I hope everyone in the U.S. had a very lovely Thanksgiving. It was pretty uneventful here in western Canada. There’s still no snow on the ground, but that’s okay. I’m loving that there’s no ice to slip on. Next weekend, my husband has a conference in Lake Louise, so I’m planning to tag along, for the gorgeous views, fireside reading, and perhaps some cross-country skiing. It should be great.
Meanwhile after a couple weeks I finished reading Bruce Springsteen’s 508-page autobiography “Born to Run,” which is good stuff! Of course, it helps if you’re a diehard fan of his music to read the book as it’s quite a detailed account of his life and career. To me it was like ice cream on the cake — I couldn’t get to it soon enough. I won’t bore you with the details of my years following Bruce’s music and his shows, but suffice it to say I first got into listening to him with the “Born to Run” album in 1975, and I haven’t missed an album since.
I was excited when I heard he was coming out with a memoir. Interestingly, the book was written over a seven-year time period, in a notebook by longhand. Apparently Bruce would write some, then put it away for intervals then come back to it a year later, with fresh eyes. It’s a pretty straightforward, chronological account, which I was quite thankful for as there’s a lot of ground to cover.
My favorite part is the first half of the book about his growing up years. This part flows so well and the narrative is so good you really get a sense of what his working-class neighborhood in Freehold, New Jersey and his family were like. His beginnings were much more humble than I had realized. His family was pretty poor, his dad was often an unemployed bus driver and his mom was a legal secretary. The house he grew up in often didn’t have heat other than the stove they cooked with, and his grandparents played a big role in his upbringing. He was the oldest child, with a sister close in age, and another much later. But it’s his tenuous relationship with his father that’s central in the book. His father had a lot of hostility towards Bruce and was often brooding, drunk, and unrelatable to him in his youth. Seemingly it was through music that Bruce could find an escape.
Like others, Bruce got his first guitar after seeing Elvis Presley on the “Ed Sullivan Show” in 1956, but guitar playing didn’t stick with him until after he saw the Beatles on the show years later. He got into it then and was playing in a neighborhood band while eventually graduating from high school — and dodging the draft for Vietnam by being found unfit to serve. He was late in his teens then, when his parents decided to leave New Jersey and move to the San Francisco area with his youngest sister. Bruce stayed behind and moved to the Jersey coast, squeaking by playing in bar bands and writing songs, while crashing on the floor of his friends’ surf shop.
Bruce’s work ethic, as evident in the book, and how he got his recording contract with Columbia Records are quite extraordinary. Not to mention how he followed it up by making such remarkable albums. He tells about it so openly and humbly you feel as if you’re right there as it’s being played out. He has a good memory, and the details are often fascinating. What’s refreshing too is that this is one of the first rock memoirs I’ve read that doesn’t have a lot of drugs or alcohol in it. There’s no overdoses or hallucinations. Bruce didn’t do drugs (he didn’t need to be high in order to write), and didn’t have his first drink till his 20s. Neither did he have a driver’s license till then, so a lot of his transportation came through hitchhiking. (Though it’s interesting to note: all of the cars in his early songs.)
The book’s chapters follow album by album through his career. While he does give insights into each of them, I would have liked even more on specific songs (since I’m a bit nuts about them). Still he does go behind the scenes about the E Street Band and each of its members and talks about his two marriages and three kids. He isn’t harshly critical about anyone and has a lot of positive, kind things to say about all of those he has worked with, and loved. Though I didn’t realize he had suffered periodically from such serious depression. That’s the news of the book. He’s been seeing a shrink since the ‘80s and occasionally has been on medication. Apparently his father was later diagnosed with mental illness, so it appears to run in the family. Still it was a bit surprising to hear of this with Bruce, someone so talented and successful with a close-knit family. If he’s depressed, then what does this say about our lives?
All in all, “Born to Run” is my favorite autobiography or memoir of the year. Are you kidding me? This is a very rare and wonderful treat — from a songwriting, rock legend, no doubt. As I said, I enjoyed the first half of the book the best. Through his albums “The River” and into the years of “Born in the USA,” it’s quite illuminating. Towards the end, it gets more condensed and felt a bit more like a list of things that happened, instead of the neat narrative that flows at the beginning. Still Bruce includes many interesting stories about his amazing life and career in the book, and it’s fortunate that we get such a glimpse. I plan to keep listening to whatever comes next from him.
Lastly this past week, I finished the audiobook of Lydia Millet’s novel “Sweet Lamb of Heaven,” which is pretty cool as it’s read by the author. Oh it’s a spooky, strange little novel. Part thriller, and part horror, it also has an apocalyptic sense to it. The novel is narrated by a woman (Anna) who is on the run from her uncaring husband. She’s taken their 6-year-old daughter from their home in Alaska and is hiding out in a motel on the coast of Maine, where she’s trying to figure out why such strange things as hearing voices have happened to her. It turns out other guests at the motel have heard similar things.
Meanwhile her conniving husband tracks her down, giving her an ultimatum to come back or else face consequences. It’s then that more unexplained things start to occur and Anna and her daughter are almost killed in a number of freak “accidents.” All the while she’s tries to come to grips, along with the other motel guests, with what’s going on and what to do about her husband’s ultimatum. You’ll want to wait for the ending as it’s quite a doozy.
“Sweet Lamb of Heaven” slightly reminded me of a Stephen King story, but with some deeper elements as well. There’s quite a bit of ruminating on “deep languages” and God, which I was trying to stay on top of. I’m not sure I understood everything, but I liked what was said. There’s a mysterious quality about the novel that held me in its grips, along with the protagonist’s narration. I haven’t read Lydia Millet before, but I think some of her other novels have surreal elements to them as well. Thanks to Judy over at the blog Keep the Wisdom who had such good things to say about the book and the author. I plan to read more of Millet’s works in the future.
What about you — are you a Springsteen fan, or have you read any of Lydia Millet’s novels, and if so what did you think?
I’ve never really followed Springsteen’s career so I’m not sure I’ll tackle that chunk of a book. I did read somewhere that he wrote it all himself and I find that quite impressive.
Yeah I’m sure he did. He’s pretty hands on with his projects. Thanks for stopping by Kathy.
Wonderful book, a great read. So looking forward to him coming down here early next year!
Yeah I agree Marion. Springsteen’s book is a great read. Enjoy seeing him!
I tend to really like Rock biographies and I like Springsteen. Born to Run sounds very good.
Unfortunately the depression that Springsteen has seems mostly unrelated to life events. Depression is a terrible disease that seems to be biological in nature.
I agree Brian. Depression can be biological and anyone is susceptible to it. If you’ve liked his music, I’m sure you’d like the book as well. It’s a good read.
I’m glad you liked both books this week. While I read your review of Sweet Lamb of Heaven, I kept wondering where I had seen a review of that book before because it sounded awfully familiar. It’s likely that it was at Judy’s blog.
Yeah Carmen it must have been on Judy’s blog, because she’s praised the author Lydia Millet quite a lot. So I was geared up to get her latest book. It’s a bit dark & spooky. Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your week.
Springsteen wasn’t my favorite rock guy but I love musician biographies and memoirs. I also grew up in New Jersey so I may give this one a try.
As you noted, I love Lydia Millet, and I loved your review. Thanks again for the shout-out.
My favorite line in your review: ‘There’s quite a bit of ruminating on “deep languages” and God, which I was trying to stay on top of. I’m not sure I understood everything, but I liked what was said.’ I felt the same way about that.
Oh cool Judy I’m glad you felt the same way about the end of Millet’s book. I was wondering if it was just me, trying to pin down the deep languages and God. I think at one point she equates God with evolution. But I’m still thinking about it. It was a nice introduction to Millet’s works. And I’m okay if you’re not a big fan of Springsteen. I can handle it … almost. Ha! Just joking. If you grew up anywhere near Freehold or the coast, then you’d probably like the first half of the book.
The Springsteen memoir sounds awesome, and I realized, as I read your thoughts, that I don’t really know much about him. I do want to know more now.
I’m also going to Amazon to check on Sweet Lamb of Heaven, which also sounds marvelous. Thanks for sharing!
Enjoy Canada…I am longing to be there. Seriously. But I don’t see how it could happen. Sigh.
Thanks Laurel. Yeah the Springsteen book is awesome and you find out quite a bit about him in it. The Sweet Lamb novel is a bit dark & spooky but worth checking out. Maybe next summer you’ll road trip up to Vancouver; you were pretty far north almost to Oregon on your last road trip. If you get to Washington State, Vancouver is not too far from there! Enjoy your week.
I really enjoyed your highlights from Springsteen’s biography. Thanks for sharing them! I haven’t read anything by Millet and tend to avoid books set in my home state if the author is from away.
Thanks Sarah. Yeah I don’t think Maine or Alaska plays too much of a role in the Millet book, just basic settings. I see from Wiki that the author was born in Boston but grew up in Toronto, and now lives in Tucson. So go figure!
Thanks for checking! There is nothing wrong with writing outside your home (I’m working on a novel set in Japan). It only bothers me if it’s my state, especially since there are so many good Maine authors.
I love that he wrote his book out longhand! His autobiography reminds me a little of the biography I read about Billy Joel (my parents were a Billy Joel fan, so I grew up listening to his music). Humble beginnings, hard work, and depression. The thing I liked reading about most, though, were the stories behind the songs – I found that so interesting.
I think I’d like Born To Run, but not sure if I’d get to it. Luckily for me, your review has filled me in about his life quite nicely! It *is* refreshing to hear he was able to keep off the drugs and alcohol. That seems pretty rare.
Thanks Naomi for your comments. Yeah the stories behind the songs are often my favorite parts! I wish there was even a bit more of that in Bruce’s book. But still he explains the albums on the whole quite a bit — so there’s some of that. I did find Born To Run quite refreshing as a rock bio/memoir. Hooray.
For some reason my favorite parts of memoirs are usually the growing up years too (if they’re done right). I find childhoods interesting. Glad you liked the book.
I like a lot of Bruce’s music but I wasn’t a major fan or anything. The other guy, JBJ, is my guy. Unfortunately, we will never get such a memoir from Jon. Sigh…
I really enjoyed Bruce’s book. It was REALLY well written and, if I recall correctly, I liked everything except the parts about playing in the clubs. For some reason that didn’t interest me and I don’t know why.
I had no idea about his depression and stuff until I read the book.
I think anyone would like this book…fan or no fan.
Also I’m still mad that I could never get through to buy tickets to see him on the Born in the USA tour. One of the top sorrows of my life.
Ha Jinjer. I know top sorrows of one’s life. I get it. I should have gone to see him on Broadway tell his tales & play his songs. I saw him in concert in 2016 in Vancouver and perhaps that will be the last time? I’m glad you liked his book. I’m impressed you read it not being a big fan etc. There’s some good stories in it. Hmm. Oh and I met JBJ once outside a bookstore in D.C. I got to shake his hand. He’s a good guy! And he has a nice crop of hair. 🙂