Reba: My Story by Reba McEntire, Tom Carter
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.38 You Save: $3.61 (45%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Reba: My Story
Book Review: THE BEST BOOK EVER!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I think the world of Reba and loved every minute of this book as well as her others!!! Would recommend to any Reba Review: Reba : The Truth, and Other Fairy TalesSummary: 3 Stars First of all, I really like Reba's writing style. Its as if you're sitting with an old friend and catching up with whats happening in their lives. That said, the positives end with that. As a fan of Reba's music, I have always been perplexed and annoyed by some of her musical decisions. Obviously I cant be upset about her personal choices in her life, because its her life, she can do what she wants to - but her attempt at sainthood in this sad autobiography was very, very disappointing.
I think Dolly Parton was probably the only country singer who actually sang about her background and childhood with some degree of truth. Here, Reba contradicts herself so often that its hard to empathize. I especially found her account of `that' tragic incident (her entire band killed in an airplane crash) very strange and distant, as if she didn't want to dwell too much on it. She also seems very defensive at various stages in the book, as if the public opinion really did matter so much to her. Then she follows it up by vehemently stating that she doesn't care what people think. I don't know, maybe she's bipolar?
I think the worst part of the book is where Reba defends her relationship with Narvel Blackstock. This was a man that the entire country music industry knew she was having an affair with for almost five years, while she was also married to another man at the same time. In an attempt to sanitize this, Reba gives us curious, vague, and often inexplicable stories of how they NEVER kissed or held hands while she was still married, and how every romantic notion she had about Blackstock came MUCH after her divorce. Really Reba? Are people that stupid, or have you deluded yourself into believing your own version of the truth?
The musical memories are fun though. I always wondered how she came about singing Bobbie Gentry's "Fancy" (one of the all time great songs) and she tells the tale so well. Also, her insecurities and neuroses are very similar to most peoples' but she does come across as very determined and hard-fisted. Perhaps that's why many people think shes a bit of a harlot, but frankly don't read this book if you want to GAIN respect for Reba. I lost much of the respect I had for her after reading this, because it seems that she's taken every major portion of her life and polished it up to an extent that she emerges looking like some sort of heroine. Seriously.
A great work of fiction. An autobiography it is not. Take all of Reba's reminisces with a Manhattan-sized pinch of salt.
Book Review: ANYTHING BY TOM CARTER IS SENSATIONALIZED!!
Summary: 2 Stars
Reba McEntire is an egotist!! Everything she has done has always been about her and how she can get her name publicized. Tom Carter sensationalizes all of McEntire's idealisms and quirks. In a word, McEntire is a phony through and through. I found very little in this autobiography that edified or inspired. As a matter of fact, there were a few things in there that McEntire should admit the truth on....particularly the fact that she was messing around with Narvel Blackstock long before she ever divorced Charlie Battles.Book Review: THERE'S VERY LITTLE TO BELIEVE IN THIS BOOK!
Summary: 1 Stars
I lost all respect for McEntire when she abandoned her country roots to record what she says "sells". Bah! Then this book came out and she attempts to glorify herself even further!! Her descriptions of what she went through the night she lost her band in a plane crash are sensationalized. No doubt she suffered horrors, anyone would have. But then less than a week later she went on the Academy Awards show to promote herself singing "I'm Checking Out" a song that was nominated from the movie "Postcards From the Edge". I remember that night and while I'm convinced she was grieving over her loss, she was still out to get her name before the public, something she loves to do!! It was in very, very bad taste for her to do this. Then all the malarky about her relationship with her ex-husband and her current husband?? Come on, how stupid does she think we are??? I'll never forget that fan fair year when she left her fans high and dry in the hot, humidity and they tore her pictures to a pulp and stomped on them. With good cause. Yet she goes on to say in this book that she couldn't sign autographs because she couldn't put herself or her precious entourage through the rigors! Well hello!! Then, she has the audacity to say that to quote her "I also think more of my fans than that. I know they were tired". Hah!! If she knew they were tired she would have had someone inform them that she would not be signing autographs before the lines started forming!! I agree with the previous reviewer who says she's a phony. Her own sister had a falling out with her and she even trashes her in the book! Message: Don't mess with this redhead and don't ever get on her bad side. The woman is nuts!!