Rating: 
Summary: a stark self-portrait by an incredible woman
Review: I picked this book up because I love the woman's voice. I wanted to know more about her; wanted to know where all the pain and dignity came from. I must confess that there was some trepidation on my part...I was sure that her version of the story would be sugar-coated. My fears were unfounded. Billie leaves nothing out. She openly discusses her addictions to heroin & alcohol as well as a brief stint as a prostitute. Hers is certainly a harrowing tale, but it is tempered with dignity, honesty & intelligence. She was as interesting as she was talented. My only complaint is that her death is not covered. But, alas, this is an autobiography and death can't really be covered in an autobiography. Get her life from her and seek the terrible story of her death from another source. There is enough tragedy and triumph here to satisfy the strongest craving. Ms. Holiday & Mr. Duffy taught me alot about jazz and the lifestyle surrounding it, but, more than that, they made me want to know more...to hear more...to feel more. This is an amazing chronicle of one of music's most gifted and soulful human beings. If you have the slightest spark of interest, you would be cheating yourself by skipping this wonderful & haunting book.
Rating:
Summary: the good, the bad & the ugly...beautifully recounted
Review: I picked this book up because the woman's voice moves me. I wanted to learn more about her; wanted to know where all of the pain and dignity came from. I'll admit that I was apprehensive...I was certain that her version of the story would be sugar-coated. My fears were unfounded. Billie doesn't leave anything out. She seems to understand that darker points of her life were where the gift was coming from. She candidly discusses her heroin & alcohol addictions, as well as a brief bout of prostitution. She was as interesting as she was talented. Hers is assuredly a harrowing tale, but it is tempered with dignity, honesty & intelligence. She possessed a wisdom that can only derive from a lifetime of tragic mistakes. My one complaint would be that the disturbing chain of events leading to her death aren't covered here. But, alas, this is an autobiography & death can't really be covered in an autobiography. Get her life from her...try Donald Clarke's Wishing On The Moon: The Life & Times Of Billie Holiday(Viking/1994) for adequate coverage of her untimely death. There is enough trgedy and triumph in Lady Sings to satisfy the strongest craving. Ms. Holiday & Mr. Duffy educated me about jazz and its lifestyle, but, more than that, they made me want to know more...to experience more. Lady Sings The Blues is an amazing chronicle of one of music's most gifted and soulful human beings. If you have the slightest spark of interest, you would be cheating yourself by passing on this wonderfully haunting book. Billie Holiday saw that her story's value was dependent upon absolute honesty on her part. This book would mean nothing without it.
Rating:
Summary: the good, the bad & the ugly...beautifully recounted
Review: I picked this book up because the woman's voice moves me. I wanted to learn more about her; wanted to know where all of the pain and dignity came from. I'll admit that I was apprehensive...I was certain that her version of the story would be sugar-coated. My fears were unfounded. Billie doesn't leave anything out. She seems to understand that darker points of her life were where the gift was coming from. She candidly discusses her heroin & alcohol addictions, as well as a brief bout of prostitution. She was as interesting as she was talented. Hers is assuredly a harrowing tale, but it is tempered with dignity, honesty & intelligence. She possessed a wisdom that can only derive from a lifetime of tragic mistakes. My one complaint would be that the disturbing chain of events leading to her death aren't covered here. But, alas, this is an autobiography & death can't really be covered in an autobiography. Get her life from her...try Donald Clarke's Wishing On The Moon: The Life & Times Of Billie Holiday(Viking/1994) for adequate coverage of her untimely death. There is enough trgedy and triumph in Lady Sings to satisfy the strongest craving. Ms. Holiday & Mr. Duffy educated me about jazz and its lifestyle, but, more than that, they made me want to know more...to experience more. Lady Sings The Blues is an amazing chronicle of one of music's most gifted and soulful human beings. If you have the slightest spark of interest, you would be cheating yourself by passing on this wonderfully haunting book. Billie Holiday saw that her story's value was dependent upon absolute honesty on her part. This book would mean nothing without it.
Rating: 
Summary: Glimpse into a unique life
Review: Other reviewers have made the case that this autobiography is less than accurate. That may be true however I believe the book captures the spirit of Billie Holiday as well as the tenor of the times in which she lived and consequently it is an important and very interesting book.The tragedy surrounding Holiday's life and struggle with addiction is well known and yet here it is dealt with in such a gripping and personal way that the story is moving and emotionally wrenching. Billie Holiday emerges from this book as a warm living human being with a remarkable amount of wisdom regarding her own struggles and failings. One would expect an autobiography to seek to afix blame elsewhere or excuse shortcomings. None of that is found here. This was an inteligent, wise and obviously talented though flawed woman whose story deserves to be told.
Reading this has rekindled my interest in her music and that alone was a great benefit I received from this book.
Rating: 
Summary: AUTObiography?
Review: This book has had some exellent reviews, and after reading it I was not disapointed. I totaly agreed with what many people said about the book: It is one of the most honest autobiographies ever written. Then I found out the truth behind the book. I saw a special on Billie one night, and was shocked to hear that Billie had nothing to do with the writting of the book. Some ghost writer typed it up, and all Billie did was sign off on it. It is not even known if she ever even read the thing. So my rating of the book is 3 stars. It is still quite informative, and does contain mostly facts, but to call it an autobiography is some what misleading.
Rating:
Summary: brilliant
Review: This is everything Aretha Franklin's autobiography should have been but wasn't. It is brutally frank, almost scary in its honesty. Nothing is glossed over, including her relationships with men ( and women ) her heroin addiction and her experiences with sexism and racism , both in and out of the music industry. I read this book in one weekend, I just couldn't put it down.
Rating:
Summary: A FASCINATING MUST READ
Review: this is the real billie holiday talking...she had a ghost writer...william dufty...but these are billie's thoughts and words. she comes out to be a real human...and a very intelligent one at that...her weaknesses proved to be self destructive and fatal..but we all have our faults...my only wish was that the book was longer...remember that other bios on billie holiday borrow and excerpt heavily from this book. this book is searing!
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