Source: Purchased
Audible, 18+ hours
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Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen is probably best told by its author. Springsteen is never afraid to speak his truth about his upbringing in New Jersey, the hard relationship with his father, and his incredible drive to become the musician he heard and envisioned in his own mind. Fans of Springsteen will be more aware of the bands he speaks of and the people in the music business than I am, but this did not detract from my enjoyment in his story. In some places the names and bands slow the pace a little, but that might be more of an issue in a print copy than in the audio.
Springsteen is the perfect narrator for his life, and it is clear that as he reads he is taken back in time to those early days as a musician playing in clubs and being told he is no singer. In many ways, this memoir is not about the past and what happened, but about how each experience helped him grow and learn — to be a good father, to be a better musician than even he dreamed, and to reach out to the working class homes of his past. He strove to become as successful as he could, focusing on his guitar skills and his songwriting at first before eventually using his voice to tell the stories in his songs.
He’s always been a storyteller, and he’s telling this story as part of the legacy for his own children. He wants them to know their roots, where they come from … but he also wants to provide them with a sketch of his mind and how he handled things, even when he made mistakes. Readers will love how he praises those who were patient with him, and they will see how he’s not afraid to hold a mirror up to his faults.
Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen is a memoir that gives an inside look into one of the longest surviving bands, the music industry, and one of the most memorable songwriters of all time. The thought he put into each song’s lyrics and atmosphere, and staging, etc., is nothing short of inspiring. It is clear that his early determination to make music served him well.
RATING: Quatrain
***Please visit The 3Rs Blog: Reading, ‘Riting, and Randomness for an even better review. Seriously!***
About the Author:
Bruce Springsteen is an American songwriter, singer and guitarist. He has frequently recorded and toured with the E Street Band. Springsteen is most widely known for his brand of heartland rock infused with pop hooks, poetic lyrics, and Americana sentiments centered around his native New Jersey. His eloquence in expressing ordinary, everyday problems has earned him numerous awards, including twenty Grammy Awards and an Academy Award, along with an international fan base. His most famous albums, Born to Run and Born in the U.S.A., epitomize his penchant for finding grandeur in the struggles of daily life. He has sold over 64 million albums in the U.S. alone.
Thanks for linking to my review, Serena! I just loved this. I don’t disagree with Bruce’s weaknesses as a singer, but this book made me appreciate him even more as a writer than I did before.
His writing is fantastic. That’s part of his appeal. The well thought out songs and characters he creates.
Everyone seems to be loving this audio but I’m still not convinced it’s for me.
I really enjoyed the audio
Glad you enjoyed this one!
Thanks. it was good.
I’m glad you enjoyed listening to Born to Run,narrated by “The Boss”. Bruce Springsteen is a powerful storyteller. His songs are stories set to music. When I heard his songs as a teenager I’d visualize them, and still do. I think this would be a very interesting and entertaining audio book. Terrific review, Serena!
I really think you’d enjoy it. I’m not a big fan of his music, but I do like it. I really think he brings a lot to the story of his life when he narrates. It’s almost like you’re sitting in a room with him.