Cyndi Lauper: A Memoir (A Bestselling Musician Memoir)

Cyndi Lauper's 'A Memoir' (338 pages with color and b/w photos) is an intense true lively involving and well written book by the great Cyndi Lauper together with american journalist Jancee Dunn, a book that I strongly encourage you to read. Cyndi totally blows the reader away and takes him/her right into her life. They story starts with Cyndi leaving home at seventeen due to an unbearable family situation with her stepfather. One can literally see her getting ready to leave with her backpack only filled with the most needed items: her toothbrush, underwear, an apple and Yoko Ono book, which will become her window to see life through art. Cyndi who decides to leave because the situation with her stepfather is impossible and who makes sure to leave dinner ready in the oven for her younger brother Butch before leaving, being him the main reason she had not left until that time. In Cyndi's Memoir images roll on as if they were spots on a painting, as Cyndi has always been saying that she can see quite many different episodes of her life through images. The story is so fluid and lively that the reader gets the impression that he can actually hear her voice, as if Cyndi was telling it to him/her personally. A book that Cyndi has dedicated to her husband David Thornton who has been always strongly encouraged, inspired and supported her throughout her career. `A Memoir' is true, vivid and sometimes so sad. So sad and tough is the description of the "down" moments and so hard to read when she describes some very painful moments of her life due to some health problems, her desire to have a baby and the loss of some dear friends. This same loss which will inspire her later to build and dedicate the first permanent Residence in NYC for homeless LGBT kids who are rejected by their family, as it was the case with her dear friend Gregory who died of AIDS. Very hard in the description of her family situation. With her mother who was separated and who struggled to survive and grow up her three children. She had to work 6 days a week and 14 hours/day. Hard to read about all the violences that Cyndi had to bear, all the obstacles that she encountered all through her career and all the people who opposed her and wanted her to believe that she could not do what she strongly wanted to do and was the greatest of all in doing. But `A Memoir' is to me an anthem to the great power of one's will, to professionalism, talent and will to do. Positivity shines from the book and Cyndi talks about her huge success and how this finally came to her despite the numerous difficulties. And the narration is so fluid that at times you can forget that "A Memoir" is an autobiography, as it seems that you are reading a novel, instead. A book which inspires and encourages so much, and first of all which teaches us that we never have to give up being what we really want to be: "Remember this: It's not what others think about you that will allow you to succeed. It's what you think about you that allows you to succeed. Because if you can picture yourself doing something, don't listen to anybody who tells you that you can't. You have to just try. Otherwise, you're gonna be saying should've, could've, would've, and you don't want to be saying that in your life". "Feel free to be yourself, everybody else is taken" (quoted from O. Wilde in the book). A book which is really not to be missed. Micol Rindone, Milan Italy

Cyndi was an adorable, quirky icon in the 80s and I just assumed her life story would be filled with a lot of laughter and moments of outright hilarity. I couldn't have been more wrong. I learned so much about her and what inspired her. I won't spoil anything for those that haven't read it yet, but let's just say she comes from a pretty dark place and her and she became a personification of the old cliche "what doesn't kill you can only make you stronger". She never compromised her belief in her work and for that very reason I can't help but admire her. Her life has been interesting, to say the least, and she's a much stronger person than I ever could have possibly imagined. I've always loved her because she just oozed joy and fun in her performances, but I love her even more for the simple fact that she never, ever backed down in her beliefs. She shares a lot of moments in her memoir about meeting with some big name celebrities and to her credit, she is doesn't have may negative things to say about any of them (with one exception, but in my opinion I wasn't surprised when I read it.) Most celeb tell-alls do a fair amount of bashing other celebs but Cyndi keeps her nose clean through it all. The only reason I can't give the book 5 stars is because of the writing style. Cyndi admits at one point that she has ADD and boy, does it show. She jumps back and forth so often that at times it becomes difficult to figure out where she's going. IF it wasn't for that, this book would easily get 5 stars for sure. If you weren't a Cyndi Lauper fan before reading this book, you'll end up being a fan by the time you finish.

First let me say I am a huge fan of Cyndi Lauper. With that said my review is slightly one sided in favor of Cyndi for writing this memoir. I also volunteer at a local non profit music theatre, and work every weekend with struggling artists doing video editing, and computer graphics. One of those is my friend, and adopted brother Pat. Pat's philosophy on the music industry is simple,"you need to be in the right place at the right time, meet the right person, and sing the right song". Cyndi pretty much says that over and over in her book in her own words. My brother Pat prides himself on being an independent artist who writes his own lyrics, and music. The same could be said for Cyndi as well. All of that influenced my review. I must say beforehand I read some of the nasty One, Two, and Three Star Amazon reviews. They criticized Cyndi for getting too personal, giving too much information, and taking too long to get to the getting famous part. Also they said they did not like her colorful metaphors. Many women in their reviews said they viewed her as a strong female figure until they read this memoir. Lastly many criticized her for devoting too much of the book on gay people. I read the memoir as Cyndi's way of telling us of her humble beginnings, and her long journey to becoming famous. She introduces us to many people who changed her life. These people influenced her life, music, art, and fashion choices. I enjoyed all the little tidbits, and stories about the people who made her what she is today. As Buddy Holly said "I have this sound in my head", so did Cyndi. She fought the recording studio to get that sound on to her "She So Unusual" album, and not the lame sound they wanted. My feedback about the colorful metaphors. She is a New Yorker, that is over a million people all crammed in to one tiny space, and trying to live with each other everyday. I am sure words fly daily when tensions starts to mount. As far as the comments about talking too much about gay right and gay people. Geez her sister who she is very close to is gay, so case closed there. The comments of not being a strong female figure. One page in the memoir says it all. "Its my name that goes on the front of that album, and your name will be in fine print on the back". With that said she made it clear it was her music on that first album. You go girl ! The memoir starts out with her running away from home, or that is running away from a home with a step father who was a predator. She never ran away from her mother, or her brother or sister. Cyndi describes in great detail the many epic failures in her early life. Schools, jobs, relationships, and music. Reading this you start to really feel for her wondering when her life was going to jump on the tracks. This reminded me of the PBS American Experience on Henry Ford. He also had many failures with automobiles before he became the man we know today. Cyndi introduces us to a huge cast of colorful characters. These are people who brought her joy everyday in her life, and those who influenced her musical style. Cyndi slowly builds her memoir to her choice as music for her passion in life. After many failures, music is the one thing that made her feel good, and for once she is getting rave reviews from people who love to hear her sing and perform. The book revealed many dark moments in Cyndi's life. Also numerous events that she describes in great detail that made me bust up laughing, but not in vain. Her job as an IHOP waitress, Girl Friday, imitating Lucy, and the back from retirement ladies she worked with in the department store. As much as Cyndi is in to film, there should be a movie made about this book. For the techies, that would include me. I purchased the Kindle version which was only $16, substantially less than the $25 hard cover + shipping. Mostly because of my poor vision. I struggle with books anymore. Text can be enlarged on a Mac, or an iPad. My Mac app allowed me to copy and paste selected paragraphs. This also auto inserted the page numbers in the pasted text. I emailed these paragraphs from the copied text to my friends. They immediately knew I was on to something good, and they also purchased Cyndi's Memoir. I was also able to get my Mac to convert the text to audio. Although sadly there is no voice on the Mac that sounded like Cyndi's. Hat's off to you Cyndi. Thanks for sharing. I myself am also coming out of a dark moment in my life. I was laid off from my job, and out of work for almost six months. Reading this memoir put a smile on my face that has not been there in a long time.

It's a great book. There are some similarities in the way I grew up, but she handled some things a lot better than me. And she's from Ozone Park like me! I'm still reading it.

Anyone who knows me knows I'm a huge fan of all things Cyndi Lauper--80s, 90s, through to her current outing with Blues music, and love almost all of it. As such, I have also read everything publicly out there--interviews, commentaries, etc., including all biographical commentaries on her until now. So I am one of those people well-versed on Cyndi before reading a word of the memoir. I did not expect to be so surprised, so often, particularly in the first half of her book, when she tells the stories of the trials and tribulations on her way up. Her rise to fame from a lower middle class neighborhood in Queens, that she quit high school and ran away from home, that she lived a bit as a vagabond for a few years, lost her voice before getting it back....old news. Knew all that. Well-mined territory for the fan, and a huge reason why she is still so admired by so many. But this memoir reveals that we really had no idea. The book redefines why she is a survivor, why she continues to fight and fight and fight, for herself, and the causes she cares about. For a fan, parts will move you to tears. It's truly traumatic and sad what she endured. Then when you think she's "made it" and everything should e smooth sailing, the hits just keep a coming (no pun intended). A lot of people have commented on how the last part of the book rambles on a bit, and there's a certain truth to that. Nevertheless, the first 200+ pages were so compelling, I stand by my five-star rating. For fans, it's a must-read. Those casually interested will be shocked at what was really going on behind her joyful public image. I think it's an admirable story. Also, on the "rambling" organization of the prose--I have had the fortune to have short discussions with Cyndi, and truthfully, the scatter-shot ricochet from topic to topic mode is EXACTLY how she talks, I loved that about her, and I thought keeping the same tone was part of the charm of the book. On a final note, they really need to get her to read the audiobook if one is planned. For this fan who had high expectations of his hero's memoir, I was extremely pleased. Your mileage may vary. Bob (RJ) Sullivan

Cyndi Lauper is without a doubt, a fantastic pop musician. She is not unfortunately, a very interesting writer of memoir. Written in a very rambling, chatty, non-focused way, she takes forever to make her points. She is very quick to repeat how unconventional she is and how much she is an "artist". However, while trying to pass herself off as "unusual" she simply comes off as pedestrian. Her angst and battles with her record company are no more dramatic than anyone else has had that's gone before her. And the common denominator in her struggles seems to always be Cyndi Lauper and her manufactured image of herself. Her journey is nothing a good therapist couldn't have straightened out 20 years ago. That said, she is endearing, and though laborious, this reader gives the writer the benefit of the doubt. Memo to Ms. Lauper: You don't have to share every thought that pops into your head.

Cyndi opened many doors for me on understanding the intellect that it takes to be a artist. " As the old saying goes I am so not talented I could not carry a tune in a bag" She is a amazing woman who has certainly earned all of her awards and money..... I am a Blues lover and one recent Cyndi did is called "Memphis Blues" I am telling you this album is over the top and 1000% blues. I never expected to hear her do the Blues, Man she sure made me shut my mouth, Also the story of her life and friends is great, She writes as fast as she talks so it's is at times hard to keep up with her and her many, many friends..........I learned allot about her inner workings that allows her to write and create as she does. My only disappointment is she get hooked up in Politics and the gay movement which I could give a rip about and I felt it took away about the book, She could have said I am not gay but support the gay movement and saved 50 pages....But other than that and it's the reason I gave her a 4 star and not a 5 star she is a incredible woman and I enjoyed her book. A word of advice, if you don't own her Blues album get it,. It incredible. I am not a rocker so the rest of her music does not interest me but the book was Great almost except for the Political chit we all seem to have our heads wrapped around when there is better things to do than chasing people that make theor politic's their main Agenda, Cyndi did not do that....don't get me wrong.......... She is a good read and if I had not bought her book I would still think she was a Brit and not a kid from Queens........

I already loved Cyndi Lauper, and sometimes it's dangerous to find out too much about your childhood idols, but reading this feels like she's a regular person talking with you, and her beautiful heart really shines though. I didn't expect the story of a rock star's career to feel so relatable and now I'm even more grateful for the trails she was forging for the odd birds like me even when I was a child listening on the radio and MTV.

Excelente libro. Me llegó super rápido y bien cuidado. Recomendable.

A fabulous funny woman and her book is a classic. She goes from teenage runaway to the most famous woman on the planet ,her over night success only taking ten years. It details why she disappeared off the map after the 80s not because she retired but because sony records kept trying to interfere with her,her look and her music. When she refused they simply put out the albums with no publicity at all ensuring they sank without a trace.so an artist at the height of her powers is laid low by a bunch of sexiest ,coked out business men . tragic, but she doesn't seem to bear them any ill will. She details her tireless charity efforts for lgbt causes and the loves of her life Despite some dark moments it is a quirky funny and life affirming roller coaster go buy

No problem with the shipping or the state of the book. Still have to read it tho

Great read great price

Ich bin selten von einer Biografie so gefesselt worden. So ehrlich, so nachvollziehbar, so persönlich und gleichzeitig so zeitgeschichtlich. Nicht nur für Cyndi Lauper Fans geeignet, da es ein echtes Zeitdokument über ein Aufwachsen in New York in den 1960er Jahren ist, mit den Kämpfen der Generation, den Zweifeln von Minderheiten und Frauen, dem Willen zur Selbstbestimmung und den vielen Rückschlägen. Das Buch ist lustig und traurig, es erklärt das seltsame Mädchen Cyndi Lauper und bleibt trotzdem ein Geheimnis. Sechs von fünf Punkten. Hoffentlich wird eine deutsche Übersetzung der witzigen und schonungslosen Sprache gerecht.