Shania Twain: An Intimate Portrait of a Country Music Diva [Paperback]

Michael McCall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 19, 1999

Shania Twain is not your average pop star. She has the mega-hit "You're Still the One", the multi-platinum album Come on Over, the VH1 Behind the Music special...but she's much more than merely the sum of her success. Growing up in rural Canada amidst great poverty. Shania spent summers working for her father in a reforestation crew, learning how to handle an axe and wield a chainsaw as well as any man. At age 21, both her parents were killed in a magic car crash, and she was left to raise three younger siblings alone. The discipline and diligence she was forced to learn was then turned to her music career, with astounding results. From the cover of Rolling Stone to Country America, this cross-over wonder has charmed millions of music lovers around the world, and her fan base continues to grow Here, finally, is her whole story, complete with never-before-seen photos and insider information. This is the book Shania fans have been waiting for.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Shania Twain is a mega-country music star whose career spiraled to the top in only four years after she signed with Mercury Records in 1991. Not all was smooth sailing for Twain, who grew up in rural Canada. Her parents were killed in a car crash when she was 21, and she was left with three younger siblings. There were rough waters to cross in the Nashville music industry, and some of her first endeavors, such as videos, were not particularly successful. But by 1995 Twain was one of the hottest stars on the country music circuit. McCall, an author whose work has appeared in Billboard, Journal of Country Music, and other publications, capitalizes on Twain's current momentum in this succinct portrait, more like a lengthy magazine article than a biography. Fans will pull McCall's work off the shelves quickly. Recommended for large public library collections.AKathleen Sparkman, Baylor Univ., Waco, TX
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1st edition (June 19, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312206739
• ISBN-13: 978-0312206734
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,009,473 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Same old...same old..., September 12, 1999

By 

Tanya ([e-mail]) (Benton, Arkansas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shania Twain: An Intimate Portrait of a Country Music Diva (Paperback)

I thought this book was more or less a summary of the other three books about Shania that I have read. It did have a few new things that I did not know and the pictures in the book are great, but I wish it wouldn't have bashed her on one page and then prasied her on another. I give it four stars just because I love Shania and I really would read anything about her.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars This is not Shania Twain!!, August 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Shania Twain: An Intimate Portrait of a Country Music Diva (Paperback)

I have to agree with many of the reviews I have read about this book, there is nothing new, nothing different and nothing nice. The author repeats himself way too much and contradicts himself. At one time he is bashing her and the next saying that its easy to see why she is adored. I love Shania Twain and I felt like reading this book was just as bad as reading all the articles of people that love to bash her. Also, I agree that the author should have done a little more research instead of creating more rumors. Next time, try talking to Shania herself, thats the only book I want to read. I have read all the other books about Shania and they are so much more worthy. I will say one good thing, the info that is true in this book is written well, but I dont recommend buying it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A waste of time, July 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Shania Twain: An Intimate Portrait of a Country Music Diva (Paperback)

An "Intimate" portrait? Pfft! All this book has is the rags-to-riches story that has been retold so many times that any Shania fan can recite it in their sleep and a collection of quotes that, again, are nothing new. Mix it in with a couple of rumours, and you've got a disaster. Since when did Shania and Mutt run away to get married? Obviously the author hasn't seen the wedding picture of Shania with her siblings. And the red dress in the Whose Bed video is belly-bearing? It's very obvious that the author is not a fan, just an author doing his job. As I recall, Whose Bed and Any Man of Mine were definitely not rejected by radio and TV - they were being played just as much as any other new hit. There's no real proof to back most of his comments or retelling of rumours. The least he could've done is speak with a few people who know Shania, if not Shania herself, or at least do more research. Overall this is a big disappointment for Shania fans looking for more.