough to handle. A true inspirational story, the life of Etta James will help any reader to appreciate her will to succeed and encourage all of us to strive to be our best.

I have read lots of autobiographies, but Etta James takes the cake. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat to the point where you cannot put it down. I read it in one day. Etta is honest and truthful about her life and pulls no punches. She describes in explicit details the life on the road as an entertainer and how drugs can make or break you and gives insight into the entertainment industry, relating to mangement and royalties, especially as it related to African-American singers in the 60's and 70's. I recommend this book to every aspiring entertainer and to everyone. I listened to Etta's records as I read the book and tried to image the time and place. No one tells it like Etta! A MUST READ!!!!