A Diamond in the Rough: a Memoir Free

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Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Want to Read saving…. Want to Read Currently Reading Read. Other editions. Enlarge cover. Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Open Preview See a Problem? Details if other :. Thanks for telling us about the problem. Return to Book Page. Preview — Diamond in A Diamond in the Rough: A Memoir Rough by Shawn Colvin. After learning to play guitar at the age of ten, Shawn Colvin was determined to make a life in music—a decision that would send a small-town girl out on the open road for good. Intwo decades after she started, she got her big break. Like the troubled would-be arsonist and survivor of her smash hit "Sunny Came Home," Colvin knows a thing or two about heartache—and se After learning to play guitar at the age of ten, Shawn Colvin was determined to make a life in music—a decision that would send a small-town girl out on the open road for good. Like the troubled would-be arsonist and survivor of her smash hit "Sunny A Diamond in the Rough: A Memoir Home," Colvin knows a thing or two about heartache—and setting fires. Diamond in the Rough recounts this passionate musician's coming-of-age, from the prairies of South Dakota to the dark smoky bars in Austin, Texas, to the world stage at the Grammys. Humorous and deeply honest, Colvin relates the experiences behind her best-loved songs in vivid color in this memoir. Diamond in the Rough captures her years of touring cross-country in bands and vans full of guys; falling in and out of love; meeting heroes like Joni Mitchell; searching for her musical identity; and making friendships that would last a lifetime. It is also an unflinching account of Colvin's struggles— weathering addiction A Diamond in the Rough: A Memoir depression, learning to care for not only herself but also a child—and, always, channeling those experiences into song. With the wit, lyricism, and empathy that have characterized Colvin's performances and inspired audiences worldwide, Diamond in the Rough looks back over a rich lifetime of highs and lows with stunning insight and candor. In its pages, we witness the inspiring story of a woman honing her artistry, finding her voice, and making herself whole. Get A Copy. Hardcoverpages. Published June 5th by William Morrow first published April 28th More Details Other Editions 3. Friend Reviews. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Diamond in the Roughplease sign up. Lists with This Book. Community Reviews. Showing Average rating 3. Rating details. More filters. Sort order. Start your review of Diamond in the Rough: A Memoir. Sep 17, David A. I remember where I was when I first encountered Shawn Colvin. I was in a Best Buy in Bloomington, Illinois, in the spring of my freshman year. Her album Steady On was sitting on an end-cap display in the new music section; it looked good, and I was feeling consumeristic, so I bought it. I probably, quite frankly, put it on my Discover Card, as I was wont to do back then, which means I'm probably still paying for it. That being said, it was worth the money. Shawn Colvin's music has shown up at a lot of significant moments in my life. I sat with my sister on the floor of the student center at Northwestern University while Colvin moved effortlessly from her song "Polaroids" into the chorus of "Just My Imagination" by the Temptations. A Diamond in the Rough: A Memoir on September 11,I sought solace in her song "Cry Like an Angel" as I tried to make sense of the violent deaths of more than three thousand people. All the feelings associated with those moments came back when I learned that she had written a memoir, Diamond in the Rough. I gobbled it up and enjoyed every nibble, although I'm not sure I would have been as enthralled had I not already been a fan. Diamond in the Rough isn't so much a A Diamond in the Rough: A Memoir, in the sense of a book that mines an event or setting or relationship for some universal meaning, as it is an autobiography. It's a book for fans, first and foremost. I don't mean that disrespectfully, but I do think if someone saw my four-star rating for a memoir and bought it without prior connection to Colvin, they'd be disappointed with their reading experience. That being said, it was, for me, a great reading experience. Colvin is a singer-songwriter, and such people are uniquely gifted storytellers, if not always the most articulate interpreters of stories. Songwriters tell stories in song, and so the meaning is usually intentionally obscured. Not so in a book, though: Colvin tells her life story compellingly, taking us through several distinct chapters--a childhood occasionally disrupted by family relocation; a young life on the road as a traveling musician; a more settled but arguably less stable life as a New York musician; an award- winning recording career; a post-major-label singer-songwriter's schedule--all with a through line that involves addiction, depression, anxiety and turbulent romantic relationships. No great surprises or big new insights here; we sadly have come to expect substance abuse, emotional hardship and complicated relationships of our celebrated artists. They're sad stories in many cases, but they're told here with the perspective of time passed and life recovered. Like a good storyteller Colvin can find the grace and humor in each chapter. I think one of the best reason for reading books by musicians and other artists such as Steve Martin and Joe Jackson, for example is the window such books provide into the artistic mind and the creative process. Colvin's songs are in the foreground A Diamond in the Rough: A Memoir her later chapters--once she's committed herself to songwriting and recording. I learned a lot about the songs on Steady On that has since enriched my listening; I learned about her later albums as well, having my suspicions confirmed, for example, by her comments about A Diamond in the Rough: A Memoir first line of "Polaroids": "Please no more therapy. Her experience writing with Jon Levanthal, touring with Buddy Miller, even just hanging out with Joni Mitchell offer insight into where artists find inspiration and how such inspiration is translated into something that can be received and embraced by an audience. It should by now be obvious that I struggle in vain to have objectivity about Shawn Colvin. More objective readers might write a more robust critique of her book. More power to them; me, I'll remember it fondly as a story that touches ever so faintly my own story. Feb 29, Sherri rated it really liked it Shelves: own. I have been a Shawn Colvin fan for over 10 years so I went into this with high hopes. As a memoir I think it is pretty well written, lots of personal stories and information. I still love her music but personally she comes across being quite self-centered which she admits to and blaming a lot of others for her problems. I would recommend this book just on it's insi I have been a Shawn Colvin fan for over 10 years so I went into this with high hopes. I would recommend this book just on it's inside look at her music career. View 2 comments. Jun 21, Jeanette Again rated it really liked it Shelves: biography-memoirfour-star-nonfictionnonfiction. Thank you, Shelf Awareness! On a day when I was really in need of good news, I received notice that I had won this A Diamond in the Rough: A Memoir. I'll get a little review up whenever I can get my hand to cooperate. View all 12 comments. Aug 01, Jill Lapin-Zell A Diamond in the Rough: A Memoir it it was amazing. I read this book in just two sittings. It was a thoroughly enjoyable swift read, because it is written purely from the heart. It is a gritty, no-holds-barred, brutally honest soul-baring confessional memoir that is at once uplifting and sad at the same time. The A Diamond in the Rough: A Memoir speaks frankly about her battles with alcohol, depression, weight fluctuations, drug use, suicidal thoughts and a string of unfulfilling relationships which are unfulfilling only because she admittedly struggles with self-esteem i I read this book in just two sittings. The author speaks frankly about her battles with alcohol, depression, weight fluctuations, drug use, suicidal thoughts and a string of unfulfilling relationships which are unfulfilling only because she admittedly struggles with self-esteem issues. So when she finally comes to terms with loving herself and finding her purpose in her music, it is quite emotionally fulfilling for the reader as well. She writes about her struggles with wit and humor, adding such authenticity to her edgy style. She is originally from South Dakota, and although she lived in many parts of the country, she seems somewhat bitter about one place in particular, Carbondale IL. But who can blame her? Sadly, it was the fact that she had the misfortune of bad timing: being paired up with the practice of corporal punishment at a time when she was an emotionally fragile adolescent. I was particularly enthralled by hearing her speak with such passion about the folk music artists who were so influential to her: Joni Mitchell, The Kingston Trio, James Taylor, Judy Collins and Bob Dylan, because although I am not a musician myself, these artists were no less influential to me, albeit for different reasons. Something else which resonated deeply with me is how she sees the art of writing: Writing is like a sport. You have to show up, and you have to practice. Yes, there are times that are A Diamond in the Rough: A Memoir or less convenient, and there are times when you are more or less motivated. Some days the lyrics just start to come out from an unconscious part of you. Although she is talking about songwriting here, this applies to any form of writing whether it be poetry, novels or plays. I think there were two turning points in her life. One of them was the birth of her daughter, which brought her to the realization that there was a disconnect between herself and her own parents. The other turning point in her life, I think, was when she realized that she was processing her struggles through her music. The result was an epiphany: I realized I was writing about getting sober, about coming alive, about claiming myself and uncovering these gifts that had been obscured by both external and internal forces, about this veil of confusion and dysfunction and addiction being peeled away, bit by bit. Diamond in the Rough: A Memoir - Shawn Colvin - Google книги

As a child growing up in rural South Dakota, Shawn Colvin liked to start fires. Out in the prairie she would build little mounds of straw and set them alight, though one day the wind blew too strongly and she was forced to raise the alarm. Nevertheless, this perilous hobby continued into adulthood as she burned the memorabilia of broken relationships. Well, perhaps not all. Colvin's biggest hit song, 's Grammy-winning "Sunny Come Home", told of a woman who burned down her home to escape her past, and cemented A Diamond in the Rough: A Memoir place in the folk-pop firmament. Both Sunny and I went through a lot and came out the other side at least I like to think Sunny was acquitted. She may have gone overboard a tad, but we are both of us survivors. Colvin's autobiography details her passage from small-town prairie girl to celebrated singer-songwriter, doing battle along the way with anorexia, alcoholism, clinical depression and the aftershocks of late motherhood. Men also loom large in her story, the most significant being her father who, both a joker and a bully, A Diamond in the Rough: A Memoir push her against walls in fits of anger and, on one occasion when she was six, kept her up for 24 hours as a corrective to her night-waking. It doesn't take a psychoanalyst to make the connection between her father's volatile behaviour and the disastrous relationships that followed, among them two marriages, the dissolution of which sent her on fresh spirals of fear and self-loathing. But A Diamond in the Rough: A Memoir am a lousy girlfriend and an even worse wife. But despite the many personal disasters that have beset Colvin, Diamond in the Rough is no misery-fest. It's with an impressive absence of self-pity and a dry, unassuming A Diamond in the Rough: A Memoir that she teases humour out of the most unpalatable episodes. Just as absorbing are her adventures in music, starting at 10 when she learnt to play guitar and then discovered other artists — there's an endearing depiction of year-old hero worship as Colvin makes a necklace for Joni Mitchell and gives it to a roadie to pass on. Unlike the countless young pups catapulted to stardom in their teens, Colvin had the wisdom and self-awareness not to let it overwhelm her. While not a manual on how to hold on to your man, the book at least offers valuable pointers on that rare feat, as well as maintaining a musical career into middle age. Already have an account? Log in here. Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. The most insightful comments on all subjects will be published daily in dedicated articles. You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies to your comment. The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Independent Premium. Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open A Diamond in the Rough: A Memoir. Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive A Diamond in the Rough: A Memoir. Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines. You can find our Community Guidelines in full here. There are no Independent Premium comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts. There are no comments yet - be the first to add your thoughts. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Show 0 comments. Sign up Already have an account? Update preferences. Comments Share your thoughts and debate the big issues. Already registered? Log in. Cancel Delete comment. Cancel Flag comment. Independent Premium comments 0 Independent Premium comments Open comments 0 open comments. Join the discussion. Join the discussion Create a commenting name to join the debate Submit. Reply Delete 0 0. Cancel Post. Forgotten your password? Want an ad-free experience? Subscribe to Independent Premium. View offers. Diamond in the Rough: A Memoir, By Shawn Colvin | The Independent | The Independent

After learning to play guitar at the age of ten, Shawn Colvin was determined to make a life in music—a decision that would send a small-town girl out on the open road for good. Intwo decades after she started, she got her big break. Like the troubled would-be arsonist and survivor of her smash hit "Sunny Came Home," Colvin knows a thing or two about heartache—and setting fires. Humorous and deeply honest, Colvin relates the experiences behind her best-loved songs in vivid color in this memoir. Diamond in the Rough captures her years of touring cross-country in bands and vans full of guys; falling in A Diamond in the Rough: A Memoir out of love; meeting heroes like Joni Mitchell; searching for her musical identity; and making friendships that would last a lifetime. It is also an unflinching account of Colvin's struggles—weathering addiction and depression, learning to care for not only herself but also a child—and, always, channeling those experiences into song. With the wit, lyricism, and empathy that have characterized Colvin's performances and inspired audiences A Diamond in the Rough: A Memoir, Diamond in the Rough looks back over a rich lifetime of highs and lows with stunning insight and candor. In its pages, we witness the inspiring story of a woman honing her artistry, finding her voice, and making herself whole. Interesting read by troubled A Diamond in the Rough: A Memoir. There is nothing starry eyed about this account of her life and career. It doesn't fall into the trap that many music biogs do and by presents her as an ordinary Even when she cleaned up her personal life stayed a mess. She likes men, but doesn't have the greatest taste. Shawn Colvin is a singer-songwriter and musician. She began performing in bands in the late s, and after years of polishing her skills in Austin, Texas, and the New York folk scene, Colvin released her debut album Steady On inearning a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. Colvin has released ten albums, won three Grammy Awards, and been nominated for seven others. Diamond in the Rough : A Memoir. Shawn Colvin. About the Author. About the Publisher.