- Hardcover: 352 pages
- Publisher: The Dial Press; First Edition edition (Oct 28 2003)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0385336780
- ISBN-13: 978-0385336789
- Product Dimensions: 14.5 x 3 x 21.6 cm
- Shipping Weight: 1.1 Kg
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#290,817 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #93 in Books > Entertainment > Music > Biographies > Rock
- #93 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Arts & Literature > Composers & Musicians > Rock
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Product Details |
Product Description
Review
“Sting’s gift for prose and reverence for language, nearly the equal of his musical gifts, shine on every page. Even when Broken Music addresses the quixotic life of an aspiring rock & roller, it reads like literature from a more rarified time when adults didn’t condescend to the vulgarities of pop culture.” —Rolling Stone
“You can’t fault his scrupulous candor.…A natural storyteller.” —London Sunday Times
“Sting mixes tenderness, sadness and humor in his narration, indulging readers with the same style of descriptive, pensive words that characterize his songs….Even readers unfamiliar with Sting’s music will find the book compelling.” —Associated Press “A beautifully styled, elegantly crafted and intelligent portrayal of Sting’s own life…[it] ranks on the highest shelf of literary debuts.” —Toronto Globe and Mail
“A first-rate memoir…Engrossing…With writing that is both witty and refreshingly self-deprecating, this book has pleasures that extend well beyond interest in the man’s music alone.” —People
“An engaging, lucidly written reminiscence…intellectually vigorous…elegant and thoughtful.” —Entertainment Weekly
From the Paperback edition.
“You can’t fault his scrupulous candor.…A natural storyteller.” —London Sunday Times
“Sting mixes tenderness, sadness and humor in his narration, indulging readers with the same style of descriptive, pensive words that characterize his songs….Even readers unfamiliar with Sting’s music will find the book compelling.” —Associated Press “A beautifully styled, elegantly crafted and intelligent portrayal of Sting’s own life…[it] ranks on the highest shelf of literary debuts.” —Toronto Globe and Mail
“A first-rate memoir…Engrossing…With writing that is both witty and refreshingly self-deprecating, this book has pleasures that extend well beyond interest in the man’s music alone.” —People
“An engaging, lucidly written reminiscence…intellectually vigorous…elegant and thoughtful.” —Entertainment Weekly
From the Paperback edition.
Product Description
Having been a songwriter most of my life, condensing my ideas and emotions into short rhyming couplets and setting them to music, I had never really considered writing a book. But upon arriving at the reflective age of fifty, I found myself drawn, for the first time, to write long passages that were as stimulating and intriguing to me as any songwriting I had ever done.
And so Broken Music began to take shape. It is a book about the early part of my life, from childhood through adolescence, right up to the eve of my success with the Police. It is a story very few people know.
I had no interest in writing a traditional autobiographical recitation of everything that’s ever happened to me. Instead I found myself drawn to exploring specific moments, certain people and relationships, and particular events which still resonate powerfully for me as I try to understand the child I was, and the man I became.
And so Broken Music began to take shape. It is a book about the early part of my life, from childhood through adolescence, right up to the eve of my success with the Police. It is a story very few people know.
I had no interest in writing a traditional autobiographical recitation of everything that’s ever happened to me. Instead I found myself drawn to exploring specific moments, certain people and relationships, and particular events which still resonate powerfully for me as I try to understand the child I was, and the man I became.
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
A great musician who needs an editor,
By A Customer
This review is from: Broken Music (Hardcover)
I was a rabid Police fan starting back in 1980 and have admired Sting ever since. I knew when I bought this book that it would discuss his life before the Police, and that was fine. I was interested to learn more about Last Exit and Frances and his childhood, so I have no complaints with the content.But his writing style stands in the way of the story. It is pompous and egotistical with pretentious metaphors and a really annoying habit of switching between past and present tense. I could just picture him sitting there with a thesaurus trying to find the most intellectual-sounding way to say each thing he wanted to say. The foreshadowing "teasers" started getting to me, too: "Little did I know then that this person [or moment or event] would change my life forever." Over and over and over. Ugh. He really needed somebody to reign him in on this one.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
a memoir, not an autobiography,
By SJbooknut (Asheville, NC) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Broken Music (Hardcover)
I do realize that this book is a memoir, and not a blow-by-blow autobiography, but still, it was a disappointment that he focused so little on his time with Stewart and Andy and none at all on the break-up of the band and his solo career. He completely glosses over that with an "I knew all along that I had bigger fish to fry" attitude, which isn't quite what most fans are looking for. Also, after his appearance on Oprah with Trudie, I had the impression that he was going to tell more about the onset of that relationship, but that didn't happen either--basically you're left with the impression that he dumped Frances somewhere along the way (why?) and ended up with Trudie. No doubt he left out the details of that out of respect for his former wife, but the fact that he leaves the woman who was with him when they were practically starving, supporting his career and encouraging his dreams, doesn't leave a person with the most favorable opinion of him as a man. And I was less than impressed with the opening chapter, in which a hallucinogenic drug helped him to flash back to his childhood. A needless contrivance, in my opinion.All in all, though, the writing was very good, which was a pleasant surprise. I found particularly poignant his insight into his parents' relationship, which was gained from wisdom that came through his own adult experiences and relationships.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Unconventional Star,
By
This review is from: Broken Music (Hardcover)
I do not follow Sting's career as a fan although I think he is a fascinating person. His ideas on love and romance are admirable. I read this book purely out of curiosity. I saw it mentioned on a television show. Let me start by saying that Sting can actually write. This is not a mindless book of senseless drivel. This is not a typical autobiography. Sting has quite a memory. I can barely remember what happened yesterday. He incorporates in great detail the many specific good and bad adventures of his childhood and young adulthood, the numerous people, relationships and emotions that formed his outlook on life and the musical influences that make him what you hear today. "Broken Music" comes from a term used by his grandmother to describe the horrific sounds he made on her piano. Do not look to read about all of Sting's known successes. He focuses on the days before stardom hit. Sting is an intelligent soulful man regardless of fame. If you are one of his many fans, I would highly recommend "Broken Music".
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