Rating: 
Summary: a good read, but *not true*!
Review: "Mom and Pop were just a couple of kids when they got married. He was eighteen, she was sixteen, and I was three."
These are the first lines on the first page. It has also been researched, and explained in every other documented biography of Billie Holiday that this is in fact not true. at all. I agree that this is a good book... it is interesting to read, but you must be aware that nearly all you are reading is either complete fiction or gross exaggeration. If you want to read a good story, read this. if you want to learn what Billie Holiday's life was about, read any other biography of her... because these were written to set the record straight.if you must insist that these are Billie's words, then you are arguing that Billie is a liar. why she would go to lengths to do this is absurd, which leaves but William F. Dufty... a guy who was paid by a publisher to write something people would buy.
Rating:
Summary: a good read, but *not true*!
Review: "Mom and Pop were just a couple of kids when they got married. He was eighteen, she was sixteen, and I was three."
These are the first lines on the first page. It has also been researched, and explained in every other documented biography of Billie Holiday that this is in fact not true. at all. I agree that this is a good book... it is interesting to read, but you must be aware that nearly all you are reading is either complete fiction or gross exaggeration. If you want to read a good story, read this. if you want to learn what Billie Holiday's life was about, read any other biography of her... because these were written to set the record straight. if you must insist that these are Billie's words, then you are arguing that Billie is a liar. why she would go to lengths to do this is absurd, which leaves but William F. Dufty... a guy who was paid by a publisher to write something people would buy.
Rating:
Summary: a good read, but *not true*!
Review: "Mom and Pop were just a couple of kids when they got married. He was eighteen, she was sixteen, and I was three."
These are the first lines on the first page. It has also been researched, and explained in every other documented biography of Billie Holiday that this is in fact not true. at all. I agree that this is a good book... it is interesting to read, but you must be aware that nearly all you are reading is either complete fiction or gross exaggeration. If you want to read a good story, read this. if you want to learn what Billie Holiday's life was about, read any other biography of her... because these were written to set the record straight. if you must insist that these are Billie's words, then you are arguing that Billie is a liar. why she would go to lengths to do this is absurd, which leaves but William F. Dufty... a guy who was paid by a publisher to write something people would buy.
Rating:
Summary: Harrowing
Review: Billie Holliday is probably the most gifted and tragic heroine of her time. She overcame poverty racism and endless failed relationships to become one of the greatest jazz singers of the 20th century. She also paid the ultimate price as few singers before or after Lady Day, suffered her art the way she did.
While critics may doubt the reliability of her memoirs ( some say she never even read the book, let alone had a hand in writing it).
Her life is fully probed and documented and who really knows more about Billie than Billie ( although some parts are confused and contradictory. But this was very near the end of her life and is understandable).
The book comes more highly recommended than the movie (It's all about Miss Ross).
But if you really want to learn about Billie's real personal thoughts and feelings, just crank up your CD player and listen to that voice.
It speaks volumes and from her heart. That tells you more than any written document ever will.
Rating: 
Summary: She sang what she felt
Review: Billie Holliday lived a sad and tortured life. She was always a victim. A victim of the racist times, the men, the music and everyone else who took advantage of her. Through it all she managed to sing and produce music that made so many people happy.
The book is easy to read, but choppy at times. If you are looking for historical accuracy, look elsewhere. The "fictionalized" parts off her life do not detract from the story. She or William Dufty may have taken some liberties, but they are used to make a point. I strongly recommend this book to any Billie Holliday fan.
Rating:
Summary: She sang what she felt
Review: Billie Holliday lived a sad and tortured life. She was always a victim. A victim of the racist times, the men, the music and everyone else who took advantage of her. Through it all she managed to sing and produce music that made so many people happy.
The book is easy to read, but choppy at times. If you are looking for historical accuracy, look elsewhere. The "fictionalized" parts off her life do not detract from the story. She or William Dufty may have taken some liberties, but they are used to make a point. I strongly recommend this book to any Billie Holliday fan.
Rating: 
Summary: A heartbreaking memoir
Review: From the most important singer of last century comes this evocative, heart rendering and realistic book by the Lady herself. Billie Holiday rises from the rubble of abuse, prostitution, drugs and racism to sing to us with her inimitable voice.
Rating:
Summary: MOST HONEST AUTOBIOGRAPHY EVER WRITTEN
Review: I came across this book at a local library. Never has a more honest reflection of oneself been written. Her words are so vivid on the struggles she has lived through. What a Classy Lady!!!!
Rating:
Summary: A touching, important book.
Review: I felt compelled to write this review because I thought it was important to respond to so many of the comments that criticize this book for its fictionality. While it is certainly true that this book is far from "historically accurate," whatever that may mean, that in no way diminishes this book either as an important work or as a testimonial of Billie Holiday's life. The artistic liberties that William Dufty takes help to place this work within a longer tradition of African American women's writing that stems in large part from nineteenth century slave narratives, and, as a result, this book is fascinating in its awareness of and interactions with these traditions. It also remains devoted to a portraytal of Miss Holiday that exchanges accuracy for the sake not just of readability and commercial viability, but also for the sake of placing her story into and in opposition to a racist, sexist climate that ultimately destroyed one of the most important artists in American history. A factual, chronological account of Miss Holiday's life would have crushed the importance of her story in ways that Dufty attempts to resist (with varying success) throughout this vitally important work of writing.
Rating:
Summary: A touching, important book.
Review: I felt compelled to write this review because I thought it was important to respond to so many of the comments that criticize this book for its fictionality. While it is certainly true that this book is far from "historically accurate," whatever that may mean, that in no way diminishes this book either as an important work or as a testimonial of Billie Holiday's life. The artistic liberties that William Dufty takes help to place this work within a longer tradition of African American women's writing that stems in large part from nineteenth century slave narratives, and, as a result, this book is fascinating in its awareness of and interactions with these traditions. It also remains devoted to a portraytal of Miss Holiday that exchanges accuracy for the sake not just of readability and commercial viability, but also for the sake of placing her story into and in opposition to a racist, sexist climate that ultimately destroyed one of the most important artists in American history. A factual, chronological account of Miss Holiday's life would have crushed the importance of her story in ways that Dufty attempts to resist (with varying success) throughout this vitally important work of writing.
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