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 enlarge | Author: Sheila Weller
Publisher: Atria
Category: Book
List Price: $27.95
Buy New: $15.44
You Save: $12.51 (45%)
New (47) Used (20) from $12.88
Avg. Customer Rating:  120 reviews
Sales Rank: 2801
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 592
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.9
Dimensions (in): 9.7 x 6.2 x 2
ISBN: 0743491475
Dewey Decimal Number: 782.421640922
EAN: 9780743491471
ASIN: 0743491475
Publication Date: April 8, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Could have been great November 14, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This biography lists Cat Steven's song "Wild World" as "WIDE World." Errors such as this in a book about musicians is inexcusable.
Aside from that, the first half of this book is a pretty good read, although the author subjects the reader to an exhaustive amount of footnotes, most of which are irrelevent. She did not interview Joni Mitchell or Carole King for this book which is truly a shame; as a result, Carly Simon ends up being the most developed character in this study - unfortuately, she's the least interesting of the three. Simply put, Carly Simon does not deserve the respect afforded King or Mitchell. Her songs are mediocre, at best, and are not regarded, in any circle that I know of, as having the intellectual weight or historical signficance as the other two. I question the author's decision to lump these three rather disparate artists together.
Most disappointing, is that once these women reach the age of 40, the book seems to peter out. Although the author laments the treatment of female artists once they reach middle age, she neverhteless seems to dismiss them herself. They seem to fade into charity work and grandmotherhood which is unfair. My other criticism is that too much focus is placed on the men with whom these women became associated; I doubt a book about male musicians would include exhaustive analysis of their wives and girlfriends. On a positive note, I did sense that the author has a deep respect for the music of Joni Mitchell which is evident in the lenghthy passages regarding her songs, her writing process, and the events of her life which shaped her art. This, alone, is worth the read.
 Loved Girls Like Us November 11, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I loved this book. Being from the 60's generation I found myself actually being there with these real life enterainers. These singers and song writers were part of my youth and to read about their lives was such a treat. Sheila Weller has once again scored an A+.
If your a fan of all 3 Artist,you'll love this book November 8, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I just wanted to read about Carly Simon,even though I've always been a fan of Carole Kings music.
This book never stays on one artist,but just keeps skipping to the next.The only thing common with all 3 seems to be James Taylor.
Most of the stories I've already knew about Carly,but there is one chapter that is not brought up.Back in 1995 when Carly and Taylor performed together,something happened after the show . James Taylor wanted nothing to do with Simon afterwards.I would love to know what happened?
This book is still interesting if you are a fan of any of these GREAT Women.
There's alot of cool photo's I've never seen before,one of them showing Carole King Naked.I really like the picture of President Clinton tightly hugging Carly,and she looks so Sexy in the picture.You can almost guess what he's thinking}
Carly also says on her web-site there going to make a movie basted on "Girls like Us".I can't wait to see the film.
Writing sometimes tedious...but a wealth of information November 8, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3DMO6U4U0JN22 My name is Jeremy Gloff. I have reviewed over 250 retro albums on Amazon. I wanted to take a moment to talk about my experience with "Girls Like Us".
A Trip Well Worth Taking October 19, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
Many years ago, in one of his rare lucid moments, the great Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones warned "trust the art, not the artist." In the vast majority of cases, Richards' warning has proved to be devastatingly accurate. Music lovers, hearing something resonant and personal in a song, long to get nearer to the source. In most cases they would have been better off keeping their distance. Closer looks at where art comes from often leads to keeping company with drunks, junkies,thugs, psychotics, and borderline morons. That was the first reason to avoid this book. The second reason was the title. Any book called "Girls Like Us" screams chick lit. Thank goodness for Amazon and mail order books. I am sure I could never have sacrificed the manhood points required to actually walk up to the counter of a bookstore and buy it openly. That said, I am very glad I did.
Girls Like us is neither the endless fawning fan letter, or man bashing screed. It is a serious piece of scholarship, and I cannot recommend it enough. It is every bit as researched and precise as any major David Halberstam work, recreating time, place, and mores in a way that transports you back. I cannot remember being so deeply absorbed like this by a book, in a very long time, and I was saddened to reach the end.
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