I Walked the Line: My Life with Johnny by Vivian Cash
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Book Reviews of I Walked the Line: My Life with Johnny
Book Review: Was really surprised
Summary: 4 Stars
Was really surprised at what I learned about Johnny from his letters. Enjoyed the book but did get a little tired of the repetitive line of the letters. All in all, not a bad read. Enjoyed getting to know Vivian.Book Review: Heartbreaking
Summary: 3 Stars
First of all, keep in mind as mentioned before....that %90 of this book consists of love letters from Johnny to Vivian. I almost found it uncomfortable to read these letters,like I was sneaking a peak in someones diary or desk drawer, but they are a window into the mans soul...a rare window into pre-drug afflicted J.R. Cash's soul at that...and utterly heartbreaking to read when you know how the story ends.
I don't see anything hateful here,Vivian Cash kept silent for all her life and the shots taken here are not all that harsh when you consider all things. Her waiting until June passed to tell these stories can be looked at two ways, it was done mercifuly or to someone not around to defend herself. Either way, it's a drop in the ocean for a woman who swallowed a lot of pain and lets not forget that bottom line is June was sleeping with her husband.
I don't hold any of the three main characters up to sainthood, any more than I do myself. I find lessons and inspiration from all 3 of them.
I don't find it hard to believe that Johnny would endorse this book, especially that late in his life. Johnny Cash never lied or hid from his sins, he lived with a lot of guilt from hurting many people, and he also helped a lot of people. Listen to his American Recordings Era music, watch the vidoe to "Hurt" and you'll see/hear a man trying to make peace with himself,his past and his faith.
There is nothing shocking about any of this, other than finally hearing Vivians voice, which is something many of us wanted to hear and I for one, actually expected much worse things to come out of this. Aslo nice, are the rare pictures of Vivian, she was incredibly beautiful.
If you've read, Johhnys autobiography, Marshall Grants book and John Jr's book, then you already know that these were real people, with complex feelings, emotions and times. Imperfect, just like the rest of us.
If you want fairy tales, watch the blockbuster movie, live in LaLa land and in denial.
I'm giving it 3 stars, only because it's more a collection of love letters than a full writing by Vivian Cash. But a great book for any die-hard Cash fan or romantic.
Book Review: Two books in one
Summary: 3 Stars
As I assume most here, I picked up this book due to my interest in Johnny Cash, and also after having seen the Oscar-winning "Walk the Line" movie a few years ago, I was curious to get a different perspective.
"I Walked the Line: My Life with Johnny" (326 pages) is actually 2 books into one.After a brief introduction from Vivian on how she met Johnny, the book then turns into a collection of multiple letters that Johnny wrote to Vivian while being stationed in Europe from 1951 to 1954. Be warned: that collection of letters covers about 250 pages of the book. The output of Johnny during those 3 years is simply amazing, and at times revealing: after having received a letter from Vivian in which she apparently described an evening out at a bar, Johnny writes back: "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself, Viv, but I still don't like for you to go where everybody is drinking. ... Vivian, honey, just do it for me. Stay away from those damned places." That is even more revelatory later when Vivian notes that the only request Johnny made for their wedding reception (in 1954) that it be alcohol-free. Wow! What a contrast to the long way down Johnny would eventually take, which Vivian blames almost entirely on June Carter, incidentally.
The last 75 pages or so of the book describe the good and bad times of Vivian's marriage to Johnny in the 1954-1966 era, and frankly it's heartbreaking to see it all spilled out like this. Once June Carter came in the picture, it became clear what the outcome would be, but the difference of Johnny of the early years and in the later years is startling. Vivian describes it as a woman of great faith, and that is what rescues her (she remarried and found love, although it's pretty clear Johnny was the love of her life).
Book Review: Not what I thought it would be...
Summary: 3 Stars
The majority of this book is letters that Johnny wrote to Vivian while overseas; shortly after they met. They dated for three weeks, he went away for three years, returned and they married a month later and had their first child 10 months later. Johnny Cash at the age of 19-22 is not the Johnny Cash that Vivian spent most of her marriage with or that the public wants to read about: the drug-addicted, womanizing, rebel Johnny Cash. I would have liked to have seen a much more in-depth look at their marriage and his addiction, womanizing, violent tendencies, and pursuit by/of June Carter, and instead we get glimpses. I had the book "Man In Black" so I guess it is time to read his book "Cash." I will give Vivian this credit though: what she went through was very painful and what many women who lived through it then and now can gain insight from. It had to have been very hard for her to silently accept what happened and I don't believe she ever tried to profit because she could have told her story to the tabloids in 1968, or even 1988 when her kids were grown and could hear it. I love all things Johnny and any fan should read the book but don't expect anything more than a ton of love letters from a very young man and a compressed rendering of the man we all saw.Book Review: Lines have been walked..
Summary: 3 Stars
I enjoyed this book and it was interesting to have a new insight on the life of Johnny Cash. Like a few people have mentioned it does contain love letters, which is the majority of the book. Vivian was a beautiful woman and can see why Johnny Cash feel for her. It must have been rewarding to write this book and let the world know what she went through being Mrs. Johnny Cash. Vivian loved this man (and he her) but it is funny because I feel from the book that she never once really blames Johnny Cash, but always defends him, she truly loved this man so much that she let him go. But to me it isn't about blame but about the life of a woman who feel in love with a man (he wanted), stuck by him for her life time even if they weren't together and in the end saw him again.