Publication July 16, 2024
An excellent intro to all things Taylor Swift. While I doubt long time fans will find much within that they don't already know, this is a well-written summation of her career practically to date. It follows her from her childhood infatuation with all things music, from early songs to learning to play the guitar, through her days attending football games of the Kansas City Chiefs. Nothing salacious, it's focused on positives, not gossip. While relatively short, it touches on the various "eras" in her life, discussing each in a concise, straight-forward way. It manages to share a great deal of info while offering a good, concise read. Old fans will enjoy the memories while newer fans many discover aspects of her rise that they've yet to learn. The illustrations are simple yet convey much in their simplicity. All in all, nicely done.
I'm not going to share details but here are a few of the things that stuck with me. First, I obviously liked the book. While a relative late-comer to appreciating Swift, I found it an enjoyable read which went a long way toward showing her as a human being, not simply an untouchable icon. While obviously written by a fan, thus quite positive, the book focuses on facts as much as fan reactions. I liked that it gave her parents space for not only supporting their child's dreams but ultimately being willing to pick up their lives and move for her career. Swift would ultimately connect with a fledgling record label, actually one that sounds like it didn't much more exist than on paper at the time, showing again that there was something special about her. The fact she was willing to get down on the floor and help do the often tedious, messy, grunt work with the then small staff speaks volumes. I also smiled, remembering that the one thing I repeatedly hear from fans is that "She gets us" when it was noted that when fans sent messages it was usually Swift herself who responded rather than some faceless member of the team. Again, another reminder of the phenomenon that created the Swifties. They knew.
Bottom line, it was that sense of oneness with her fans, understanding what it was like to be the one bullied and shunned as a teen, then managing to put it into catchy melodies and words that won people over. As I type, she's touring in France, including songs from her latest Tortured Poets release, and a news release noted she made a point of speaking French to thank her audience. Personal touch. Anyway, while she's so prolific and quick that I doubt any book will ever quite capture her as she is at any given moment, this one does an excellent job of reminding old fans where it all started while sharing it all with new ones. Thanks #NetGalley and #QuartoPublishingGroup - #becker&morgan - #EpicInk for sharing this with me. As one who came to appreciate Taylor Swift rather late in the game, I enjoyed learning a few things I hadn't heard and having my sense of her genuine love of her music and fans reinforced.
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