On her way: the life and music of shania twain [Paperback]

Barbara Hager (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1998

Shania Twain has become one of the biggest names in country music. But the millions who have bought such smash-hit albums as The Woman in Me don't know the whole story--revealed here for the first time and based on extensive interviews with Twain's friends, family and colleagues.

Fans will learn about Twain's turbulent childhood, the devastating loss of her parents when she was only 21, the creative dynamic she enjoys with her husband, producer "Mutt" Lange, the influence of her Native American background on her life and career, and much more. Also included are eight pages of photos, a discography, lists of awards, and other facts for those who want to know more about this superb singer and songwriter who's truly "on her way."

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (December 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425164519
• ISBN-13: 978-0425164518
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,202,261 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It was all I could do to put it down before finished it., April 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: On her way: the life and music of shania twain (Paperback)

Today a lot of country singers are making movies there lives and music.I think that if a producer were to give this angel a script about any thing she could bring him home an Oscar.All a producer has to do to see if she can act is to watch her videos,from the emotional Home is where his heart isn't anymore to a very sexy Man I feel like a woman.He will see an entire scope of a true actress. This movie doesn't have to be about music and well it shouldn't be. This Lady of LIfe, can do it all just give Her the chance to show all of us all of her many talents, that is what I ask for.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AWESOME BOOK!, June 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: On her way: the life and music of shania twain (Paperback)

Very detailed and interesting. I got 2 Shania biographies for Christmas 98 but this one was the bomb. It is very good.

3.0 out of 5 stars Shania's Road To Fame, August 23, 2005

By 

GoldenGateGirl "S* Star" (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On her way: the life and music of shania twain (Paperback)

I enjoy many of Shania's songs. I checked this book out at the library to get a little more insight into this beautiful singer. Shania has many good qualities like determination, intelligence and dedication. But I also noticed that Shania can be cold, deceiving and greedy. I based these observations based on what I read in this book.

I don't see her as a real country singer. She's a pop singer because she sings everything and used Nashville as a springboard to international success thanks to Mutt Lange. Shania's public persona is highly contradicting and I like clear cut people, even if I dislike them. At least I know who they really are. I still like some of her music, but I find her to be fake because she tries to hard to be all things to all people.

I also don't like how she's exploited her personal life for her own gain. Shania's publicity personnel makes it look like she's the only country singer to grow up poor and hungry. Isn't that the life of your typical country singer? To make Shania look more interesting she and her people ran a campaign on her exaggerated Native heritage. So now she's poor and Native. What a great way to sell records, right? Since when does being adopted by a Native Canadian make you one? I guess that means that Angelina Jolie's Cambodian and Ethiopian children are now Caucasian because they are being brought up by an Anglo mother. It's the same concept.

Then Shania demands privacy after she's courted the press and blabbed about her personal life ranging from her mustard sandwiches to how old she was when she gave it up. She even requested to not have her records promoted in Switzerland in order to avoid the press after she created all of this. How hypocritical is that? You can't have your cake and eat it.

Shania talks about how down to earth and unaffected by fame she is yet has a 100 room Swiss chateau and a huge chunk of land in New Zealand. Does this scream diva or what? Ka-Ching! Pun intended. I normally wouldn't care about these things, but I hold people to their word.

These are some of the things that irk me about Shania.

The book talks about a performance she had with The Boss. Well, I never saw or heard the likes of it. I even checked it out online. Was this made up by the author? The author made some statements that I was not able to verify later. This takes away from her credibility. Some things were verifyable such as her 1995 performance at Fan Fair where she was concerned that she didn't sound well because there were technical difficulties.

Overall, the book was a good read because they discuss the politics in the music biz and if you are a die hard Shania Fan you'll love anything with her name on it.