Lady Sings the Blues

Billie Holiday describes her early childhood in an East Baltimore ghetto, her career as an internationally-acclaimed jazz vocalist, and her years spent battling a drug habit.

User reviews

LibraryThing member Carolee888

I am a big Billie Holiday fan, I have all of her music and once I start playing it, it so difficult to stop.
When I received it in the mail, the cover seemed strangely familiar. Then I read the first page three times and it hit me! I had read the first edition of this book when it first came out. I

remember not being able to lay it down. She had happy moments in her life but not many. The end of her life was very heart breaking. When she sings her heart and soul come out with the sounds. Her troubles in love, in being black and living under Jim Crow Laws

It is too difficult for me to travel that road again. I do recommend reading and learning some about her life although it may not all be true, you can feel her sorrow over her own life and the racial hatred that all blacks experience through all the rules. Do not eat with the whites, do not stay in the same hotel, if there is not a separate restroom, then you have no place for yourself.

I received a finished copy of this book from the publisher as a win from FirstReads but that in no way made a difference in my thoughts or feelings in this review.

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LibraryThing member ryvre

Lady Sings the Blues is a heart wrenching account of Billie Holiday's life. It's a bit confusing at times, but overall a very interesting read.

LibraryThing member aleahmarie

Eleanora Fagan was born April 7, 1915. Her mother was only 13 and her father was pretty much absent. Eleanora was raised by family while her mother worked; her childhood was painful and short. At 13 Eleanora was working as a prostitute, by 14 she was singing her unique style of jazz as Billie

Holiday in Brooklyn clubs. Racism and drug addiction dogged her for most of her career but her unyielding spirit could never by broken.

In "Lady Sings the Blues" Billie Holiday tells us her story in her own, bold words. There were parts of her story that made me cringe, others that left me behind. The stories are not necessarily shared chronologically and words aren't wasted on clarifications. Either you know who and what Ms. Holiday is talking about or you don't. If you don't you'll have to go elsewhere for explanations. Her autobiography is not what I'd call well crafted, but it is still well told. Through the rough edges of her prose Ms. Holiday reveals more of herself than would be found in any professionally written biography.

I'd recommend this book to anyone, but it would be particularly well received by those interested in Women's history or African American history. It's also a must read for fans of jazz.

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LibraryThing member meacoleman

I have been a fan of Billie Holiday's music for many years. I knew that she lead a hard life, but had no idea how hard until I read her autobiography. Her words are honest and frank--no holds barred. And it doesn't exactly have a happy ending. But now I have a greater appreciation for her work and

admiration for what she was able to accomplish in spite of all that happened to her along the way.

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LibraryThing member mahallett

Translating her voice is revealing. She doesn't talk much about men and I'm sure she was a handful. She was treated so badly by whites and cops and blacks for that matter.

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