I Put A Spell On You: The Autobiography Of Nina Simone (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Around 1855 in North Carolina a shoot-out took place between some white settlers and the last band of hostile Indians left hiding out in the..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, Miz Mazzy, Nina Simone (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Simone grew up during the Depression in a small North Carolina town where, thanks to a farsighted music teacher and caring neighbors who paid for her lessons, she was trained as a classical pianist. After attending Juilliard on a scholarship she was rejected by the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia (a setback she attributes to the fact that she is black), and she became a nightclub entertainer, singing and accompanying herself on the piano and, with her skillful improvisations of popular songs in classical style, quickly becoming a star. In the 1960s she joined the civil rights movement and became well known as a protest singer. Then, in the 1970s and '80s, disillusioned with the U.S., she went into self-imposed exile in Africa and Europe. Unfortunately, written with freelancer Cleary, her account of these later years, in which she concentrates on personal problems and a number of tiresome love affairs, lacks the interest of the early part of the book, which describes her unusual childhood and remarkable rise to fame. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"As emotive as her music...[it] skillfully weaves the personal with the political." -- Rolling Stone three star review 10/10/03

"As honest an autobiography as anyone could hope for from such an important role model for African-American girls." -- Michigan Citizen 7/18/04

"Essential reading...A heartfelt tale of a humble, gifted prodigy who never allowed fame to obscure her true sense of self." -- Jazz Times December 2003

"Fiercely honest and moving." -- National Black Review

"Impressive...delivers quite a compelling story...important material for anyone interested in learning more about Nina Simone." -- All About Jazz November 2003

"One can't help admiring her survivor's spirit." -- New York Times Book Review

"Refreshingly forthright...startling, absorbing...It's a helluva tale." -- Blender March 2004 --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (August 21, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306805251
• ISBN-13: 978-0306805257
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #752,164 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A book of facts not feeling, February 9, 2003

By	z. Dolli. o "scorpiotype" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Nina Simone is one my All-time favorite artists and to read her story in her own words was quite a thrill. She has led a very interesting, unusual, and adventurous life. However, I found myself wishing that she would be a little bit more introspective in the telling of the story. She went from event to event without really giving a detailed picture of how she actually felt. When the book was over I didn't really feel any different than when I began reading the book, just more knowlegeable.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Nina Simone is great, but this book needed more work, January 9, 2003

By A Customer

Nina Simone is a great artist with a compelling story to tell. Unfortunately, little of that story comes across in this book. Ms. Simone shares all sorts of details about her lovers, but very little about her music. There is almost nothing in the book about her recording sessions or why she sings particular songs the way she does. While Ms. Simone is very frank about her personal life, I would have liked to have learned more about her music. The book is also confusing because Ms. Simone will spend many pages on just a few days, and then entire years will be dismissed by a sentence or two. Ms. Simone's collaborator should have edited the book better and drawn out more music-related stories from her.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy this book, November 16, 1999

By A Customer

Just about the only thing as rich, as continuously shocking, moving, funny, proud, lusty, painful, regal, beautiful and bizarre as Nina Simone's music is her life, told here with frankness that'll make you weep. Buy this book. Buy the Colpix years anthology 2 CD set. Send them to your friends.