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104th out of 121 books
—
74 voters
Falling Backwards
by
Jann Arden
This long-time darling of the music industry and singer-songwriter of international renown will capture your heart--and keep you in stitches--with her powerful stories about coming of age as an artist and as a human being.
Jann's legions of fans are drawn to her sincerity, wit, humour and that infectious sparkle she brings to everything she does. Oh, and did we mention her...more
Jann's legions of fans are drawn to her sincerity, wit, humour and that infectious sparkle she brings to everything she does. Oh, and did we mention her...more
Hardcover, 288 pages
Published
November 1st 2011
by Knopf Canada
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This was a very interesting biography by a very interesting woman who is a household name in Canadian music. I enjoyed reading Jann's life story because she wasn't afraid to reveal the sad, the ridiculous or the difficult from her readers and she put her own special brand of comedy into many of the pages in the book. It must have been hard to write this book without hurting feelings or revealing too much about the other folks in the family that didn't want their stories shared the same way. Jann...more
The Good Stuff
* I love Jann, she is so delightfully honest and hilariously funny -- and so very accessible, you will feel like you are just shooting the shit with one of your pals while reading it
* She talks about things that we all felt while growing up but didn't always have the honesty to talk out loud about
* The paragraph when she talks about God and wonders if he had a Penis made me laugh so hard coffee came out my nose
* Never lays blame or talks mean spiritedly about anyone
* The love...more
* I love Jann, she is so delightfully honest and hilariously funny -- and so very accessible, you will feel like you are just shooting the shit with one of your pals while reading it
* She talks about things that we all felt while growing up but didn't always have the honesty to talk out loud about
* The paragraph when she talks about God and wonders if he had a Penis made me laugh so hard coffee came out my nose
* Never lays blame or talks mean spiritedly about anyone
* The love...more
I read a few reviews on GoodReads before reading this book, and I found myself agreeing with some of the critical remarks. First, the humour didn't really come across as funny, but maybe Jann and I just aren't a match when it comes to what makes us laugh. Second, I noticed some stories were repeated that could have been fixed with better editing. And the end seemed abrupt.
I did enjoy reading about her early years prior to high school, and found myself talking with my husband during a long drive...more
I did enjoy reading about her early years prior to high school, and found myself talking with my husband during a long drive...more
A long time ago, I read that the more personal you are, the more universal you are. I always thought these words referred to essays and poetry, but I’ve just learned how well they apply to memoirs, too. Falling Backwards covers Jann Arden’s earliest childhood memories, her school life, and the desire to write and play music, those inevitable young adult struggles and, finally, her first recording contract.
I have to be honest and say that I’m a big fan of Jann Arden’s music, which is why I receiv...more
I have to be honest and say that I’m a big fan of Jann Arden’s music, which is why I receiv...more
So far Jann is providing the reader with very detailed accounts of her childhood. I am not sure she is going to make it into the singing career part of her life at this rate as I keep looking at the thickness of the book. I shall keep you updated.
I have been a fan of Jann Arden's music since the release of her first CD in the early 1990's. Her music has always helped me process life experiences, realize that life is complicated, and that we all hope to have relationships with people we can rely...more
I have been a fan of Jann Arden's music since the release of her first CD in the early 1990's. Her music has always helped me process life experiences, realize that life is complicated, and that we all hope to have relationships with people we can rely...more
I really enjoy her first book and this one is even better. If I didn't know any better - I would think we lived the same childhood. Born and raised and still living in Calgary - it is nice to hear the names of the old places that were around growing up.
Jann Arden is hilarious...
Jann Arden is hilarious...
I love Jann Arden's original songs, written by herself. They say something to everyone who listens. In Falling Backwards, Jann looks back over her life, growing up in small town Alberta with an older and a younger brother. She endured trials but in her happy go lucky way, she was not fazed by them. At first, anyway. As she graduated and sought to find herself, she worked various jobs including highway construction flag person, fisher-person, busker and others. She always had the support of her p...more
Ms. Arden is one of my favourite singer/songwriters and she just happens to be Canadian as well. She's just a few years younger than I am and grew up and still lives on an acreage just outside of Calgary in an area that I became familiar with when I lived in Calgary for a few years in the early 80's. I've attended a few of her concerts in Victoria and these have supported the occasional statement I have read about her also being one of Canada's best stand-up comics. Her sense of humour - often a...more
I like Jann Arden. I mean I liked her. After reading her book, however, I love her. She is so insightful, and touching, and tells a mean story in a voice that sounds like the two of you are just sitting around a kitchen table drinking coffee. And funny - this girl is close your eyes so tears don't spurt out funny.
Case in point - After hearing for years how difficult her birth was on her mother, Jann occasionally sends her MOM a card on Jann's birthday that she signs "Sorry about your vagina, Lov...more
Case in point - After hearing for years how difficult her birth was on her mother, Jann occasionally sends her MOM a card on Jann's birthday that she signs "Sorry about your vagina, Lov...more
Jann is relatable and funny, as you'd expect. She's also not afraid to expose her pain and embarrassing moments. She feels like someone you grew up with. I like her approach to life but as plot goes, it meandered a little and I felt it was too slow during her young childhood and ended just as she was breaking into the music business. I would have preferred to learn more about career and while the details about her family and friend relationships are many, there are no clues about her romantic re...more
Often times, it is the things NOT present that reveal the most.
“Falling Backwards” (Knopf Canada) is not a typical celebrity Tell ALL, rife with scandal and unending accolades to ones self: it’s quite the opposite. If you’re looking for something to dish about… this is not the book for you. There are no photos of Jann posing with other celebrities, standing on the stages of packed venues, or accepting numerous awards. The photos tell a story of family and friends: revealing the things that matte...more
“Falling Backwards” (Knopf Canada) is not a typical celebrity Tell ALL, rife with scandal and unending accolades to ones self: it’s quite the opposite. If you’re looking for something to dish about… this is not the book for you. There are no photos of Jann posing with other celebrities, standing on the stages of packed venues, or accepting numerous awards. The photos tell a story of family and friends: revealing the things that matte...more
It wasn't what I expected. I read Jann's online journals for years and she's a poet philosopher whose earthy comedy keeps her grounded and I was hoping this memoir would contain more of that beautiful writing, but it didn't.
I liked it but I wanted more out of it. It was too simple and the material not fleshed out enough. She's had an interesting life and I was hoping it would be more comprehensive.
She's an amazing human being and I'd recommend anyone read everything she's ever written. She has...more
I liked it but I wanted more out of it. It was too simple and the material not fleshed out enough. She's had an interesting life and I was hoping it would be more comprehensive.
She's an amazing human being and I'd recommend anyone read everything she's ever written. She has...more
Her life was interesting, and I liked the narratives about her childhood, but the jokes seem a bit forced throughout, and I found myself thinking that some of the jokes were very adolescent and not appealing to the general adult audience. Really, Jann, I did not need to know that you had worms as a kid, and what your mother's remedy was, and then be reminded of it several times throughout the book. I did enjoy the "in hindsight" view of her childhood as fairly idyllic, despite the problems of he...more
This was one of the shortest biographies that I have ever read. For me this floats between a 2 and 3 stars but ultimately I gave it three stars. This is a very honest memoir done in Arden's trademark self-deprecating manner with some humour thrown in. While I am usually very disappointed with most memoirs in that they quickly skim through childhood, practically all of Arden's memoir is about her childhood! This really blew me away. At the half way point of this book she is still at the junior hi...more
I laughed out loud too many times to count while reading this book. Jann is a great example of how to accept your family, yourself and your friends as they are, imperfect beings doing their best. It is a great reminder to never underestimate the power of compassion, encouragement and humour while you put your shoulders back and keep moving forward. I am so pleased that I was invited to look in the windows of a "real Canadian family ", just as weird and wonderful as my own.
I didn't laugh out loud as much as I thought I would, but that's just because I know that I enjoy her stories. I loved finding out more about her, and was amazed to hear about her writing process - that she was writing hundreds and hundreds of songs before there was one that she (and others) felt was worthy of recording. We could all learn from that. I also loved hearing that her parents worked hard at their marriage, and that though it wasn't easy, it appears to have been worth it.
Finally, I r...more
Finally, I r...more
I enjoyed this biography. Jann has a sense of humour that is seen throughout the book even when the situations she discussed were a little darker. There are a couple times I laughed out loud while reading. Jann Arden is not someone you read about in the every day tabloids so there were many facts in her life that I found surprising. I wished the book didn't end so abruptly and went a bit further into her life, but other than that I thought it was a great read.
I have always loved Jann. It started the when I bought and listened to "Living Under June." over and over again at 12 years old. Her songs have always spoken to me in ways no other music has. Is it no surprise that the words she wrote on her life would be the same. So honest, so straight forward but also with the humour she brings to her live shows. This book will make you laugh out loud, cry a few tears and then have you pulling out her albums so you can listen to them with a new found understa...more
Oh Jann Arden, I have always loved your wit and insight into life and this book managed to capture that perfectly. I especially enjoyed the last third of the book when your life really got rolling, and absolutely loved your descriptions of being out on the fishing boat in BC. Stellar lessons there -- good or bad, everything happens for a reason. I wish I could have heard more about your rise to fame and what you really thought of all the hype, but I guess I'll have to wait for the next book ; )...more
I should have known better. Only legitimate authors should be allowed to write autobiographies. All others should leave the job to professionals. I started reading this book around noon, started skimming a short 10 minutes later, and read the final paragraph at around 1.30. She may have an interesting life/career, but I'll never know because the writing was too dreary. How many times, in a couple of paragraphs, should a person be allowed to use the adjective "amazing"?
Okay, I burned my eyes out and read this book in two days! Couldn't put it down...a wonderfull journey Jann takes you on in every page of this book. Her selfless sharing, the anguish of family life, the ability to recount her colourful everyday life up to her present success in the music industry is astounding. Thanks Jann for your down to earth, raw sharing of this awesome memoir!
Jann is a little known artist here in the US. Most probably have heard her hit "Insensitive" but don't even know who sang or wrote it. I did some research and picked up her "Best Of" while vacationing in Vancouver. I'm also a fan of her "Covers" CDs. This book chronicles her childhood and adolescence culminating in her break as a singer songwriter. I laughed a few times and happily teared up when things started going her way.
This was mostly a light memoir and it had a few funny parts. There were some laugh out loud moments reading this... especially in her childhood. This memoir covers her childhood and the beginning of her musical career. She also shares some things that a lot of people wouldn't even share with people they know, let alone the public.
Definately different from her previous books on personal journals. Sometimes funny, sometimes deeply disturbing tales of her life thus far. I would have loved for her to go more into detail of how she really started to become famous as she stops when she gets her first record deal. I wouldn't read it again, but it was good to check it out.
I was lucky enough to meet Jann Arden at her book release and cd signing. So I managed to get this book autographed by Jann Arden herself!! This was a great book about Jann Ardens life, the tough parts and her very slow rise to fame at the age of 30! She is such an amazing person and I love how sarcastic and funny she is. She always manages to make you laugh, even when you really shouldn't be laughing. I definitely recommend this to all her fans.
I love Jann Arden's music and she is a lot of fun in live performances; she is a great storyteller on stage. I did not love the book and for many of the reasons other people already stated: the book barely skimmed through the teen years when she was starting to sing and play guitar and spent a lot of time on her early grade school years instead. There is not a lot of insight or explanation about her musical background or influences. It is amazing that she is basically self-taught, but I would h...more
I thoroughly enjoyed this laugh out loud exploration of her early life.
Though we are some years apart, I related to a lot of her childhood experiences and interests.
Maybe that's more of a Canadian thing?
Oh the misery of a home perm!
'With a smell like a burning cat that someone's thrown up on.' yep. That's it!
Her descriptions are singularly her own, that's for sure.
:-)
Though we are some years apart, I related to a lot of her childhood experiences and interests.
Maybe that's more of a Canadian thing?
Oh the misery of a home perm!
'With a smell like a burning cat that someone's thrown up on.' yep. That's it!
Her descriptions are singularly her own, that's for sure.
:-)
I really enjoyed reading this.
I like Jann, her sense of humour and her honesty.Now I know where she got some of her quick wit from too.
This was an enjoyable read.
You find out a lot about her growing-up years and not so much about her rise to stardom.
It isn't great literature, but it makes for a nice, interesting and informative read.
I like Jann, her sense of humour and her honesty.Now I know where she got some of her quick wit from too.
This was an enjoyable read.
You find out a lot about her growing-up years and not so much about her rise to stardom.
It isn't great literature, but it makes for a nice, interesting and informative read.
I don't read a lot of bios. They are often boring or superficial. This was a very interesting memoir, full of entertaining anecdotes. Very honest and forthright. Also, very funny Arden has a wonderful wit. I enjoyed it very much, and am looking now to read her other books.
This memoir follows Jann's life from her childhood to her first recording contract at age 30. She's very candid and speaks about some of the struggles that her family endured. She's also witty and funny and very down to earth. Not a deep read, but rather interesting.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| Growing up in AB | 1 | 3 | Aug 18, 2012 11:35am |
Jan 05, 2013 05:25pm