Soraya: A Life of Music, A Legacy of Hope
by Soraya
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Book Summary Information
Author: SorayaEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-09-28
ISBN: 0470171278
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: Wiley
Book Reviews of Soraya: A Life of Music, A Legacy of Hope
Book Review: An amazing memoir!
Summary: 5 Stars
Although I'm a fan of Soraya's music, I never followed the tabloids so I never knew about her breast cancer. Her death on May 10, 2006 surprised and stunned me. When her memoir was published, I bought the book; but it sat on my shelf unread. After nearly three years, I began reading it. I had very much admired Soraya as a singer and songwriter. After reading her memoir, I admire her even more as a person who was a caring daughter, a doting aunt, a loyal friend, a champion for breast cancer awareness, and as a cancer fighter.
After a famous person dies, it usually others who write about them. With this book, it's Soraya telling you about herself. It's like having a private conversation with her in which she reveals intimate details about her life, her dreams, her goals, her family, etc. She writes about the meaning and inspiration for some of her songs. Knowing the songs' background gave them entirely new meanings to me and I now better appreciate them.
While reading Soraya's memoir, I used post-it notes to mark interesting information and passages. There are post-it notes on nearly every other page. Here are a few interesting tidbits of facts about Soraya that I didn't know:
She was a classically trained violinist.
At 12 yrs old, she was a violinist for the New York City Youth Symphony Orchestra.
High school valedictorian
High school council President
High school field hockey team Captain
She was lefty but willed herself to learn to play a right-handed guitar because her parents couldn't afford to buy her another guitar.
Attended Douglass College at Rutgers on a full academic scholarship.
Named woman of the year at Rutgers.
Worked as a flight attendant for United Airlines.
"En Esta Noche" and "On Nights Like This" are about the night her mother died.
"Avalancha" was inspired by Stevie Nicks' "Landslide" when Soraya's world was falling down around her.
She was her nephew's YMCA soccer team coach while batting breast cancer.
Soraya wrote songs for Ricky Martin, Ha-Ash, and others.
What I didn't know and admired about Soraya could go on and on. What really surprised me was her determination to still write songs and perform while battling breast cancer to nearly the end of her life. I kept saying to myself "WOW!"
In our lifetime, we will know a friend or family member who will battle a terminal illness. We ourselves might find ourselves facing a terminal illness. After reading Soraya's memoir, I can now better understand those who face such illness and if I should have to face the same fate, I hope I show the same courage as Soraya.
Summary of Soraya: A Life of Music, A Legacy of Hope
"From the moment I met Soraya I knew she was a winner, an amazingly talented and beautiful woman with something very spe-cial. Her total dedication in everything she did and her selfless efforts to help others were and still are an inspiration not only to those of us who have had the privilege to be around her, but also to the thousands of people who still maintain her name and mission. Soraya's courage to face every challenge is something that I will never forget . . . her words of hope and her music will live on in our souls."--Ricky Martin
"Sometimes in life you meet someone special, and you know in that moment that they have a greater view on life . . . Soraya was one of those people. She remains a strong and positive memory for me."
--Bob Waldron, President, Yoplait USA
"Soraya's music is infinitely intimate and precious, crafted and executed with the love and care of an artisan. There are few complete artists, but Soraya is one of them-- a composer, guitarist, producer, arranger, and singer with a particularly emotive voice. The measure of her worth in the eyes of the music industry was obvious during the 2004 Latin Grammys, when she won the Grammy for the newly created Best Singer-Songwriter category, besting icons like Juan Gabriel, Serrat, and Leon Gieco. Many will remember Soraya as a spokesperson, an educator, and a source of inspiration for so many people who battle cancer. Yet her most lasting legacy is the one she continues to transmit through her songs, her music, and her guitar."
--Leila Cobo, Billboard?magazine
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