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What Happened, Miss Simone?
What Happened, Miss Simone?: A Biography | Alan Light
12 posts | 5 read | 5 to read
Inspired by the Academy Award-nominated Netflix documentary What Happened, Miss Simone?, an intimate and vivid look at the legendary life of Nina Simone, the classically trained pianist who evolved into a chart-topping chanteuse and committed civil rights activist.From music journalist and former Spin and Vibe editor-in-chief Alan Light comes a biography of incandescent soul singer and Black Power icon Nina Simone, one of the most influential, provocative, and least understood artists of our time. Drawn from a trove of rare archival footage, audio recordings and interviews (including Simone's remarkable private diaries), this nuanced examination of Nina Simones life highlights her musical inventiveness and unwavering quest for equality, while laying bare the personal demons that plagued her from the time of her Jim Crow childhood in North Carolina to her self-imposed exile in Liberia and Paris later in life.Harnessing the singular voice of Miss Simone herself and incorporating candid reflections from those who knew her best, including her only daughter,Lightbrings us face to face with a legend, examining the very public persona and very private struggles of one of our greatest artists.From the Hardcover edition.
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review
Joanne1
Bailedbailed

I rarely bail on books and never on book club books but I've broken that rule. This could have been good but the writing WAS so SO dull. I put it down thinking I'd come back to it, then I realised I was going to miss book club and that was it - bailed. I will, however, watch the Netflix doco which I've heard good things about and has the benefit of also show casing her superb music.

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Such a shame...given the story that should have been a great and interesting book! I hate when authors kill what should have been an easy win book with poor skill. 7y
Joanne1 @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I know! So disappointing. 7y
59 likes2 comments
review
Victoria_Clyne
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Mehso-so

I don't know how to describe my feelings on this book. It didn't draw me in like I hoped it would. It didn't hold my attention. And it didn't increase my respect for Nina Simone. And I don't know if the reason for that is the writing style. Or the lack of insight. All the same I will still love listening to this incredibly talented musician.

AllenTStClair I haven't read the book, so I can't compare them, but the Netflix documentary by the same name was amazing! 7y
Victoria_Clyne @AllenStClair It was a book club pick and the person wko nominated it pick it because they'd seen the documentary. I'm hoping the enjoyed it more than I did. 7y
AllenTStClair @Victoria_Clyne I would imagine it works better in a visual medium if they're similar. 7y
See All 7 Comments
Victoria_Clyne @AllenStClair I imagine you also get the beautiful music. 7y
Victoria_Clyne I'll have to try and watch it before our next meeting. 7y
AllenTStClair @Victoria_Clyne You hit the nail on the head. No matter what feelings a person is left with after watching the documentary, there's no denying she was a musical genius. 7y
Victoria_Clyne I couldn't agree with you more @AllenStClair 7y
12 likes7 comments
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Victoria_Clyne
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Having a read in bed this Easter Monday morning. You can't see my book because its on my phone.

Joanne1 Enjoy it!! Stretch it out. 7y
Victoria_Clyne @joanne1 I streched it out for quite a while but ip now. Need food. 7y
5 likes2 comments
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Joanne1
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#bookandbreakfast. Avo, cheese and egg on an English muffin. Nice start to the day.

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Joanne1
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We've been having something of an Indian summer here in my little bit of Australia, with March being hotter than dec, Jan and feb. Today I took the girls to our lakeside park where they played and I lay on the picnic rug reading and watching (and listening to) the galahs swooping in and out of the trees. It really was very peaceful. (PS the photo is from Wikipedia, I didn't thing to take one myself)

Suet624 💕💕 7y
Libby1 This sounds idyllic. 7y
LauraBeth Sounds lovely! 😀 7y
See All 6 Comments
kspenmoll How nuturing❤ 7y
DocBrown Which part of Oz? 7y
Joanne1 @mdhughes72 I'm in Ballarat in western Victoria. 7y
75 likes6 comments
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Joanne1
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This is my latest book club read. I don't know a lot about Nina Simone so I'm looking forward to diving into a whole other world.

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Can't wait to see if it's good, she lead an interesting life from what I've heard. 7y
Lola I love her! Truly a remarkable woman. Enjoy! 7y
55 likes2 stack adds2 comments
review
charl08
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Pickpick

Fascinating look at a complex woman.

62 likes2 stack adds
quote
charl08
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All my songs, the important ones, have razor cuts, I call them, at the end. I cut you, I make you think...

charl08 Shirt available from Philadelphia Printworks (no link to me) https://www.philadelphiaprintworks.com/products/four-women 7y
SuperPunkNinja I love Philadelphia Printworks! I bought a shirt from them with an Octaviay quote. ❤❤❤ 7y
charl08 @McShelfington sounds great :-) 7y
48 likes3 comments
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charl08
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Africa is Not a Country....

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charl08
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excited to read this...

47 likes1 stack add
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WesleyHoffmann
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The first 100 pages of this fleeeeeew by, can't wait to keep at it