I think she was so horribly treated by her family, who profited off her captivity without caring about her, and by certain corners of the press and the public, who kicked her when she was vulnerable. My personal view is that it’s okay with me that even with ghost writers, it’s not the most well-written narrative—I recall especially when she said she felt God in the desert that I really wish she had given more context about how that feeling came about, and I felt that way at multiple other points as well. But she’s a genius performer and pop music icon, and I’m okay with her not being the best storyteller besides. I guess I tend to not expect celebrities who are known for other things—their athleticism, their acting, etc.—to also be powerfully articulate or always the most insightful, but I’m pleasantly delighted when they are. I learned a lot from her book nevertheless, and I’m grateful it’s out there!
I thought the writing in this chapter shone and was a cut above that of the rest of the book. It also made me cry.