See the original review here: http://justanotherbooknerd.tumblr.com...I was talking about this review for a couple of days as I was re-reading this book. Now, I’m going to be honest, it was already one of my favourite books but the thing I find interesting is the controversy a name like Sting brings up.“I don’t like him, the man is a complete tosser.”“Why do you say that? What about him makes you think he is a complete tosser? I’m not saying that you’re wrong, I just want to know how you came to that conclusion.”Now 9 times out of 10 the answer was “because he just is.” However, the odd person did mention the Police and Sting essentially being the reason why they broke up in the end. That resentment is at least a valid reason to dislike him.So I’m having a little experiment and I am getting those people who would agree to read this book, to find out why he did it, how he felt, because that is the thing this book is going to tell you, it’s going to let you know that whilst there is this public facade that a popular musician has to have, there is always going to be an inner turmoil.By no accounts is Sting painting his life to be a bed of roses, you have to remember this book effectively ends on the cusp of his success with The Police, his logic being that people already know a great deal about the part of his life. It was the before that he wanted to reflect on. This being more a memoir for him than an interesting read for us. Sting discusses his affair with his now wife Trudie Styler whilst he was still married to first wife Frances Tomelty, his signing on ‘the dole,’ trying to make a life as an amateur jazz musician and the crushing feelings he had when his parents died.Don’t get me wrong this isn’t a ‘hey look I’m loaded and successful but check out how normal I can be because I have a terrible life’ type affair, like I said before, this is pre success Sting and though he does occasionally touch upon his post Police years, mostly this book discusses the kind of era that Sting grew up in, when Newcastle was still predominantly about mining and building ships. The problem with this book is that unless you’re a musician like me and therefore have an interest in finding out about his time working as a Jazz musician and touring through London and eventually Europe with the Original Police line up of Sting; Copeland and Padovani, then chances are this book isn’t going to be the one for you. Don’t get me wrong, there is still plenty in here for the curious reader and Sting fans will be on cloud 9 all throughout, but if you’re not inclined toward being interested in a book like this then it is never going to be able to grab you and hold you.Of course it was never Sting’s intention to do just that. He wrote this memoir to sate a sense of nostalgia and as such has written a deep, thoughtful and articulate book detailing the beginnings of someone who eventually went on to be one of the most successful musicians of our time. So if you’re a fan or if you want to know more about the life of a musician trying to make it, then this is the book for you. If you’re none of those things … well, I guess you should read something else.
Do You like book Broken Music (2005)?
Another 'before I was famous' memoir, and this one is very well-written. Sting uses his development as a musician as the thread that holds all of his vignettes together, desribing what was going on in his life that brought him to his first guitar, for example, or the community of friends he finds during his time as a touring jazz musician. The book ends just before The Police become famous. A great read for those interested in what it's like to be a working, not-famous musician on the road, and will even appeal to people who are not Sting fans.
—Rekha
First, I have to confess the crush I have had on the man since the early 80's (when I actually was a schoolgirl). This feeling, however, has only grown as the years have passed. I mean really, how often do you get references to Homer and Nabakov in popular music? Plus he practices yoga and is sexier now than when he was younger. In the light of this confession, I may not be completely objective about this book. I loved it though! I do typically like rock and roll memoirs, but this one is of the best sort. It gives the reader a glimpse inside the artist's mind and feelings, as oppossed to merely detailing the events of his career. I particularly enjoyed learning about Sting's relationships with his parents, wives and children and about his evolution as a songwriter. I highly recommend this book to fans, but also to those who just like an interesting well-written memoir.
—Heather Doherty
I don't hate or love Sting, like so many others seem to. I think he is a very talented musician and his ambition cannot be denied. I have always vaguely considered him to be arrogant and a little pompous, but what rock star isn't? However, I have to admit I really enjoyed this book. I like the way it isn't perfect grammatically, how he switches back and forth with tenses, how it isn't exactly chronological and that he doesn't spend much time talking about the famousness of the band once it reaches that level. I love the way his memoir is so much like all our memories...a little fuzzy with strange details that for some reason are the clearest part of the memory. For many memories it is just a place, or clothing, or atmoshphere, or words spoken that are the keystone. He must have kept a diary all his life though. I was impressed by his recollection of specific dates and people. The part of the book I loved the most was apparently the part that other readers hated or felt like it was work to trudge through. And that was the retelling of all of his gigs he played with all the different musicians. His successes and his failures. His few tantrums and faults. His dynamic with the other musicians. The type of music they played. The late nights, filthy bars, cheap hotels, long drives, pittance for their blood, sweat and tears. As a musicians daughter, I felt I could totally relate and appreciate what he experienced. I have never seen it written in such a way that really captured the world of the struggling musician. It made me remember my own experiences traveling with my father, loading and unloading the band equipment, watching him from the audience, driving home late at night, feeling so tired but also slap-happy. Trying to talk to keep him awake. Sting's account has made me want to explore his music more and think about what might have been going on with him while he wrote his lyrics. I am excited to revisit his earlier material and relisten with this new interest.
—Sassyfrazz
