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Through The Shattered Glass
It began as the classic rags to riches story of a girl who escaped a life of misery to attain accidental fame and fortune in the United States.But what happened to the girl when the American dream became a living nightmare?Jeanie Clarke, who shot to wrestling stardom as Lady Blossom, reveals all in this frank account of her individual rise, fall and retribution, and struggles to sustain a family with a husband who was driven to become the greatest wrestling star the world had ever known.For years, she suffered in silence to survive personal tragedy, the pressures of fame, and drug a self-destructive lifestyle that spiralled out of control.This uncompromising autobiography exposes the dark nature of the substance abuse culture which gripped the entertainment industry, examining the consequences to a broken family that it created. It is a detailed account of her highs and lows during a lifetime in the wrestling business, and the ultimate cost it had on those around her. This is a story of personal survival that remained unknown... until now.
234 pages, Paperback
Published May 4, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 25, 2021
How many of you were wrestling fans in the 80’s and early 90’s. I was only 8 years old when Jeanie Clarke/ Lady Blossom left the ring. Wrestlers live a hard life with endless travels and injuries. It was always sad to hear of another wrestler dying of an overdose. I vaguely remembered Lady Blossom, since I was so young when she departed. I became interested in her life when I did a biography for Stone Cold Steve Austin in my freshmen English class. Back then there was still a lot of kayfabe in the wrestling business and hard to find any personal information about wrestlers except for little excerpts that they gave in interviews. I was very excited when I heard that Jeanie was writing a biography. After losing my father 11 years ago due to alcoholism, it was great to hear a story from somebody who also had demons and were able to beat them. She really hit rock bottom, before she was able to see that she needed help with her demons. I’m proud that she is still clean and has been able to reconcile with two of her daughters. This has been the best biography that I’ve read in years. It really touched my soul and heart! I definitely would recommend that you read this if and when you get a chance.
March 5, 2018
Whether you know her as a villainous valet in WCW and WCCW or the one who told Steve Austin to drink his tea before it got “stone cold”, you will get an even deeper look into Jeanie Clarke’s life in this hard-hitting memoir. Toxic marriages to wrestlers Chris Adams and Steve Austin, seventeen years of pill addiction, estrangement from her daughter Jade, and a miserable living situation have all taken their toll on this poor woman to where she contemplated suicide at one point. Going through a successful rehab in her home country of England along with telling her own story was exactly what Jeanie needed to exorcise her psychological demons.
As compelling as Jeanie Clarke’s story is, the way it was written didn’t give me the chance to feel her emotions and turmoil early on. Typos aside, the writing style felt a bit rushed, like I was bouncing from situation to situation without being allowed to settle in. I like a good fast-paced style, but not at the expense of sensory details and showing instead of telling. I realize this is a celebrity memoir, but a fast pace and descriptive writing don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Don’t believe me? Ask Chris Jericho.
The rushed writing style only lasted for the first half of the book. Meanwhile in the latter half, the stories Jeanie tells about drug addictions, being stalked, living with racist neighbors, and having a borderline abusive marriage with Steve Austin are easily the most terrifying her memoir has to offer. She took all of those pills as a way to cope with her stresses and it soon spiraled out of control. I know it’s easy to judge people who choose drugs as a way to get over their problems. But to borrow a phrase from Dr. Phil, “I don’t look at her and ask why is she doing this. I look at her and ask, why not.” You want to cheer for Jeanie to get better and have a solid foundation for her children. Spoiler alert: she’s been clean for years now. It’s safe to say she earned her ending, and then some.
If you want some insight as to how the wrestling business works, you’ll get plenty of that from this memoir. The exhausting travel schedule, the injuries, the constant pain, and being creatively stifled are just some of the problems wrestlers face on a day-to-day basis. Taking prescription pills is just one of the ways they cope with it all. This was happening long before WWE started their Wellness Policy in 2005 following the untimely death of Eddie Guerrero. If stricter drug testing had been implemented earlier, who knows how many lives could have been saved. It’s depressing to think about and you feel that depression near the end of the book when Jeanie almost dies of drug-induced shock.
While a mixed grade isn’t the most desirable one I could give, I don’t want it to turn you, my audience, away from this book. Jeanie’s story is one worth listening to despite the rushed writing style. Drug addiction isn’t just something that “weak” people go through. It’s a universal affliction with so many psychological triggers that it’s amazing anybody can be rehabilitated at all. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, seek help before it’s too late. Jeanie Clarke found help and she’s a better woman for it.
As compelling as Jeanie Clarke’s story is, the way it was written didn’t give me the chance to feel her emotions and turmoil early on. Typos aside, the writing style felt a bit rushed, like I was bouncing from situation to situation without being allowed to settle in. I like a good fast-paced style, but not at the expense of sensory details and showing instead of telling. I realize this is a celebrity memoir, but a fast pace and descriptive writing don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Don’t believe me? Ask Chris Jericho.
The rushed writing style only lasted for the first half of the book. Meanwhile in the latter half, the stories Jeanie tells about drug addictions, being stalked, living with racist neighbors, and having a borderline abusive marriage with Steve Austin are easily the most terrifying her memoir has to offer. She took all of those pills as a way to cope with her stresses and it soon spiraled out of control. I know it’s easy to judge people who choose drugs as a way to get over their problems. But to borrow a phrase from Dr. Phil, “I don’t look at her and ask why is she doing this. I look at her and ask, why not.” You want to cheer for Jeanie to get better and have a solid foundation for her children. Spoiler alert: she’s been clean for years now. It’s safe to say she earned her ending, and then some.
If you want some insight as to how the wrestling business works, you’ll get plenty of that from this memoir. The exhausting travel schedule, the injuries, the constant pain, and being creatively stifled are just some of the problems wrestlers face on a day-to-day basis. Taking prescription pills is just one of the ways they cope with it all. This was happening long before WWE started their Wellness Policy in 2005 following the untimely death of Eddie Guerrero. If stricter drug testing had been implemented earlier, who knows how many lives could have been saved. It’s depressing to think about and you feel that depression near the end of the book when Jeanie almost dies of drug-induced shock.
While a mixed grade isn’t the most desirable one I could give, I don’t want it to turn you, my audience, away from this book. Jeanie’s story is one worth listening to despite the rushed writing style. Drug addiction isn’t just something that “weak” people go through. It’s a universal affliction with so many psychological triggers that it’s amazing anybody can be rehabilitated at all. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, seek help before it’s too late. Jeanie Clarke found help and she’s a better woman for it.
August 21, 2017
Jeanie gives a no holds barred account through her life in wrestling, post wrestling and her relationships with "Gentlemen" Chris Adams and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. A truly touching account of a small town girl from Southend-On-Sea who got to live some pretty big dreams.
October 31, 2021
This powerful honest account of life experiences within the wrestling world. The drive to succeed, and how it changes people. The excesses, and coping mechanisms utilised, often with tragic consequences. Jeanie holds nothing back reliving her experiences, telling of the short and long term impacts on the lives of friends, family and herself. Is it for wrestling fans? Absolutely, but also for anyone else that has struggled in life.
May 14, 2017
Jeanie Clarke has lived quite a life. I really enjoyed her honest, from the heart account. There isn't a lot of dirt dishing in this book, which is refreshing. She has made some mistakes, but takes ownership. She has fought some battles, but come out of them wiser and ready to face the next chapter in her life. The book is inspirational and I recommend it. It is a book anyone would enjoy, not just wrestling fans.
June 29, 2023
If it related to wrestling, chances are I’m gonna read it! This book was Jeanie Clarke’s AKA The former Mrs. Stone Cold Austin, with who she shares 2 children with.
I know it’s her story and there is always 2 sides to a story, but Jeanie doesn’t have too many good things to say about Stone Cold as a father.
She is also very open and honest about her battles with drugs.
Quick read, but worth it for any wrestling fan!
I know it’s her story and there is always 2 sides to a story, but Jeanie doesn’t have too many good things to say about Stone Cold as a father.
She is also very open and honest about her battles with drugs.
Quick read, but worth it for any wrestling fan!
October 19, 2018
Fast paced easy read.
I hate to see so many young people get involved in the wrestling business go down this path the author describes in her book.
The WWE should be commended for the assistance they offer their people but with the capital they have available to them something can be done to step in sooner than they do now.
I hate to see so many young people get involved in the wrestling business go down this path the author describes in her book.
The WWE should be commended for the assistance they offer their people but with the capital they have available to them something can be done to step in sooner than they do now.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews