Angel on My Shoulder: An Autobiography: Amazon.ca: Natalie Cole, Digby Diehl: Books

Product Description

From Library Journal

Cole's performance enhances her refreshingly honest and candid autobiography. Although she is the daughter of legendary singer Nat "King" Cole, she has been no stranger to adversity, both in her career and personal life. The title of her memoir reflects the pop singer's strong religious beliefs; she is certain that, several times in her life, it was only the intervention of angels that saved her. Frankly describing her devastating addiction to drugs, Cole assumes full responsibility for her past mistakes and could certainly serve as an inspiration to others facing the same terrible struggle. She is also open about domestic troubles including her marital problems and love-hate relationship with her mother. This substantial account of Cole's life and Grammy Award-winning career also offers interesting glimpses into the inner workings of the pop music industry. Highly recommended for all music and biography collections.DBeth Farrell, Portage Cty. Dist. Lib., OH
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Songstress Cole's as-told-to autobiography opens with the harrowing tale of how she and her bodyguard nearly were killed in a hotel fire. As it happens, she had just "made a bargain with the Lord." If the deity let her take a hit of freebase as the room filled with smoke, "then that means I'm finished. I'm going to get high, and then I'm going to die." Fortunately, the Lord acted swiftly. As Cole readied the pipe, "the door was blown off its hinges" by "twin angel Gabriels," who turned out to be firefighters. The singer was saved! And her life changed. Besides that amazing grace, Cole mentions her famous father--one of her abiding companions--early and often, so that Nat Cole, God, and the music she considers a gift from them both could be said to dominate her life. Thoughtfully, she recalls her childhood, recounts the legal battle between her mother and her and her siblings over her father's estate, and relates the erratic behavior of an aging Frank Sinatra, whom she felt had transferred his affection for her father to her. Although she concentrates mostly on the good times, Cole isn't shy about the bad times, which makes this intriguing, engaging, and inspirational life story worthy of attention. Mike Tribby
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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First Sentence
That was the banner headline from tomorrow's paper that I composed for myself as smoke poured under the door to my hotel suite. Read the first page

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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover

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Customer Reviews

25 Reviews

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4.6 out of 5 stars (25 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars An Amazing Inspiration, May 29 2004

By

Barbara Rose (BornToInspire.com) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Angel on My Shoulder Audiobook: An Autobiography (Audio Cassette)

Natalie shares with astounding truth, humbleness, and shows us all how much she has been through, and how she - with the Divine help in her life - has triumphed from the darkest days. This book is an astounding beacon of hope for anyone who has been through both the highs and lows of life, and wants to genuinely rise from within.
Natalie shares much about her childhood, her relationship with her relatives, and so much about her own life, and how many times she thought it was all over for her, only to see that she can rise again - no matter what she has been through.

On a personal note, in 1995 I had dinner with Natalie, her candor and honesty took me back so much that I wrote about her with deep respect in my own book, 'Individual Power'. She is a true soul, and I have the utmost respect for her, the courage she has shown, and how she is a beacon of hope for others.

If you want to read a book about one incredible woman, who humbly and candidly shows how no matter what you go through, you CAN triumph, I HIGHLY recommend this book. It is a gift that will touch you because of its authenticity.

Thank you Natalie for being a beacon of Light and Hope for so many. Keep Going Girl - You are One Awesome Gem!

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5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Is an Amazing Inspiration and So Is Natalie!, May 29 2004

By

Barbara Rose (BornToInspire.com) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Angel on My Shoulder: An Autobiography (Hardcover)

Natalie shares with astounding truth, humbleness, and shows us all how much she has been through, and how she - with the Divine help in her life - has triumphed from the darkest days. This book is an astounding beacon of hope for anyone who has been through both the highs and lows of life, and wants to genuinely rise from within.
Natalie shares much about her childhood, her relationship with her relatives, and so much about her own life, and how many times she thought it was all over for her, only to see that she can rise again - no matter what she has been through.

On a personal note, in 1995 I had dinner with Natalie, her candor and honesty took me back so much that I wrote about her with deep respect in my own book, 'Individual Power'. She is a true soul, and I have the utmost respect for her, the courage she has shown, and how she is a beacon of hope for others.

If you want to read a book about one incredible woman, who humbly and candidly shows how no matter what you go through, you CAN triumph, I HIGHLY recommend this book. It is a gift that will touch you because of its authenticity.

Thank you Natalie for being a beacon of Light and Hope for so many. Keep Going Girl - You are One Awesome Gem!

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5.0 out of 5 stars Candid Book, Sep 3 2003

By

J. M. Zuurbier (Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Angel on My Shoulder Audiobook: An Autobiography (Audio Cassette)

After reading Natalie Cole's autobiography ANGEL ON MY SHOULDER, I have so much respect for the woman. In this candid book, she holds nothing back. She talks about growing up as the daughter of Nat King Cole and how that affected her life, and how she tried to find her identity and often went to drugs. She started her career and was hot stuff between 1975-1980, before the drugs took over her life. She talks a fair bit about her marriage with Marvin Yancy, and her son quite a bit. Marvin died which left her to take care of her son. This was after she cleaned up her act with the drugs which were ruining her life. She has to face adversity and get her career back on track. She had a few hits in the 80s but she didn't blow up completely until she did the tribute album in 1991 to her father, which won her a considerable amount of Grammy's. In the late 80s she also married Andre, a mistake she would later regret as he abused her. She also talks about her brother who died from AIDS, and her mother keeping their share of their father's will from Natalie and her siblings and the drama that ensued there, adding fuel to the fire of an already tumultuous relationship with her mother. Quite a few times she makes a reference to how angels saved her life, and that God was watching her. It's an inspiring book, and interesting to read and realize how much she has been through in her life. A good read.

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Most recent customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Sobering Good Novel
I'm a huge fan of Natalie's Cole's. So when I ran across her autobiography I was thrilled. This was poignant but heart-breaking novel. Read more

Published on Oct 8 2002 by Rosa

3.0 out of 5 stars Ok
This is the story of Natalie cole's life. Natalie's battle with drugs, and the death of her father is inclued in Angel on my shoulder. Read more

Published on Mar 29 2002 by "July Lady"