Customer Reviews

From This Moment On

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have been a Shania fan for a long time. Knowing how secluded and reclusive Shania has been for a lot of years my expectations for this book were not very high. I am so surprised by some of the things she reveals about her past with shocking honesty. It is such a fascinating journey I could not put it down until the very end! I highly recommend this book to anyone regardless if you enjoy her music or not.

By 1999 Shania Twain was on top of the world: her albums sold in the millions, her tours were sell-outs, she was named "Entertainer of the Year" from the Country Music Association, one of only five female acts to ever achieve that honour in the award's 40 year plus history, she was happily married, and was about to start a family. She was able to put the pain of a tragic childhood behind her after her parents were killed in an automobile crash, help raise her siblings, and make it in a very competetive industry and go on to be one of the most popular singers ever. Then suddenly everything changed.

"From This Moment On" (also the title of one of Shania's most beautiful love songs)is indeed Shania's autobiography, but it is so much more. This is also a book for survivors for people who have been betrayed by those with whom they loved. For the first time she writes about growing up in poverty in northern Canada sometimes having to go through garbage dumps to find cloths, but always having a dream that she would make it one day. She discusses the highs and lows of the music industry, her eventual love for her first husband Mutt Lange, and how that marriage ended a few years ago after he had an affair with her best friend. The book not only was cathartic for Shania to write about, but the message is clear: adultery can happen to anyone, especially someone as beautiful and talented as Shania Twain, but you can and will survive.

After reading Shania's book her message to her readers is clear: if someone hurts you eradicate them totally out of your life. She mentions how she doesn't allow her son to see the woman who is now with her former husband (Shania's former best friend). Also, after looking at the beautiful pages in "From This Moment On" there is not one photograph of Lange anywhere.

A great read, "From This Moment On" is an exceptional book from a singer who has bared her soul to her fans and hope they can somehow relate to her story.

At one point in the book Shania discusses how she felt that she didn't have the drive and willpower after discovering her husband and the father of her child was carrying on an affair with her best friend. However, through faith, the love of her child, and a new love her life became better again.

I have been a Shania Twain from the beginning with her first album "Shania Twain". In knowing how private she has always been she is very open in this book. There were times when I was crying, laughting and doing both at the same time. I COULD NOT put it down. It is definatley worth reading. I think she accomplished what she set out to do and that was be a voice for other people. I could certainly relate to many of her situations.I wish her only the best and hope to hear her beautiful voice soon. My best to you Shania.

You do not have to be a Shania Twain fan to enjoy this book. You just need to be interested in the struggles that we face in life, and how we can triumph over them, to enjoy this book.

Shania's story is extremely interesting. This poor woman describes growing up with hardly anything to eat, a freezing cold house without heat, a stepdad who abused her Mom in front of Shania and the family, going so far as to stick her Mom's head in a toilet bowl. The man had issues.

Yet, Shania still finds a way to hold her Stepdad in high regard, despite all this, because "he tried to take care of his family, worked hard, and showed interest in" her music. I am not one to judge, but Shania's stepdad should have forgotten about his pride, and allowed the family to receive welfare and or other benefits while he had a hard time finding work.

Shania then goes on to detail the horrible day when both of her parents were killed in a car accident, leaving her to raise her siblings. But since the family was poor, Shania and her siblings couldnt enjoy a hot shower before school. No, Shania had to take them to a nearby stream, and wash them in it, before they went to school.

One of the most touching parts of Shania's book was when she was face to face with a Moose, and instead of pulling the trigger on her rifle (her stepdad taught her to hunt when she was young), she realized that He, the Moose, had just as much of a right to live that she did. That, coupled with Shania's hearing a bear in the distance one day, who apparently was cruelly shot by a hunter, but not killed...the poor bear being left to suffer, convinced Shania that the days of killing were over, and she has not only not killed any animals in the last 20 years, but she is a vegetarian as well.

Shania goes on to describe her relationships with her dogs, horses and other animals who were family, to her.

There is a photo in this book of Shania and her son, Eja (pronounced "ASIA"), feeding a Moose on Christmas day... How ironic and fantastic that Shania would not hand down her stepdad's tradition of killing, but instead has raised her son with a reverence for every living soul.

Shania goes on to describe the music "business", and that is what it is, a business, not the art that so many performers want it to be. Only when you become a star, do you in essence, become a music artist. Until then, you are a mere puppet, for the Geppetto's who run the music business and try to shape you into who THEY want you to be, not who you ARE!

Of course, being beautiful on the outside, like she is on the inside, Shania has had her share of men wanting to take advantage of her, some of them so arrogant and used to 'easy girls', that Shania seemed to be a rare breed indeed, telling them to take a hike and maintaining her dignity, and shooting for superstardom the right way, not by taking a shortcut.

And then comes to weird twists and turns of Shania's roller coaster ride of a life:

The backstabbing husband, who was sleeping with her backstabbing BEST FRIEND (With 'friends' like that, Shania doesnt need any enemies) and how she and her best friend's husband, Fred, who were both betrayed by their spouses, came together, since they both were going through the same hard times at the very same time, and their friendship blossomed into love. Then an engagement. Then marriage.

As far as Shania's singing goes, she does want to perform again, and I believe she will. Rumor has it, a new single, is planned.

I can go on and on. But you have to read this book, from start to finish to really appreciate what Shania has been through.

The woman has been beaten down, her playing the part of the nail,, life playing the part of the hammer, and she is still standing.

She will simply not give up. Shania is a survivor and an inspiration for all of us who, when we are confronted with hard times, can remember: "Shania triumphed....and so will I".

I like that Shania's title for this book, is my favorite song of hers..."From This Moment On". It's a beautiful song, that is untarnished by her husband and 'friend's betrayal.

True, eternal love, DOES exist. True friendship DOES exist.

Dreams DO come true. Sometimes, you just have to go to hell and back to make them a reality, and that's ok.

Just as long as you accomplish the mission, the trip is well worth it.

And to think that Shania is only 45.

Her journey continues, and we, her devoted fans will be there to support her every step of the way.....from this moment on.

I agree totally with the review by C. Parks of Seattle. I also really like Shania Twain's music and admire her success in the face of great challenges all her life. But I found the book disappointing and somewhat disjointed, more of a catharsis for herself than a well-written autobiography. I also found it disconcerting that she tells of horrible incidents with her stepfather and a few paragraphs later writes most lovingly of him. She also does not seem to find any fault with Mutt for the affair with Marie-Anne; rather she totally seems to blame her former friend for targeting her husband; relationships are much more complicated than that. I wish Shania much happiness in her new marriage and success in whatever she does.

The level of honesty in this autobiography is gut-wrenching; in fact as I read through the childhood and teen years I felt it was one of the most depressing books I've read in awhile. The misery and anguish lived through is hard to read about. 'God Bless The Child Who Suffers' indeed.

I wonder if Shania will at some point regret being quite so public about some of this. I do think writing it out was theraputic for her; I'm not so sure publishing it will turn out to be. The first part and the last part read like a cleansing blog.

I've always liked Shania. My heart ached for her when the news of her husband's infidelity came out, and I'm so glad she's happy again. She's written an honest, absorbing book - I read the 450 pages on my Kindle in two days, getting up early to read before work and staying up late when I should have been asleep.
May happier days stay with her now.

Although I've always enjoyed Shania Twains music, I had never followed her life/career much and I'll be honest - what attracted me to this book was the dramatic story surrounding the end of her marriage. The book is generally divided into 3 components - the first being the largest, about her childhood and select experiences growing up. Although there were a few interesting revelations here, since Im not a huge fan this wasnt a hugely enticing part of the book. The second part focuses on the start of her career, touring and ever so briefly - meeting her first husband. I do think that their courtship and marriage was almost entirely glossed over though...you never really get a sense of what it was she 'lost' here when she moves on to the topic of his betrayal and their subsequent divorce. And finally the final section discusses the breakup of her marriage and finding happiness again which was definitely what made this book worth the read. I completely appreciate the overwhelming honesty in which she discusses her feelings and experiences through that situation and applaud her for sharing so openly. Anyone who has ever found themselves in a situation of hurt or betrayal will completely find raw truth and comraderie in her experiences.

If you're looking for a modern day fairy tale, than "From this moment" is your best bet. I first heard of Shania Twain from her songs on the radio--popular nineties hits like "I feel like a woman," "You're still the one," "From this moment on," and "That don't impress me much," among others.

Shania's real name is Eileen, and she's a Canadian country girl who never even ventured outside her home country until her twenties. Her childhood was the ultimate Cinderella story: She grew up in poverty, in an emotionally charged family. Early on, she lost her mother and her stepfather and was left to take care of her siblings on her own. Her only dream was to be able to make a living as a musician. And when her mother's friend (and ultimately her manager) Mary Bailey suggests she play at a Canadian Las Vegas-like resort, Shania goes for it. Surprisingly, she gets offered a position and she agrees to move her entire family there in exchange for a decent salary that can cover their room and board. Mary Bailey then arranges for a Nashville music lawyer to see her perform, who then introduces her to her first American music label, Mercury. And that is how Shania Twain, the superstar, begins her musical journey.

So a couple of things about this book: it's very frank. Shania confesses to being terrified of getting fired from her music label if her first album isn't well-received by the American public. She feels trapped into being labeled as only a "country" artist, when she loves different musical genres including pop and R'n'B--but feels no choice but to give in to her bosses, even when she hates the songs she records. Her soul-mate producer husband Mutt Lange ends up betraying her. The touring nearly does her in, as she can barely cope with the sheer physical exhaustion of it. And just when she takes a break from singing to raise her son and supervise renovations to their new house, her personal life collapses.

Overall, this is one of the most intimate self-penned memoirs I read. Most stars are satisfied to give the reader just a "basic idea" of their lives. Right from the introduction, Shania insists she doesn't want to hide anything. And she doesn't. Even if one is not a fan or doesn't know her that well (for the record, I didn't), her life is a fascinating story.

The moment after I saw Shania's interview, I ordered her book. Not for me, but as a gift I knew would be treasured by the recipient. I couldn't resist looking at all the pictures first, though. Then I read a few pages, and couldn't put it down. What a brave young woman to reveal the harrowing details of her traumatized childhood. Although her personal story cannot be duplicated, there are parallels with which others may identify. Shania was blessed with a unique vocal gift and a heart for survival. Readers should not be ashamed of their own backgrounds, but inspired to become the best person they were created to be. The radiant performer singing confidently on stage is a lovely jewel; once a diamond in the rough. I pray for God's blessing upon her life.

The book is certainly interesting, and offers a straight-forward view of a life that has been littered with amazing highs, and unbelievable lows. Its hard to understand how someone can still have so much love and respect for her parents when abuse, unwanted touches, and hugely inappropriate comments linger in memory. However, she's a different person than I am and I cannot begin to imagine how she processes these "moments" in her life. The book is quite a read with much devoted to her childhood (16 chapters or so), and the rest devoted to her whirlwind career, marriage, and life beyond the affair. I certainly admire this amazing entertainer and her ability to roll with the punches, even though I find it hard to understand how she still holds her ex-husband in such high regard. Perhaps it was so her child wouldn't have to read or hear about the bad aspects of his fathers character and the choices he made in life. If so, she has my respect.

That said, if just a casual reader picked up the book, I'd say start with chapter 17 and go from there. It offers the most in regards to when the public started noticing her, and how she achieved so much in such little time.