I Put a Spell on You: The Autobiography of Nina Simone: Amazon.ca: Nina Simone, Stephen Cleary: Books

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From Publishers Weekly

Simone grew up during the Depression in a small North Carolina town where, thanks to a farsighted music teacher and caring neighbors who paid for her lessons, she was trained as a classical pianist. After attending Juilliard on a scholarship she was rejected by the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia (a setback she attributes to the fact that she is black), and she became a nightclub entertainer, singing and accompanying herself on the piano and, with her skillful improvisations of popular songs in classical style, quickly becoming a star. In the 1960s she joined the civil rights movement and became well known as a protest singer. Then, in the 1970s and '80s, disillusioned with the U.S., she went into self-imposed exile in Africa and Europe. Unfortunately, written with freelancer Cleary, her account of these later years, in which she concentrates on personal problems and a number of tiresome love affairs, lacks the interest of the early part of the book, which describes her unusual childhood and remarkable rise to fame. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Ms. Simone's vocal and piano style make her a culture unto herself."

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10 Reviews

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4.0 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars I LOVE this book, Jan 4 2004

By

Marcie B. "Marcie B." (Playa del Rey, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Put a Spell on You: The Autobiography of Nina Simone (Paperback)

This is a most fabulous book! I could not put it down! It's a fascinating account of Nina's life.....which is never a dull moment. Lots of incredible insight into what it's like to be a performer. Beautifully written, as though she's in the room with you, telling you her own story. Nina was such an amazing person, and there is so much depth in this book. I highly recommend this book....I can't say enough. If you love Nina, if you love autobiographies.....this is THE book!

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2.0 out of 5 stars Nina Simone writes about lovers, not music or her life, Sep 8 2003

By

Dale E. Styles Jr. (Columbia, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: I Put A Spell On You: The Autobiography Of Nina Simone (Paperback)

It's a sad commentary that Nina Simone wrote such a meaningless book in 1991. I couldn't wait to purchase it after it was released, yet I kept asking myself why she wrote it and who this woman really was. Besides being an interesting interpretor of jazz classics and folk songs, and well known for her ascerbic manner onstage and off, it would have been more thrilling to read about Simone as an artist, not the fact that she basically slept with every man that ever asked her. I felt a bit short changed by her writing...although most of it was no doubt ghostwritten, Nina Simone shows no real interest in music, instead considering jazz an afterthought in her career. She never goes into any details about her life except to blame her husband Andy Stroud for mismanaging her career, America for not giving her a chance, Curtis Institute of music for not accepting her application to study there, and the list goes on...if it were interesting reading, it might be ok. Still, most of this book is not well written at all...it is quite amateurish, and often boring...even the discography included at the back is lack luster..Nina Simone was so well associated with the Civil Rights Movement, yet you get no real feeling or emotion from her words, After reading the book, I continued to buy and listen to her music, but my respect for her is lacking. It's a shame that Nina Simone didn't realize her potential, but there were many artists worse off than Nina Simone, and I for one think she owes a great debt to the US for giving her success and the opportunity to succeed.

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5.0 out of 5 stars In Memoriam, April 24 2003

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Elizabeth V. Vicente (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I Put A Spell On You: The Autobiography Of Nina Simone (Paperback)

In Memoriam of Nina Simone, the great singer, pianist, composer, arranger, songwriter, feminist, activist, mother and woman.

Nina was born in North Carolina, USA, February 21, 1933.

Although Nina was called the "High Priestess of Soul" by her fans and was regarded by them as an almost religious figure, she was often misunderstood as well. The High Priestess would walk different paths to find the adequate songs to spread her message.

A protest singer; a jazz singer; a pianist; an arranger and a composer, Nina Simone is a great artist who defies easy classification. She is all of these: a jazz-rock-pop-folk-black musician. In fact, we can find her biography in jazz, rock, pop, black and soul literature. Her style and her hits provided many singers and groups with material for hits of their own.

Nina Simone passed away on April 21, 2003 in Carry-le-Rouet, France. She was Aged 70.

She is survived by her daughter and will be forever missed - yet forever treasured.

May our high priestess find her path to peace.

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4.0 out of 5 stars A book of facts not feeling
Nina Simone is one my All-time favorite artists and to read her story in her own words was quite a thrill. Read more