Sara BareillesBesprekingen

Generally, I always like memoir style nonfiction books that are written by celebrities or individuals that I genuinely want to know more about, but I LOVED this book. I have always liked Sara Bareilles’ music for it’s unique melodies, lyrics, and beauty. Bareilles has such a beautiful way of inviting her listeners in to share her heartfelt stories and life lessons through song and now through her writing.

Much like her lyrics and music, her words are moving and inspiring. I was touched by her essays and actually felt little guilty that I had not been sharing “her” with everyone I knew. While I’m not going to be that crazy fan who’s whole life looks to revolve around the person of their admiration, I will definitely be recommending her music as well as this book to anyone who might be interested.

Full review: wanderinglectiophile.wordpress.com/2017/10/26/review-sounds-like-me-my-life-so-far-in-song-by-sara-bareilles/

I fell in love with Sara’s songs with her album Little Voice. Over the years she’s made me laugh and cry with more recordings, and this book is no exception. Please opt to read this in audio if you can. Learning more about this wonderful human is gift enough, but having her read the story felt more like catching up with an old friend. I binged this in a single session and I loved every second.

Anyone who knows me knows I love Sara Bareilles is one of my favorite singers and the song Gravity speaks to me. So when I saw this book in the library I was like thank you library card! The book is really a bit of a memoir filled with stories of her growing up to what she has learned up to this point in her life and career. It is a collection of eight essays all based around the story behind the song. Once Upon Another Time, Gravity, Love Song, Beautiful Girl, Red, Many the Miles, Brave, and She Used to Be Mine.

If those songs weren't already moving enough, you will listen to them with a newfound appreciation and respect after finishing this book. Sara is clearly someone who has learned that facing her fears and moving forward anyways is the true definition of courage. Countless stories she tells are beautiful illustrations of what happens in this sweet place of surrender. That and a genuine gratitude for all she has been given and for the people who have taught her along the way.

What I love most about the book is that it is ultimately a recollection of her finding her own voice. And as she has shared glimpses of that in her music, it has helped others do the same. And isn't that what life is ultimately about? That as we share our truth, we give permission for others to do the same. And that it's never a one way streak. Somehow we end up inspiring each other to dive even deeper into revealing ourselves for who we really are. No doubt she has done just that in the writing of this book.

Her honesty about a whole range of topics from body image to a sound malfunction performing with Taylor Swift are all consistent with the kind of candor that her fans have come to know and love. I had to fight back tears in a restaurant as I finished her book today. The stories she shares from her own life as well as those of some of her fans are a reminder that we are all so uniquely different, yet also so much the same.

Many thanks to you, Sara, for continuing to share your voice. In your greatest moments of self-doubt to your highest moments of exhilaration, may you receive back the Love that you continue to pour out to this world.

I came to the work of Sara Bareilles through the musical Waitress, though as I listened to this audiobook, I realized that I was at least familiar with some of her most well-known songs ("Love Song," "Brave"), but I couldn't have told you that they were by her. However, I needed an audiobook to listen to during a long drive, and I often enjoy memoir. In this series of essays, Bareilles explores her childhood, her career, and her vulnerabilities surrounding her appearance and abilities. Many listeners, myself included, will certainly relate to many sentiments expressed here. And I was excited that the final essay in the book does cover the making of the musical Waitress. It's a quick read, easily listened to in a five-hour car trip (and read by the author, which makes it feel all the more intimate). Recommended to fans of this artist, and those who enjoy this sort of memoir.½

I knew I wanted to listen to this recording from the first time I heard a song from it. I was also lucky enough to see it later on a national tour. From that moment I fell in love with it. This recording brings back all those memories.

Just as a standalone, I enjoyed the music. While Jenna is the main character, I fell in love with Dawn. I think her song, When He Sees Me is my favorite song. A Soft Place to Land tugs at my heart with its lyrics and beautiful harmonies. I Didn't Plan It is rich with a sort of bluesy feeling. You Matter to Me makes me tear up (have a tissue ready!). Never Getting Rid of Me and I Love You like a Table both make me smile. She Used to Be Mine could be "my" song.

The CD comes with a useful booklet including the lyrics and photos from the production. There's also a note by Sara Bareilles who wrote the music and lyrics. I found it interesting.

If you like musicals, I think you'll like this recording. To me, the CD is worth it for the included information.

When I was a little younger, Sara Bareilles’s music became a bit of a refuge for me – she spoke the words I needed to say, but couldn’t. Her song “King of Anything” is still one of my favorites. Songs from her Broadway musical Waitress have kept me afloat in my darkest moments. Her memoir Sounds Like Me has been on my TBR for a few years, because I really wanted to know more about the lady behind the music that I loved so much.

Right from the get-go, you can tell that writing this book was a struggle for Sara. She admits it – how she put it off, tried to back out of it, but is grateful people kept pushing her forward. The whole thing sits a bit awkwardly, like a conversation with someone you haven’t seen in a long time and trying to fill the emptiness with stories from the past. It is made up of stories and anecdotes from both Sara and others. Lyrics to a few of her songs are woven within essays.

For much of the book, Sara focuses on her experience in school being body shamed, and how that inspired her work. The rest of the book chooses stories around her most successful songs – “Gravity”, “Love Song”, and “Brave”. She also speaks in one section a little bit about writing for Waitress. All the sections are a little bit rambling and leave room for more details, like the edges of a story but not the heart of it. This actually surprised me – I find Sara’s music so full of heart, I really thought her book would feel the same.

This isn’t to say that she didn’t try, because it is clear she did. This is not her medium.

Outside of the actual crafting of the book, I was a bit disappointed. There is nothing more rewarding in reading a memoir than finding a person who inspires you (My Life on the Road) or someone you unexpectedly relate to (The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo). While others will be invigorated and inspired by Sara’s story, I was not. To me, Sara is a person with talent who worked hard, surrounded herself with supportive people, and makes music. I still love her music, but I feel nothing special towards her as a person. I’m happy she became a musician and I am grateful for the songs she has written that are close to my heart.

Overall, I really could take or leave this book. I think that big fans of Sara’s will enjoy it, but as far as memoirs go, there’s nothing about it that makes her story jump off the page.

This is an emtertaining book of essays. I love her music and really enjoyed her book.

I decided to get this audio book because I enjoy the authors music, also, I figured if she’s going to have songs in her book why not listen to her sing.

I found this book overall to be okay, the first half felt very forced, like she wasn’t sure what to say and the personality that did come out fell awkward. Taken apart it was pretty but summing up the essays each as a whole felt like she was (and she probably was) trying to figure out what to do. As the book progresses you can tell she’s more connected, like she’s just sharing a thought or something she’s extremely passionate about.

I do wonder if perhaps it’s because the more recent stuff is easier to recall and connect with?

Sorry guys, not a lot to say here. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great.

Short and sweet. I really enjoyed the audio book as Bareilles is a great reader and she sang the snippets of the songs at the beginning of each chapter.

I HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone who likes Sara Bareilles' music. Great read!

What an amazing, personal story from Sara Bareilles (with the added touch of her singing on the audio version)! After hearing how much she has grown in order to become the person she is today, her life lessons could be helpful to many, not just for singers/performers.

She seems so grounded for all that she has achieved and presents her essays and personal stories in a fun, but also touching way.

5 time Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter Sara Bareilles' story plays out (pun intended) "beautiful"ly. The adjective (beautiful) is used so many times. Literally, there's an entire chapter called "Beautiful Girl" where she writes letters to her younger self reminding her repeatedly that she is beautiful, life is beautiful, people are beautiful, etc.
What was "beautiful" was finding out how she got to where she is now and who helped her along the way. Her self-esteem took a hit at a young age where she was labeled the "fat kid" and music helped pulled her out of the pit of self-doubt. Particularly with musical theatre, which led her to write a musical recently. The journey of her finding bravery and beauty was full of ups and downs but it's the people around her that help keep her going. Her writing is humorous and light-hearted even in the downs of her life.
3/5 stars for this book, mainly because of the overuse of the word "beautiful", the phrase "I liked him/her instantly", and that whole "Beautiful Girl" chapter. Some of it seemed like an autobiography and some of it seemed like journal entries. In the introduction alone she talks about how she didn't want to do this book so much that she wrote a musical and pushed this book off.

Please note: a copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley.