Customer Reviews

Voice of an Angel : My Life (So Far)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

As a one-time Charlotte Church fan, I was expecting to learn something I didn't know about Charlotte, from this reading experience. However, instead of any career revelations, I was only given an insight into the dark side of her personality. To begin with, at 15, there hasn't been enough of a life experience to justify an autobiography. That's why no one else has ever attempted that at the age of 15. However, to the extent that she has had experiences, this book only serves to summarize that which has already been revealed in her TV interviews, website trivia, and CD liner notes. She attempts to embellish upon that with facts and anecdotes about people in her life. However these people appear no more remarkable than those of you who are reading this review. Charlotte attempts to try and convince us that because these relationships were hers, that they are more
special than the rest of us would enjoy. In fact,I found her entire approach to this work surrounded with an aura of conceit; a trait not unnoticed by the London Times which credited her with "the most lethal ego since Descartes".

However, with what has been speculated to have been an attempt by Charlotte to spice up an otherwise dull bio, possibly required by the publisher, she reaches an all-time low in autobios when she reveals info early on about her parents, which otherwise should have been left alone. These items include 1) inferences that her mother was promiscuous, 2) doubts regarding the virtues of her own origin, 3) the fact that her father had to be dragged out of a pub by her aunt across the street to complete the wedding ceremony with her mother 4) demeaning statements about her father's ability as a Rugby player, when in fact he was actually National Class. These were items that no one needed to know and should have been left within the family.

Another book agenda item appears at the very end of the book where she discusses her experiences on the Heroes For The Planet Show. Its noteworthy that her Voice of an Angel Concert which really launched her career here in the U.S. via PBS is barely touched upon in the book, while she takes 4 pages in an attempt to glorify the HFTP Show. The promotion for the HFTP Show was in fact so controversial (some referred to it as fraudulent) that it sent her CD sales into a tailspin from which they have never fully recovered.

People Magazine rated this book as one of the worst for 2001 in its year-ending issue, and I would concur wholeheartedly with that opinion.

In conclusion, the only people to whom I would recommend purchasing this book are A) Those contemplating an unauthorized bio of Charlotte, 2) Disciples of Descartes, & 3) The incorrigibly curious, who cannot otherwise locate a copy at their local library. My recommendation to the above is to take advantage of the $6.99 used book price here. Distribution has ceased at retail outlets and a used book reads just as good as a new one.

Well, I can say that this book did nothing for me. I'm sorry to be harsh, but the tone was whiney, and implied "See? I'm better than all of you but I still like sleepovers!" In short, after reading this book, I kicked over a crate of them at a [local] bookstore...

The best way to describe Charlotte Church's Autobiography is a diary by a school-girl. There is nothing spectacular about this work and if graded by a teacher in school as a composition, in an English class, would probably get a "C". This work just seems to ramble on about anything and everything that ever came into this girls life. She talks about a lot of people including relatives and those who have been involved with her musically or in support of her music. She attempts to grab the readers interest by shamelessly exposing certain, otherwise private, moments in her parents life, and then attempting to make jest of everything. There have obviously been some negative experiences in her life like her change in management, but she just jumps over that leaving the reader wondering when her "Unauthorized Biography" will be coming out. She seems extremely confident in her discussion of just about everything; a confidence which appears to be tantamount to conceit. The major question with which I am still perplexed is why would a girl of 15 be writing an Autobiography? It is doubtful that this book will sell many copies for the simple reason that it doesn't tell anyone anything they probably 1) don't already know or 2) need to know.

It will interesting to see if, in 10 years, Miss Church has improved her writing ability and is willing to share ALL of her experiences, good or bad. That is assuming that in 10 years, anyone still wants to know.

Now that's said, and truer words have never been spoken. But I suppose that when I say that, I mean that Charlotte Church is a wonderful, unspoiled girl. Not a writer. If you read this book expecting a writer, expect a huge disappointment. I think I wanted more poise out of this small singer than the long winded sentences and the chapters that droned on and on about trivial things that mattered not one whit to me, an avid fan. I wanted to be able to see polish in the writing, and feel that there was some purpose to this book. But unfortunately, there wasn't. Charlotte wrote this book as if she was talking to her best girlfriend, and the editors, apparently thinking the world would be charmed by this, revised nothing. But it isn't charming, it's annoying and terrifying to read--the grammar is terrible and the sentences are choppy and the story without a plot. Don't get me wrong, I really like Charlotte, but enough is enough. Just because she's an amazing singer doesn't mean that she should write a book. Because she shouldn't. And you shouldn't buy it. If you have any need to read it, get it from the library, for pete's sake. Let's not encourage such terrible writing from the publishers, please. We have enough degeneration in the writing abilities of American children as it is.

As a child she was remarkable; however, as a young lady she is quite unremarkable. Her talent has not increased with age; furthermore, she has developed an odd public persona in which she seems comfortable playing the role of tart and musical savant.

I had expected something much more promising; however, the best that can now be said of her is that she is typical.

First of all, I'm NOT belittling her book solely on the reason that she's young. I'm belittling it because it's....well, BAD. It's so corny! The girl can't write to safe her life. It's written in the style of a diary of an 8 year old. Plus, she didn't have much to say. If you want a celeb auto worth reading, I strongly suggest you pick up one of these autos: Drew Barrymore, Britney Spears, Jenny McCarthy. They're all young, but they've got a lot to say about the hell they've gone through their lives. (Or the hard work they went through, in Britney's case.) Everyone can relate to that.
Bottom Line: DON'T BUY THIS BOOK!

Charlotte can sing a whole lot better than she can write! I wasn't impressed by her biography---too naive for my tastes. It's meant to inspire, but while I didn't toss it down in disgust, it didn't make my best book list. Pass this one by, folks.

I bought this book recently at the Dollar Tree for $1 because I was curious. I read it and thought it was cute. BUT, that having been said, I believe the publishers really erred in how they originally released this book; they took it FAR too seriously for a "biography" purportedly written by a 15-year-old!

First of all, the book as released was too expensive. The audience to which it should have been geared was pre-teen girls, unlikely to pay $22.95 for a (thin) hardcover book; it should have been released directly to paperback. Secondly, since the book was written in a chatty diary format, it would have been appropriate and more entertaining to have had portions of it in Charlotte's own handwriting (assuming it's not too dreadful), and other portions done like a scrapbook, particularly the tales of her travels.

Given how Charlotte's life has changed since she wrote it, this book is also a nostalgic read. The "angelic" little girl with the lovely clear soprano voice seems to be long gone at this point, replaced by a "pop tart" who appears to want to be in the mold of a Britney Spears or a Christina Aguilara.

Charlotte Church can sing. what she Can't do is write. in fact I'm not all that sure she wrote all of this book herself. I think its more then likely that she had a ghost writer to help her. this book does give some good info about charlottes life and early career, but there is really WAY to much about her family. she also says that she read wuthering heights by Jane Austen. right. bottom line: get her CDs not her book. our get this book from the library like I did.

After reading this book, you'll know what music is to Charlotte; it's in her. I thought the book was well written. I don't know why some people seem to be passionately against her. One reviewer says Charlotte doesn't write about her music, but that's not true. Most of this book IS about her music! As a matter of fact, I bought "Voice of an Angel" after reading this book. I only wish she showed her Welshness more in the book.