I wanted to read this because I read a couple of reviews of it, and it sounded like an interesting read. Also, I think Sinead O’Connor has always been a controversial figure, and I guess I’ve been a bit fascinated by that over the years. Then, when she had her break down a few years ago, it occurred to me how mentally ill she is. And I’m always drawn to people’s stories of their mental health battles, having been there myself on more than one occasion. Plus, that lady can really sing!

The book has a million anecdotes about different famous people and different things O’Connor has done. As I first started to read, I was full of admiration for her bravery in writing so candidly. “I’m going to enjoy this book,” I thought.

However, the further into the book I got, the more I realised the woman wouldn’t know the truth if it flew up and bit her on the nose! Yes, she has problems. I don’t think she’s really been honest about them, though. At least, mostly, she hasn’t. She writes about certain incidents, and then a little later in the book refers to them again, but at a different time and in slightly different circumstances. Maybe, it’s her illness messing with her memory. Maybe, it’s just hard to remember what you’ve said when it wasn’t entirely true.

Everything seems exaggerated. If you believe everything O’Connor writes, there isn’t a straight man alive who has met her and not wanted to take her to bed, and then to control her and knock her around. Prince, apparently, after trying to “kidnap” her and lock her in a room of his mansion because she wouldn’t have sex with him, chased her around LA in his car, trying to abduct her, over and over. One of her children is a genius, another is very spiritually connected. The other two are the best chefs in all of Ireland. (Okay, I can let her off the children claims because most people think their kids are the best.) Also, she can do things with her voice no one else can do. She spent the 2003 Special Olympics as the only person allowed to be near Mohammed Ali. And many, many more fantastical tales. I get that she is a famous singer, and she would have had a lot more fantastical experiences than most. But it was the way that in every one it was the most amazing/terrible/spiritual/loved thing ever. It could never be, “I spent an evening with The Edge. He is a good guy. We talked for hours.” Do you know what I mean?

Despite all of this, I am going to be slightly hypocritical now. I enjoyed the book. It is entertaining. The stories are, mostly, funny. She writes with a voice that is uniquely hers. I did get a little annoyed, however, when each story ended with, “Nobody ever did this as well as I did,” etc.

All in all, I was a bit disappointed. I thought I would enjoy this more than I would. And I definitely thought I would have a bucket load more respect for Sinead O’Connor by the end of it than I did.

Anyone who likes biographies or is interested in mental illness. Fans of Sinead O'Connor. People who love famous person anecdotes.

The way Sinead's voice shines through in her writing. She writes as she speaks, and that is endearing.

The obvious untruths. The narcissism of Sinead O'Connor almost made me stop reading before I reached the end.

Listen to 'Nothing Compares 2U.'

Actually, angry, if I'm honest. I mean, it made me laugh, also. I laughed a lot. But, the woman needs to get over herself and understand the world doesn't revolve around her.

See a the above.

It is interesting. Very interesting. It is also funny, and that's a good reason to read it.

It's very frustrating.

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Created Oct 07, 2021 at 3:58am • Submit your own review...