Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Celebrity author Christopher Heard outlines the dramatic story of Britney Spears through the highs and lows of her phenomenal career to her personal trials and tribulations in this unauthorised biography. This book shows how Britney struggled to have her voice heard and to create her own identity under the eyes of the world. Like many young stars growing up in today’s media hungry society, the pressures, the expectations and life in the public eye can lead to turmoil, rebellion or worse still, teenage angst. Britney’s every move and personal life has been reported on, analyzed and exploited worldwide. Married and divorced twice-most notably from Kevin Federline-Spears became tabloid bait through outrageous behavior, drug rehab, an unforget
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A very good account of events; tries to stick to facts,
I came to this book as rather indifferent to Britney Spears, but with an interest in finding out about her story, having only been exposed to the most extreme gossip about her that got beyond the tabloids and made it into mainstream newspapers. I don’t own any of her albums.
The book is most heavily focused on the earlier parts of her career and spends the most time there. The later years of her career are breezed through, but all of the highlights I remember hearing about on the radio from time to time were touched upon.
The book paints a sympathetic but seemingly-honest account of most events. It doesn’t absolve her of blame but presents the environment and context in which certain events occurred, which was always missing from the sensationalist reports.
Some parts of the book were a bit thin, but I think this was done to mostly stick to the facts and what is known and to not indulge in too much speculation.
As another reviewer mentioned, this book turned me into a fan to some degree — of the hard work, determination, and focus. It also made me somewhat sympathetic toward her situation and, while I can’t understand her decisions, I can at least come to the conclusion that maybe I don’t know enough about the psychology of the situation to empathize.
The book also provides yet another account of how fame and success can attract the wrong people to your vicinity, and how a voracious media can strip you of your privacy and deliberately seek to represent you as they want to and not in accordance with the truth of things.
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|The Author made me a Spears fan,
Britney Spears
Little Girl Lost
By Christopher Heard
ISBN: 978-1-926-745-02-2
It’s very easy in life to have a preconceived notion about another human being; especially the able bodies who are constantly splashed across every tabloid magazine that’s lining the check-out aisles. We either: A) Purchase the magazine eager to read the (usually false) information, and declare in as loud a voice as possible that we only buy it for the crossword puzzle; or, B) We put our noses in the air, “tsk-tsk” about the ridiculousness of these so-called “stars’” lives, and declare very loudly that we pray to God our child doesn’t become an idiot like them. I am…just as human as the next person in line. Even though we all preach that we must keep an open mind, the constant bombardment of reality television, Entertainment Tonight happenings, and the myriad of magazines that offer this low-brow gossip takes us in until we choke on the so-called news.
I’m also a huge fan of this author. I’ve read Mr. Heard’s other biographies and he has taught me a great deal about keeping an open mind and how the “star machine” has rolled over some of the kindest people in America, who are just looking for a little bit of help. Unfortunately, they are also in charge of keeping the “gravy chain” running along for all the people in their lives who sponge off their fame. Britney is no different, except for the very real fact that this was a little girl who simply wanted to achieve a dream – not unlike all of our own daughters, including mine.
The beginning is simply a story about a young family who work hard in their small town of McComb, Louisiana. Mom Spears is a stunning woman, who most people in town thought could make it in the movies because she was just that good-looking. When she had her daughter, she was absolutely excited that the Lord had blessed her with someone she could “dress up like a doll.” Dad, too, worked a great deal – trying to support his family. Both parents struggled as they lived in a house that sat between the Baptist Church on one side and a local bar on the other. (I know, I know, but this is not a bad country song – this is real life.)
We follow Britney as she first becomes enchanted with singing. This young girl – again, like all the rest – sets up her stuffed animals in her room and sings to them. She also found herself an extremely good gymnast. She even teamed up for a time with Bela Karolyi, who brought Mary Lou Retton and Nadia Comaneci into the ultimate Olympic limelight. But Britney was like many children, when the sport became un-fun, it became painful, and she abandoned it immediately. The writer then brings us through the years of the New Mickey Mouse Club; the trials and tribulations of landing a NYC agent who gets her the understudy role in a Broadway play, and more.
We then move on to Justin Timberlake and his N’Sync pals, even finding out that Britney was once offered a part in a girl band at the time called Innosense, which she turned down. (I agree with her; if you’re not the “star of the show” why bother, frankly.) When Baby One More Time hit MTV – Britney hit the world, and became just as recognized as her lifetime hero, Madonna. Her relationship with Timberlake was extremely elegant – yes, elegant – for kids that age. They were kind to each other in and out of the press, for the most part, and their appearances were always sweet and charming. The thing is…I actually think they were real, too. This first love – even though in the spotlight – wasn’t tainted by “fake” feelings – it was really and truly a first love.
From Britney’s horrific times of depression; quickie Las Vegas marriage; her foray into Kabbalah; best selling perfume to a not-so-great-ticket-selling movie, the author gives us all facets of this young girl who was forced to grow up way too fast. The weight that her mother laid on her shoulders was intolerable, as far as I’m concerned; and it doesn’t surprise me that her post-partum depression led to passing out and shaving her head. If I were her, I would’ve went after MOM with the razor and taken her locks off. Perhaps Federline was a mistake, but to Britney, he wasn’t – he was the one who gave her the two most beautiful sons in the world; and, for that alone, she can be proud.
In the end – the money belongs to her. She made it; she worked her behind off for it; and, it’s disgusting when the people riding her coattails want to say THEY deserve a pierce of the pie. They don’t. I hope Britney finds the redemption she’s looking for, but mostly, I want her to be a good Mom who looks at her boys and supports their dreams with love, honor, wisdom, and kindness – something Britney lacked in her own life, she can make up for by making sure her own children are never…lost.
Great work Mr. Heard! You made me a Spears fan. Not the…
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|Great!,
I loved this book! it gives you an indepth look into britney’s life. Especially the parts about her suffering with anxiety disorders and what not because it made her a person. I suffer with an anxiety disorder and i related to her in that sense. I feel sorry for her, what with all the things shes gone through. You cant blame her for going off the deep end. Im glad shes back on track now.
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