Let me just state my takeaways, from someone who grew up with her music and liked it but was never a fan. SPOILERS below

I believe she has a horrible family, I don’t think they care for her at all, I think they stole her money and used her every chance they got. I’m amazed she’s standing at all.

But… based on the book, I get the feeling that Britneys not the most reliable narrator. Not that she’s lying, more like she’s a brilliant artist who lacks other skills. The story about her receipts and that one phone call to her mom, and how her early boyfriend’s used her. It makes me feel like she’s not all there. And we don’t get any information on how her boyfriend’s viewed the conservatorship, which bothers me so much…

What are your thoughts?

  • Formal_Sorbet_8646@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I agree with others. I was expecting something amazing, like I’m Glad My Mom Died level. I hoped she would have had the perfect ghost writer to get her story out there in as much detail as possible. I did really enjoy it and felt like it opened me up to more of the story than I knew, but it did read as if she had not fully processed everything before putting the story out there. her mental health problems are still apparent.

    also, it kind of made me realize her music was never that good. i listened to tracks that weren’t singles for the first time and couldn’t figure out why she maintained popularity for so long. Even her recent stuff sounds robotic and dated. Maybe it’s just not for me. I just don’t get how she had so many fans when she has maybe 5 really stellar tracks.

    • CatTuff@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      I also wasn’t super happy with the writing even though it was such an interesting story. Then I realized maybe the ghost writer was actually perfect. It’s possible they really accurately captured Britney’s sort of…. Idk, immature (?) voice. Unfortunately it doesn’t make for great reading though.

    • vivahermione@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      That’s a good point about her music. When her first album came out, critics compared her to Debbie Gibson. Yet she’s had much greater staying power even though Gibson is a better singer imo. Is it because Britney was a good dancer and concept artist? The video for “Baby One More Time” was her idea.

      • bravetailor@alien.topBEnglish
        1·
        10 months ago

        I was in college when her first album came out and Baby One More Time was all over the media. I always thought the music was tacky, calculated mainstream pop, but you couldn’t deny her appeal–she appeared as if she was crafted from a laboratory to appeal to the type of kids in that specific generation. And probably more than a few adults as well. Her handlers knew exactly what they were doing in her presentation.

        Still everyone has their own tastes and I’m probably not in a position to criticize anyone else’s given my love of some of the tackiest 80s New Wave.