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| Author: Sheila Weller
Publisher: Atria
Category: Book
List Price: $27.95
Buy New: $17.10
You Save: $10.85 (39%)
New (42) Used (16) from $15.84
Avg. Customer Rating:  118 reviews
Sales Rank: 2401
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 592
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.9
Dimensions (in): 9.7 x 6.2 x 2
ISBN: 0743491475
Dewey Decimal Number: 782.421640922
EAN: 9780743491471
ASIN: 0743491475
Publication Date: April 8, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
Sisterhood is Powerful June 23, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book is well researched and well written. The chronology is easy to follow and the careful treatment of the peripheral characters that surround the lives of these three women is exemplary.
A huge plus for this book is the insight into the lyrics, which brings out even more meaning than one may have gathered from many previous listenings. Put your copy of "For The Roses" on your stereo and see how many times Joni talks about the looming energy crisis and specifically about the oil companies that are beginning to dominate our world at the time of this album's release in 1972. Then look at today's headlines about gas prices. Then check out such lines as "humble makes pure" and "the breakdown of the century" and "shell oil pails" and "bedposts of refinement".
And a huge part of the lyrics of all three are about the ongoing struggle for equality between men and women; where we are different and where we make progress, and where we will never agree.
While rich in detail, there are some sections that are just too drawn out and may lend themselves to skipping over lightly. But the poignancy of their childhoods and the pieces about dealing with their fame are not to be missed.
These ladies all have a lot to say to us, and this book tells us even more. Well done.
 too young to appreciate June 21, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
This book made me feel as if I were reading a thesis paper. Not being old enough to actually remember this time period, there were not enough actual song lyrics to bring songs to mind. I gave up after 180 pages. Didn't really care how it ended.
Just Plain Annoying June 21, 2008
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
This is the first time I have ever been encouraged to comment on a book purchased through Amazon. But it is also the first time I have felt my money was taken under false pretenses.
I thought I was purchasing a book about three very acccomplished singer/songwriters.Two of whom are in my top five of all time. I thought that perhaps I would come to understand and learn a little as to what inspired such brilliant works of creativity.
Like many, I suspect, I knew some anecdotes about their history.
But on starting to read, I realised that the tone of this book seemed to be more about the authors own political bias and how she could trumpet her views which were inspired, in part, by her exposure to three strong independant women.In short. I felt I was reading a Lite Feminist Manifesto.
Now, there is nothing wrong with these views. They are just as valid as millions of others.
But, I wanted to read a book about Creators of some of my favourite music and not a book about Right Wing Feminism.I say right Wing, because the author constantly re-inforced steriotypes that all men are Wife Beaters, Non committal and insensitive and responsible for every unfortunate decision that a women makes.
She is entitled to hold these views. I don't share them and as a result the book was annoying and difficult to read. I struggled to finish it and regretted doing so.
Now before the extreme politically minded get too upset,I am aware that the book was to have some relevance to Feminism and that these three individuals were inspirational to the movement. But, it dominates the book to such an extent that, I imagine, it alienates a goodly proportion of the prospective readership.
Perhaps the book should come with a warning that it is not so much about Carole, Joan and Carly but that it is more about the author's own political views, contextualised by her historical exposure to these three inspirational women.
I would then have waited for a truly impartial and factual Auto/Biography to spend my money on.
 Kudos to "Girls Like Us"! June 20, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
For many of us who grew up in the 1960's and 70's, the music of these 3 ladies had a profound impact on us. "Girls Like Us" gives us greater insight into their music, as well as the lives which produced the music. It's a fascinating read, and gives insight into that whole generation. Outstanding!
Writing style was a little distracting June 20, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I was most interested in Carole King and Carly Simon and skipped most of Joni's sections. While I found the infusion of their lives creative, the writing style had a lot of run on sentences and were long and drawn out. I didn't care for that but I do give kudo's for the detailed research and their was a lot of interesting information about these women.
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