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Under My Skin: Drama, Trauma & Rock 'n' Roll
Elise Krentzel's fast paced memoir, Under My Skin has earned #1 new release in these categories: Biographies of Rock Bands, Music Business, Rock, Composers & Musicians, and Jewish life. She shares how she took charge of the tumultuous 1970s by making a name for herself as a rock journalist when still a teenager. As a kid, she was encouraged by her parents to sing, play music, and write, but she wasn’t allowed to be “herself.” Alienated, she hid her heart and learned to become a stranger in her own skin as the torment of early childhood taught her to mistrust everyone, especially herself.
As an adolescent traveling in Europe, she came to realize there was more to life than sex, money, and fame. With newly instilled vigor and drive, Elise set out to break her toxic cycles, determined to become someone people would notice.
At 19 years old—the youngest journalist on the KISS Japan Tour—she negotiated a plum job with one of the biggest players in the Japanese music industry, desperately trying to fill the gaping hole left by feeling unheard and unloved by those she depended on most: her family.
Spanning three continents and twenty years, Under My Skin tells the story of a street-smart, vulnerable Jewish girl from the Bronx and how she changed her life, forever.
As an adolescent traveling in Europe, she came to realize there was more to life than sex, money, and fame. With newly instilled vigor and drive, Elise set out to break her toxic cycles, determined to become someone people would notice.
At 19 years old—the youngest journalist on the KISS Japan Tour—she negotiated a plum job with one of the biggest players in the Japanese music industry, desperately trying to fill the gaping hole left by feeling unheard and unloved by those she depended on most: her family.
Spanning three continents and twenty years, Under My Skin tells the story of a street-smart, vulnerable Jewish girl from the Bronx and how she changed her life, forever.
168 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 6, 2022
4 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 1, 2022
This authentic memoir took me back to the rock & roll hayday of the 1970's. Growing up in NYC, I could vizualize the places & people this author wrote about. Pretty wild situations and very fast paced
lifestyle. A truely enjoyable read. Highly recommend.
lifestyle. A truely enjoyable read. Highly recommend.
March 29, 2022
It was a fast-track trip back to my high-school days, mixed with globe trotting, and drama!
Definitely fast moving, this book is full of dysfunction and discovery—self-discovery. Not for the light at heart or turtle-paced couch potatoes; the book gets you up and moving through family disfunction — something that we can all relate to as Americans, and world travel — something we don't do enough of!
The author did a grand job of blending raw emotional energy, sexual discovery, travel, and humor; sometimes in one sentence! I'll be looking for the sequel!!
Definitely fast moving, this book is full of dysfunction and discovery—self-discovery. Not for the light at heart or turtle-paced couch potatoes; the book gets you up and moving through family disfunction — something that we can all relate to as Americans, and world travel — something we don't do enough of!
The author did a grand job of blending raw emotional energy, sexual discovery, travel, and humor; sometimes in one sentence! I'll be looking for the sequel!!
June 23, 2022
Elise Krentzel unfurls her big city memories like a whirlwind - a dysfunctional family, teen alienation, confusion, then she eyes a future as a Rock journalist. The author blames an urge, "to dig out the truth" for motivation. Rethought, she claims the dream was about confrontation. "I faced many consequences head-on," she wrote. "I wished others would do the same."
Memoirs can plod, but not Under My Skin. The frank narrative subtly compels readers to lift the curtains on their urges. This tale of sex, drugs, fast times, and rock legends such as KISS, combines with accounts of jobs in Japan, jousts with gangsters, and unstable business partners, to make a story that many readers will think can only come from New York City. Yet even those from smaller places will hastily flip pages because its honesty, naivete and lessons resonate with many who struggle to grow, and those who made it.
Krentzel, "drama queen," now "a queen", writes:
The bold mindset or chutzpah, as Krentzel dubs it, when she and many in that '70s generation were so ignorant of what could happen that they made things happen.
Some readers will scoff at the story. Someone from outside big cities might find Krentzel's success as a journalist a tinged fiction. At several spots they might ask, "Do people really act like that." For example, when as a teen she tried to get interviews from an agent:
The saga descends through "clouds" of sex, drugs and raw relationships into Krentzel's form of majesty. The best part is the hint of more - she still dreams.
Memoirs can plod, but not Under My Skin. The frank narrative subtly compels readers to lift the curtains on their urges. This tale of sex, drugs, fast times, and rock legends such as KISS, combines with accounts of jobs in Japan, jousts with gangsters, and unstable business partners, to make a story that many readers will think can only come from New York City. Yet even those from smaller places will hastily flip pages because its honesty, naivete and lessons resonate with many who struggle to grow, and those who made it.
Krentzel, "drama queen," now "a queen", writes:
I didn’t know how to reconcile my high-and-mighty ethical and moralistic side with the vengeful, and morose side....People generally thought of me as a strong-willed, outspoken individualist whose head was in the clouds.
The bold mindset or chutzpah, as Krentzel dubs it, when she and many in that '70s generation were so ignorant of what could happen that they made things happen.
Some readers will scoff at the story. Someone from outside big cities might find Krentzel's success as a journalist a tinged fiction. At several spots they might ask, "Do people really act like that." For example, when as a teen she tried to get interviews from an agent:
In the middle of my presentation, he closed the door, sat on his desk with one leg swinging, and asked me bluntly, “Do you want to fuck me?” “No!” I retorted, “I do
not.” He smirked, “If you refuse, you won’t get the gig—you know that, right?” With that, I got up, cursed him under my breath just loud enough for him to hear, and slammed the door behind me…. If I had to do combat with a bunch of dickheads to get ahead in this business, then I had no problem facing them down....Ethically and morally, I found it repugnant.
The saga descends through "clouds" of sex, drugs and raw relationships into Krentzel's form of majesty. The best part is the hint of more - she still dreams.
April 13, 2022
Krentzel went on the KISS tour of Japan in the 70's and in this slim memoir gives a female's perspective of that experience. It was really all about guys back then, the women were usually relegated to the role of a groupie. Especially with KISS and Gene Simmon's legendary promiscuity! Reading the story of a woman who is participating as an equal and not as an accessory was cool. She was a pioneer. I would have loved reading more about her experiences in journalism and the issues she faced being a young good looking female rock journalist. That's my only complaint - it wasn't long enough or detailed enough. Worth checking out if you are at all interested in the music scene of the 1970s.
May 30, 2022
This book is a roller coaster ride through Elise's life, from surviving childhood in a dysfunctional family, growing up and discovering sex and drugs, to finding her passion and traveling with the band KISS asa rock journalist. The way Elise tells her story keeps you at the edge of your seat, always wanting to know what happens next. She is open, uninhibited, emotional and doesn't spare herself or anyone else for that matter. Set against the backdrop of life in the 60s and 70s, Elise takes you on her personal tour of overcoming adversity, finding herself and becoming the woman she wants to be.
Hard to put down and highly recommended.
Hard to put down and highly recommended.
April 20, 2022
Its honestly been a while since I've read a good day read, but I must say this particular piece was fantastic. The way the story starts reminds me of my own problems growing up with family. I've been in entertainment for the past several years, and the Author does a wonderful job of painting the picture of her experiences for the reader. It was Highly enjoyable read with lots of shared personal fun that I think just about anyone would find a pleasure to read. Thank you for the good time, and I hope this story is indictave of the next to come!
April 27, 2022
“Under My Skin” by Elise Krentzel is not a memoir for the meek. Featuring a smorgasbord of intimate details and laugh-out-loud moments, Krentzel bares her soul on everything from complicated parental relationships to heart stopping encounters with the Yakuza. With no filter and no holds barred, Krentzel’s no-nonsense sharing of music industry secrets. Will keep you gripped to the last page of this wild (true) ride.
April 9, 2022
I started reading this book as a KISS fan to find out about Elise's stories travelling with KISS but ended up being a huge Elise Krentzel fan and can't wait to read further books by Elise.
Elise's writing really brings you in along with the journeys and lets you feel what she did growing up.
Elise's writing really brings you in along with the journeys and lets you feel what she did growing up.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews