So we are done with the book and here are some questions.

.

1. Did you all enjoy reading the book?

2. Did you learn anything new about Prince?

3. Do you think that this book hurt his legacy any?

LBrent said:

bsprout said:

1Sasha said: Mayte did say in the book that she told Manuela something like, "if it wasn't you, it would have been someone else [for Prince]." I think this was Mayte's response to Manuela's apology.

Yup, that's what she said, but as I read it I remember feeling that while she fought WITH P against joining JWs, she ended up not foghting FOR P against Manuela.

I think he was waiting for her to fight for him and when she didn't he figured he was justified in leaving her cuz she must not love him anymore.

On her end, I think she didn't fight cuz she thought it was a phase, like in her parents' marraige, and he'd come back to her on his own so she didn't fight and rock the boat.

I think that was her biggest mistake. Leaving Minnesota and not fighting Manuela or whomever she needed to fight to keep him. I think her fighting would've made a huge difference.

The day she saw that damned handshake, she should've stepped to them both and told them that she didn't feel comfortable with what she saw and immediately fired Manuela IN FRONT OF P.

"It's nice to meet you, but I'm afraid your services won't be required anymore. Thank you for you help, but I'll be returning to Minnesota and taking over those duties now. Arrangements will be made for your final check. Please follow me to the accounting department. P, I'll see you at home. *kiss*"

I don't recall any woman P was linked to ever fighting, especially not publicly, to keep him.

Can anyone think of one?

I think if you listen to the lyrics to Man O' War that's what he's asking for, her to fight FOR him and "make him feel wanted again".

He was telling her that he was looking for proof from her that she could/did still love him despite the pain he felt he had caused her with failing to give her healthy babies and his growing attraction to Manuela. He felt himself being drawn to her and he wants Mayte to rescue him from that weakness.

I cry when I hear how plaintive he's being.

ETA:

As I relisten to the entire Rav Un2 album, it dawned on me that the entire thing seems to be a plea for Mayte to fight for him.

Am I imagining this?

[Edited 4/18/17 15:31pm]

Nope...thats how I heard it too....

After all he gave her the special place in his world..he was being pulled in a direction he didnt want to be...and I see he was clearly asking Mayte to help him....

Mayte mentions that The Greatest Romance was a slap in her face...But I think this is where she made a mistake and that began the serious unravelling of their relationship

IN that song he was telling her once again that he loved her ...she was the Eve to his Adam..This is where you end and you and I begin....He is saying Prince AND MAYTE..cannot be seperated...

The reason that Damn never left Eve.? ... the Fruit from the VIne.....Mayte Gave him a that Fruit in the from of AHmir...

Yes..I read it that Prince was calling for her DIVINE Love...and absolute Trust...

If she gave him that he would not be able to stray...

but she was doubtful...( I dont blame her BTW ) and that Doubt actually broke him....

In his eyes he had placed her above all others....and from that Position Mayte had a LOT of Power over him...

Only she didnt realise it....

If she had gone back to Paisley and insisted on cooking for him, washing his socks, whatever....acting like his WIFE instead of his Lady in Waiting..things may have been different....

[Edited 4/18/17 18:22pm]

PennyPurple said:

So we are done with the book and here are some questions.

.

1. Did you all enjoy reading the book?

2. Did you learn anything new about Prince?

3. Do you think that this book hurt his legacy any?

Overall, I think people would rather read about salacious gossip than try to understand the man behind the music. His music will speak for many, many years and I have to admit that a part of me really resents that this book will, even if in some small way, colour the way others see him as a man, husband and father during that time. He accomplished a great deal more in his life. Die-hard fans know what's what. I hope that future generations get their information from Paisley Park and his legacy there.

It certainly wasn't the “love story” promised. Self-righteous and self-pitying, it told me more about who Mayte is, not much about Prince. Anyone who's had 2 or more children has learned how to listen to both sides of a story – based in a core of love – so as to give the proper guidance to both parties. You can tell she's vying for the upper hand in the competition; there's no self-reflection or understanding of his viewpoint or there wouldn't be any score-card.

She has said in the past that some relationships work and others don't and that theirs didn't. If she'd have brought that sensibility to the book, it would have been a much better read. I'd have more respect for her as a woman who faced highs and lows most of us will never know but who got through it with grace and dignity.

In a few months it will be forgotten, so no, it can't hurt his legacy. His work will continue to come out, it will continue to contribute, it will continue to provide fascination, and he will continue to be respected and admired.

I wish her well in whatever comes her way and hope that she is finally done with it.

PennyPurple said:

So we are done with the book and here are some questions.

.

1. Did you all enjoy reading the book?

2. Did you learn anything new about Prince?

3. Do you think that this book hurt his legacy any?

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book, even though I was in tears for some of it. It was enjoyable to read.

.

She told you about her life before, during and after she was the most beautiful girl in the world. I think I learned how much he loved his son and got to learn about his very human side outside the rock star image.

.

This book was very kind to him, make no mistake there will be other books to follow! Sheeish, the org will blow up, and Laura will …. *can’t even guess what she’ll do*….. when Mani releases her book! Come on now, you all know it’s true.

.

This book will not hurt his legacy. Nothing can hurt his legacy.

.

And... The color purple will be associated with Prince forever.

LBrent said:

Misslink88 said:

PennyPurple said:

So we are done with the book and here are some questions.

.

1. Did you all enjoy reading the book?

2. Did you learn anything new about Prince?

3. Do you think that this book hurt his legacy any?

Overall, I think people would rather read about salacious gossip than try to understand the man behind the music. His music will speak for many, many years and I have to admit that a part of me really resents that this book will, even if in some small way, colour the way others see him as a man, husband and father during that time. He accomplished a great deal more in his life. Die-hard fans know what's what. I hope that future generations get their information from Paisley Park and his legacy there.

It certainly wasn't the “love story” promised. Self-righteous and self-pitying, it told me more about who Mayte is, not much about Prince. Anyone who's had 2 or more children has learned how to listen to both sides of a story – based in a core of love – so as to give the proper guidance to both parties. You can tell she's vying for the upper hand in the competition; there's no self-reflection or understanding of his viewpoint or there wouldn't be any score-card.

She has said in the past that some relationships work and others don't and that theirs didn't. If she'd have brought that sensibility to the book, it would have been a much better read. I'd have more respect for her as a woman who faced highs and lows most of us will never know but who got through it with grace and dignity.

In a few months it will be forgotten, so no, it can't hurt his legacy. His work will continue to come out, it will continue to contribute, it will continue to provide fascination, and he will continue to be respected and admired.

I wish her well in whatever comes her way and hope that she is finally done with it.

I think that it won't hurt his legacy at all. The way she described him being a father was awesome. He would've been a great dad if he was given the chance. He made the decsions for the baby, he was with the baby more then she was able to be with him. He took control and took charge where the baby is concerned.

.

I think the husband part, well he could've been a better husband and she could've been a better wife. Nobody is perfect. I do think she put up with a lot of shit from him, but I think due to her age and being sheltered she didn't know how to stand up to him. He wasn't there for her, when they lost the baby and she wasn't there for him either.

.

No matter who the rockstar is, it has to be hard to be married to one. Girls are always throwing themselves at them. That's why I would've been on every tour with him.

.

She let mani off the hook, I feel she didn't even stand up for herself where Mani was involved and had she had the guts to take the bull by the horns, mani might have been out of the picture.

.

I think P really did love Mayte, you can tell that everytime he looked at her and she looked at him.

.

Maytes parents, are something else. Don't even want to go there, except to say that why didn't the dad say something to Prince about the way he was treating his daughter?

.

I can understand being so upset he burned her things, but not the baby's things. Maybe he could've given the babies things to a local shelter. As far as the urn goes, IF he had them destroyed in the fire, well that was very disrespectful, it's not the same as scattering them in a loving place. He had them destroyed by fire and folkrs, that is so wrong. NOW if the family has that urn, now is the time to tell Mayte, we have the urn, it's in the vault, we can't give it to you right now because we aren't the heirs yet. They really need to reach out and let her know they do or do not have them. The dead should be treated with respect.

.

As far as Tommy Lee is concerned, I never cared for him and still don't. She made a really bad choice there.

.

As far as her daughter is concerned I'm happy for her. I don't agree that her and Prince's love lives on thru Gia as she says on page 290...I ain't buying that.

.

Some things and dates are off in the book.

.

I'm glad I had the opportunity to read it and will pass my book onto others.

bsprout said:

LBrent said:

Yup, that's what she said, but as I read it I remember feeling that while she fought WITH P against joining JWs, she ended up not foghting FOR P against Manuela.

I think he was waiting for her to fight for him and when she didn't he figured he was justified in leaving her cuz she must not love him anymore.

On her end, I think she didn't fight cuz she thought it was a phase, like in her parents' marraige, and he'd come back to her on his own so she didn't fight and rock the boat.

I think that was her biggest mistake. Leaving Minnesota and not fighting Manuela or whomever she needed to fight to keep him. I think her fighting would've made a huge difference.

The day she saw that damned handshake, she should've stepped to them both and told them that she didn't feel comfortable with what she saw and immediately fired Manuela IN FRONT OF P.

"It's nice to meet you, but I'm afraid your services won't be required anymore. Thank you for you help, but I'll be returning to Minnesota and taking over those duties now. Arrangements will be made for your final check. Please follow me to the accounting department. P, I'll see you at home. *kiss*"

I don't recall any woman P was linked to ever fighting, especially not publicly, to keep him.

Can anyone think of one?

I think if you listen to the lyrics to Man O' War that's what he's asking for, her to fight FOR him and "make him feel wanted again".

He was telling her that he was looking for proof from her that she could/did still love him despite the pain he felt he had caused her with failing to give her healthy babies and his growing attraction to Manuela. He felt himself being drawn to her and he wants Mayte to rescue him from that weakness.

I cry when I hear how plaintive he's being.

ETA:

As I relisten to the entire Rav Un2 album, it dawned on me that the entire thing seems to be a plea for Mayte to fight for him.

Am I imagining this?

[Edited 4/18/17 15:31pm]

LB, you crack me up! I love reading your posts! I think what you're saying makes sense, but I guess we'll never know the whole story. I'm not sure they themselves knew what happened to their marriage or how to fix it. I also have questions about why she stayed away for so long, etc. I can only think she was in a deep depression, and perhaps she could sense that Prince had already fallen out of love with her (and she wasn't exactly feeling him either at that time?) I'll have to listen to my Rave album again...

It would have been fun if she added an additional few pages telling us the back story to some of his songs. (Stuff that isn't obvious or mentioned before.) And I still don't understand "The Greatest Romance that's ever been Sold" Is sold just a word that rhymes? Catchy lyric? Or deeper meaning?

PennyPurple said:

Misslink88 said:

Overall, I think people would rather read about salacious gossip than try to understand the man behind the music. His music will speak for many, many years and I have to admit that a part of me really resents that this book will, even if in some small way, colour the way others see him as a man, husband and father during that time. He accomplished a great deal more in his life. Die-hard fans know what's what. I hope that future generations get their information from Paisley Park and his legacy there.

It certainly wasn't the “love story” promised. Self-righteous and self-pitying, it told me more about who Mayte is, not much about Prince. Anyone who's had 2 or more children has learned how to listen to both sides of a story – based in a core of love – so as to give the proper guidance to both parties. You can tell she's vying for the upper hand in the competition; there's no self-reflection or understanding of his viewpoint or there wouldn't be any score-card.

She has said in the past that some relationships work and others don't and that theirs didn't. If she'd have brought that sensibility to the book, it would have been a much better read. I'd have more respect for her as a woman who faced highs and lows most of us will never know but who got through it with grace and dignity.

In a few months it will be forgotten, so no, it can't hurt his legacy. His work will continue to come out, it will continue to contribute, it will continue to provide fascination, and he will continue to be respected and admired.

I wish her well in whatever comes her way and hope that she is finally done with it.

I think that it won't hurt his legacy at all. The way she described him being a father was awesome. He would've been a great dad if he was given the chance. He made the decsions for the baby, he was with the baby more then she was able to be with him. He took control and took charge where the baby is concerned.

.

I think the husband part, well he could've been a better husband and she could've been a better wife. Nobody is perfect. I do think she put up with a lot of shit from him, but I think due to her age and being sheltered she didn't know how to stand up to him. He wasn't there for her, when they lost the baby and she wasn't there for him either.

.

No matter who the rockstar is, it has to be hard to be married to one. Girls are always throwing themselves at them. That's why I would've been on every tour with him.

.

She let mani off the hook, I feel she didn't even stand up for herself where Mani was involved and had she had the guts to take the bull by the horns, mani might have been out of the picture.

.

I think P really did love Mayte, you can tell that everytime he looked at her and she looked at him.

.

Maytes parents, are something else. Don't even want to go there, except to say that why didn't the dad say something to Prince about the way he was treating his daughter?

.

I can understand being so upset he burned her things, but not the baby's things. Maybe he could've given the babies things to a local shelter. As far as the urn goes, IF he had them destroyed in the fire, well that was very disrespectful, it's not the same as scattering them in a loving place. He had them destroyed by fire and folkrs, that is so wrong. NOW if the family has that urn, now is the time to tell Mayte, we have the urn, it's in the vault, we can't give it to you right now because we aren't the heirs yet. They really need to reach out and let her know they do or do not have them. The dead should be treated with respect.

.

As far as Tommy Lee is concerned, I never cared for him and still don't. She made a really bad choice there.

.

As far as her daughter is concerned I'm happy for her. I don't agree that her and Prince's love lives on thru Gia as she says on page 290...I ain't buying that.

.

Some things and dates are off in the book.

.

I'm glad I had the opportunity to read it and will pass my book onto others.

I have no doubt that love existed between them and that it was very real. I was just listening to his interview with Tavis Smiley again (2009) and he said something very poignant in there. Tavis asked him about his friends, how did he decide to maintain the friendships he had over the years and how did he guage them. P replied that when people respect you behind your back, that's when you know you have a friend. He went on to say that he'd heard some of the things some people said behind his back and that it was hurtful, but that he would never retaliate because he never had and he wasn't like that. He then went on and said "I remember them as I remember them and we were in love then and we should be in love now. It's a hurtful place - the world - in and of itself. We don't need to add to it." That is the man I believe he was.

PennyPurple said:

moonsister said:

I was studying the doodle page last night and wanted to point out a few things. It looks like the doodles are on graph paper and if you get to looking real good, there is writing, it's very light and it looks backwards. There is definately something written.

Lovejunky said:

LBrent said:

Yup, that's what she said, but as I read it I remember feeling that while she fought WITH P against joining JWs, she ended up not foghting FOR P against Manuela.

I think he was waiting for her to fight for him and when she didn't he figured he was justified in leaving her cuz she must not love him anymore.

On her end, I think she didn't fight cuz she thought it was a phase, like in her parents' marraige, and he'd come back to her on his own so she didn't fight and rock the boat.

I think that was her biggest mistake. Leaving Minnesota and not fighting Manuela or whomever she needed to fight to keep him. I think her fighting would've made a huge difference.

The day she saw that damned handshake, she should've stepped to them both and told them that she didn't feel comfortable with what she saw and immediately fired Manuela IN FRONT OF P.

"It's nice to meet you, but I'm afraid your services won't be required anymore. Thank you for you help, but I'll be returning to Minnesota and taking over those duties now. Arrangements will be made for your final check. Please follow me to the accounting department. P, I'll see you at home. *kiss*"

I don't recall any woman P was linked to ever fighting, especially not publicly, to keep him.

Can anyone think of one?

I think if you listen to the lyrics to Man O' War that's what he's asking for, her to fight FOR him and "make him feel wanted again".

He was telling her that he was looking for proof from her that she could/did still love him despite the pain he felt he had caused her with failing to give her healthy babies and his growing attraction to Manuela. He felt himself being drawn to her and he wants Mayte to rescue him from that weakness.

I cry when I hear how plaintive he's being.

ETA:

As I relisten to the entire Rav Un2 album, it dawned on me that the entire thing seems to be a plea for Mayte to fight for him.

Am I imagining this?

[Edited 4/18/17 15:31pm]

Nope...thats how I heard it too....

After all he gave her the special place in his world..he was being pulled in a direction he didnt want to be...and I see he was clearly asking Mayte to help him....

Mayte mentions that The Greatest Romance was a slap in her face...But I think this is where she made a mistake and that began the serious unravelling of their relationship

IN that song he was telling her once again that he loved her ...she was the Eve to his Adam..This is where you end and you and I begin....He is saying Prince AND MAYTE..cannot be seperated...

The reason that Adam never left Eve.? ... the Fruit from the Vine.....Mayte Gave him a that Fruit in the form of AHmir...

Yes..I read it that Prince was calling for her DIVINE Love...and absolute Trust...

If she gave him that he would not be able to stray...

but she was doubtful...( I dont blame her BTW ) and that Doubt actually broke him....

In his eyes he had placed her above all others....and from that Position Mayte had a LOT of Power over him...

Only she didnt realise it....

If she had gone back to Paisley and insisted on cooking for him, washing his socks, whatever....acting like his WIFE instead of his Lady in Waiting..things may have been different....

[Edited 4/18/17 18:22pm]

I wholeheartedly agree!

When folks, including Mayte, talk about being insulted by the woman's belly in the video I was yelling at the screen "No, Mayte gurl, don't you see??? P's showing you having Amiir and the rest of his babies!!!"

I was sad that she didn't seem to understand what he was trying to tell her.

LBrent said:

Lovejunky said:

Nope...thats how I heard it too....

After all he gave her the special place in his world..he was being pulled in a direction he didnt want to be...and I see he was clearly asking Mayte to help him....

Mayte mentions that The Greatest Romance was a slap in her face...But I think this is where she made a mistake and that began the serious unravelling of their relationship

IN that song he was telling her once again that he loved her ...she was the Eve to his Adam..This is where you end and you and I begin....He is saying Prince AND MAYTE..cannot be seperated...

The reason that Adam never left Eve.? ... the Fruit from the Vine.....Mayte Gave him a that Fruit in the form of AHmir...

Yes..I read it that Prince was calling for her DIVINE Love...and absolute Trust...

If she gave him that he would not be able to stray...

but she was doubtful...( I dont blame her BTW ) and that Doubt actually broke him....

In his eyes he had placed her above all others....and from that Position Mayte had a LOT of Power over him...

Only she didnt realise it....

If she had gone back to Paisley and insisted on cooking for him, washing his socks, whatever....acting like his WIFE instead of his Lady in Waiting..things may have been different....

[Edited 4/18/17 18:22pm]

I wholeheartedly agree!

When folks, including Mayte, talk about being insulted by the woman's belly in the video I was yelling at the screen "No, Mayte gurl, don't you see??? P's showing you having Amiir and the rest of his babies!!!"

I was sad that she didn't seem to understand what he was trying to tell her.

Ugh, you guys! No! Just no.

All in all, this has been a wonderful journey to take with y'all.

Thank you for including me.

[Edited 4/18/17 21:45pm]

PennyPurple said:

So we are done with the book and here are some questions.

.

1. Did you all enjoy reading the book?

2. Did you learn anything new about Prince?

3. Do you think that this book hurt his legacy any?

I did not read a text copy of the book. I was gifted an Audible audiobook copy of the book.

I enjoyed hearing Mayte read the story and many times I had to stop and cry, but I don't know that "enjoy" is the exact word to describe my feelings about it. It for sure brought up lots of my own crap that was going on during the same time period as their life together was happening. Lots.

I learned a few things, but not much more than I either knew as a fan or had already known in my heart. I can't articulate it better than that.

I think there have always been those looking for reasons to vilify P, before the book. Those folks will latch onto what they feel validates what they've always believed about him, business as usual.

There have always been those who loved him before the book and will continue to love him despite the book. I am one of those.

For good or bad, I've always felt as I do today about P. Despite his flaws, despite whatever. I can't explain the affinity I've felt for this complete stranger for nearly 40 years of his life and continuing on into wherever he is now. That won't change.

His legacy was secure all this time and I've seen nothing since 4/21 that will change that.

In future generations they will learn and remember that once, a long time ago, there was a Prince who created his own fantasy and oversaw a vast mythological Purple Kingdom...and by his side for a time sat his Princess...and they were the funkiest in the land.*

*Unfortunately, the prince was whisked away by a malicious dragon who seperated him from his princess...but that's a fairytale for another book.

[Edited 4/18/17 21:51pm]

LBrent said:

bsprout said:

1Sasha said: Mayte did say in the book that she told Manuela something like, "if it wasn't you, it would have been someone else [for Prince]." I think this was Mayte's response to Manuela's apology.

Yup, that's what she said, but as I read it I remember feeling that while she fought WITH P against joining JWs, she ended up not foghting FOR P against Manuela.

I think he was waiting for her to fight for him and when she didn't he figured he was justified in leaving her cuz she must not love him anymore.

On her end, I think she didn't fight cuz she thought it was a phase, like in her parents' marraige, and he'd come back to her on his own so she didn't fight and rock the boat.

I think that was her biggest mistake. Leaving Minnesota and not fighting Manuela or whomever she needed to fight to keep him. I think her fighting would've made a huge difference.

The day she saw that damned handshake, she should've stepped to them both and told them that she didn't feel comfortable with what she saw and immediately fired Manuela IN FRONT OF P.

"It's nice to meet you, but I'm afraid your services won't be required anymore. Thank you for you help, but I'll be returning to Minnesota and taking over those duties now. Arrangements will be made for your final check. Please follow me to the accounting department. P, I'll see you at home. *kiss*"

I don't recall any woman P was linked to ever fighting, especially not publicly, to keep him.

Can anyone think of one?

I think if you listen to the lyrics to Man O' War that's what he's asking for, her to fight FOR him and "make him feel wanted again".

He was telling her that he was looking for proof from her that she could/did still love him despite the pain he felt he had caused her with failing to give her healthy babies and his growing attraction to Manuela. He felt himself being drawn to her and he wants Mayte to rescue him from that weakness.

I cry when I hear how plaintive he's being.

ETA:

As I relisten to the entire Rav Un2 album, it dawned on me that the entire thing seems to be a plea for Mayte to fight for him.

Am I imagining this?

[Edited 4/18/17 15:31pm]

I just finished chapter 10 and I'm practically screaming at Mayte as I was reading it that she had the chance to save her marriage. 1) She had not yet bought the Marabella house when she 1st met M2. She should have stopped what she was doing right then and travelled with Prince. The house be damned. I would not have let him send me away. 2) It broke my heart when she writes that Prince called her to meet him in LA and when she got there he was very sick from what she later found out were the pills that he asked her to flush down the toilet. At that time Prince asked her to not go away again. The man was asking her not to leave him again!! What does she do the next day? Leaves him to return to Spain.

LBrent, you have preached! I completely agree. Goodness gracious. That's all I can say. You said it best. Amen!

Lovejunky said:

LBrent said:

Yup, that's what she said, but as I read it I remember feeling that while she fought WITH P against joining JWs, she ended up not foghting FOR P against Manuela.

I think he was waiting for her to fight for him and when she didn't he figured he was justified in leaving her cuz she must not love him anymore.

On her end, I think she didn't fight cuz she thought it was a phase, like in her parents' marraige, and he'd come back to her on his own so she didn't fight and rock the boat.

I think that was her biggest mistake. Leaving Minnesota and not fighting Manuela or whomever she needed to fight to keep him. I think her fighting would've made a huge difference.

The day she saw that damned handshake, she should've stepped to them both and told them that she didn't feel comfortable with what she saw and immediately fired Manuela IN FRONT OF P.

"It's nice to meet you, but I'm afraid your services won't be required anymore. Thank you for you help, but I'll be returning to Minnesota and taking over those duties now. Arrangements will be made for your final check. Please follow me to the accounting department. P, I'll see you at home. *kiss*"

I don't recall any woman P was linked to ever fighting, especially not publicly, to keep him.

Can anyone think of one?

I think if you listen to the lyrics to Man O' War that's what he's asking for, her to fight FOR him and "make him feel wanted again".

He was telling her that he was looking for proof from her that she could/did still love him despite the pain he felt he had caused her with failing to give her healthy babies and his growing attraction to Manuela. He felt himself being drawn to her and he wants Mayte to rescue him from that weakness.

I cry when I hear how plaintive he's being.

ETA:

As I relisten to the entire Rav Un2 album, it dawned on me that the entire thing seems to be a plea for Mayte to fight for him.

Am I imagining this?

[Edited 4/18/17 15:31pm]

Nope...thats how I heard it too....

After all he gave her the special place in his world..he was being pulled in a direction he didnt want to be...and I see he was clearly asking Mayte to help him....

Mayte mentions that The Greatest Romance was a slap in her face...But I think this is where she made a mistake and that began the serious unravelling of their relationship

IN that song he was telling her once again that he loved her ...she was the Eve to his Adam..This is where you end and you and I begin....He is saying Prince AND MAYTE..cannot be seperated...

The reason that Damn never left Eve.? ... the Fruit from the VIne.....Mayte Gave him a that Fruit in the from of AHmir...

Yes..I read it that Prince was calling for her DIVINE Love...and absolute Trust...

If she gave him that he would not be able to stray...

but she was doubtful...( I dont blame her BTW ) and that Doubt actually broke him....

In his eyes he had placed her above all others....and from that Position Mayte had a LOT of Power over him...

Only she didnt realise it....

If she had gone back to Paisley and insisted on cooking for him, washing his socks, whatever....acting like his WIFE instead of his Lady in Waiting..things may have been different....

[Edited 4/18/17 18:22pm]

Great point about the belly dancing. You're right. And I also think she laid it on thick when she danced for him that first time she visited Minni. Ole boy needed a pillow. Then again, who can blame her.

Misslink88 said:

NickiStarr said:

I agree that there are small contradictions but the thing I found the most frustrating was the stories she told us about were from YouTube videos we had seen. Almost like she watched them and then built her memory based on the stories instead of recalling a story and telling it from her memory's perspective. It may seem odd, but there is a difference between a recollection and watching yourself on video and narrating the scene for outsiders.

I agree that she was a yes person. I think the whole way they got married was an example. I mean this in a sense that she did not encourage any type of premarital counseling or have a say on the timeline. It was like she allowed herself to be the physical representation of HIS fantasy wife instead of a loving couple organizing a marriage together. In fact, I believe this to be the case for their entire marriage, not just their wedding. HE chose when they became intimate, HE chose when they married, HE chose when they made a baby. Goodness! Then again, she was SOOOO young AND very sheltered in the sense that she had never been in any type of relationship.

Yes, NickiStarr, that was the sense I got as well. Not only that, but in watching the Oprah interview and the Simbad one, what she described in her book and what actually happened on those Youtubes were different. Particulary the Simbad one - where she said the audience did this, they did the complete opposite.

As for the sheltered part, I disagree there and even she states in the book that when she was first left alone in the hotel room with P in Germany, her mother knew she could "handle herself" based on what she had seen of her daughter in different situations when dancing. Realistically, belly dancing is viewed as an erotic art and a 16 year old better know how to handle herself around grown men when she is dancing like that. She wrote about moving her body in such a way that they weren't able to touch her for any length of time, if at all. Girl was hip to what was really going on.

Yes! I agree with you. People call Mani a homewrecker but P was the one who took the vows. I would have forced his hand as well. You make a decision, buddy. You don't tow the line and 'court' her while married to me. Then again, if Mayte had it in her to do that, they never would've had to deal with half the drama they dealt with.

SpookyNopetopus said:

LBrent said:

Yup, that's what she said, but as I read it I remember feeling that while she fought WITH P against joining JWs, she ended up not foghting FOR P against Manuela.

I think he was waiting for her to fight for him and when she didn't he figured he was justified in leaving her cuz she must not love him anymore.

On her end, I think she didn't fight cuz she thought it was a phase, like in her parents' marraige, and he'd come back to her on his own so she didn't fight and rock the boat.

I think that was her biggest mistake. Leaving Minnesota and not fighting Manuela or whomever she needed to fight to keep him. I think her fighting would've made a huge difference.

The day she saw that damned handshake, she should've stepped to them both and told them that she didn't feel comfortable with what she saw and immediately fired Manuela IN FRONT OF P.

"It's nice to meet you, but I'm afraid your services won't be required anymore. Thank you for you help, but I'll be returning to Minnesota and taking over those duties now. Arrangements will be made for your final check. Please follow me to the accounting department. P, I'll see you at home. *kiss*"

I don't recall any woman P was linked to ever fighting, especially not publicly, to keep him.

Can anyone think of one?

I think if you listen to the lyrics to Man O' War that's what he's asking for, her to fight FOR him and "make him feel wanted again".

He was telling her that he was looking for proof from her that she could/did still love him despite the pain he felt he had caused her with failing to give her healthy babies and his growing attraction to Manuela. He felt himself being drawn to her and he wants Mayte to rescue him from that weakness.

I cry when I hear how plaintive he's being.

ETA:

As I relisten to the entire Rav Un2 album, it dawned on me that the entire thing seems to be a plea for Mayte to fight for him.

Am I imagining this?

[Edited 4/18/17 15:31pm]

Honestly? I would have packed his bags and put them in a cab for him to go live with Manuela, because he SURE AS FUCK wouldn't be coming back to me. Like, nope, brah, you want to stay married, you keep your eyes, your hands, and your other body parts away from other women. If a man wants to leave, you show his ass the door, not try to fight the other woman.

Also, she couldn't have fired Manuela -- Paisley Park wasn't her business, and Manuela wasn't her employee.

I respect the fact that she did not compromise her beliefs and join JW just to be with Prince. Although I do feel that she could've attended a few studies to show him that you respect the journey he is on and are interested in hearing what they had to say. I mean, what would have been the harm in going to a few studies to hear what their message was? Don't you want to know what it is that has your husband's attention? Also, the crowd would have learned that his wife has his back and he has a support system, etc.

Yes, she saved her dignity to a certain point, but to another, she turned her back on her husband. She admitted she left him alone too much and I agree. Those JWs and Manuella had a private audience with Prince. Mayte was a non-issue for them. LG lived in his guest house, it was like Mayte was not the first lady. I think she could have stirred the pot a little more in that regard.

LBrent said:

LOVESYMBOLNUMBER2 said:

LBrent said: I think people that want out,and make life terrible for their partner, so they don't have to be the bad guy, happens all the time. I also think when you fall out of a love so hyper intense, it can happen very quickly, in one day, done the next. As for Mani, she is just unlikeable, some people have auras that others are drawn to like prince, she has an aura that most find unpleasant. She text book style sucked prince in for sure, but I believe mayte was right when she said if it had not been Mani it would have been someone else. [Edited 4/18/17 17:12pm]

True.

Someone else posted in another thread that P had trouble breaking up so he'd maneouver things where you ended up leaving instead.

Maybe it would've been someone else.

Or maybe he would've respected her for standing up for their marraige at least.

I hated seeing her lay down and make it so easy to get trampled and left behind.

I suspect part of her fearing in not demanding respect and making his actively choose instead of allowing him to passively choose was because she was afraid that he wasn't going to choose her anyway so she tried to save her pride and dignity.

And she did save her pride and dignity, but ultimately it was at the cost of everything she held dear.

[Edited 4/18/17 17:52pm]

I couldn't agree with you more. I too feel that he was immature. I feel for him though, because he spent his life in a bubble. He was a rock star from age 19. He had handlers from that point on. The ins and outs of his life were very different than most other adults. As he got older, it was probably hard to relate to women his age because they had likely been living a real life and he had not. 20-somethings are still fresh and wet behind the ears, easier for him to relate to...and control.

LOVESYMBOLNUMBER2 said:

I think they had a very immature love. I often wondered if the reason he was attracted to 20 year old women his entire life had something to do with his emotional immaturity . Anyway, there type of love is fine when you are living with your parents and have nothing else in your life to think about besides your lover. That deep volatile dramatic love dosn't work in the real world for adults, it is not comfortable and does not give you a soft place to fall, to refuel. there are super duper highs and terrible lows and after a while your brain starts to spin and sooner or later It's going to explode. In my opinion that manic type of love never ends well. I can imagine probably nothing better, when it's good, but the fall out and damage from the crash and burn can be life altering.

Not to get off topic, but Vanity and Prince never had the fairy tale romance people imagine. They had a volatile relationship from the start, the way they got together was a manipulation on Ps part. He basically wanted to steal her from Rick James. He lured her to Minni with a promise of a career, which he did follow through on. But they were never exclusive, and she stepped out on him with band mates and even the director of Purple Rain. It may have been a way to get Prince's attention, but those were her actions nevertheless.

LOVESYMBOLNUMBER2 said:

LBrent said:

True.

Someone else posted in another thread that P had trouble breaking up so he'd maneouver things where you ended up leaving instead.

Maybe it would've been someone else.

Or maybe he would've respected her for standing up for their marraige at least.

I hated seeing her lay down and make it so easy to get trampled and left behind.

I suspect part of her fearing in not demanding respect and making his actively choose instead of allowing him to passively choose was because she was afraid that he wasn't going to choose her anyway so she tried to save her pride and dignity.

And she did save her pride and dignity, but ultimately it was at the cost of everything she held dear.

[Edited 4/18/17 17:52pm]

I don't think there was anything she could have done. It is said that vanity walked away for the same crap he was doing to mayte, and he just let her go. It seems to me that your choices with prince were stay and play by his rules or leave. Even though it does sound kind of horrible, I think there are a ton of women that would still want to play, for a while, then you get sucked into his spell and lose your cognitive thinking abilities, but still, he was/is still so damn everything.

PennyPurple said:

So we are done with the book and here are some questions.

.

1. Did you all enjoy reading the book?

2. Did you learn anything new about Prince?

3. Do you think that this book hurt his legacy any?

First, thank you for starting this bookclub and keeping a close eye on it for civility.

1) I loved this book. I also listened to the audible and would advise anyone to do the same (with tissues).

2) During the baby chapters, I was struck on how much Prince had it in him to absolutely step up to protect his family. No handlers, no protectors, no assistants, just a father/husband desparately trying to stand in front of his loved ones and handle whatever he needed to handle.

3) I honestly feel this is the best non-musical tribute to Prince since he died. This was ALL LOVE for a MAN, a husband and a father. Flawed yes but not an icon.

Mayte's friend meltedman tried to tell everyone the book would be like this and alot attacked. He was right, they were wrong.

I wish Mayte new and more love and everything good in this life

(now I'll duck)

NickiStarr said:

I respect the fact that she did not compromise her beliefs and join JW just to be with Prince. Although I do feel that she could've attended a few studies to show him that you respect the journey he is on and are interested in hearing what they had to say. I mean, what would have been the harm in going to a few studies to hear what their message was? Don't you want to know what it is that has your husband's attention? Also, the crowd would have learned that his wife has his back and he has a support system, etc.

Yes, she saved her dignity to a certain point, but to another, she turned her back on her husband. She admitted she left him alone too much and I agree. Those JWs and Manuella had a private audience with Prince. Mayte was a non-issue for them. LG lived in his guest house, it was like Mayte was not the first lady. I think she could have stirred the pot a little more in that regard.

If you watch that Sinbad video, you'll see her smiling and nodding her head throughout the talk of The Christ, what P said and what Larry was saying. At the same time, you can see the conversation is way over her head. She's a 25 yr old who wants to party and these mature people are talking about a peaceful, quiet existence - not what she signed up for. They've had their fun in the sun and come to a different way of thinking and you can almost see her going "Hey, wait a minute...."

This is why blaming M2 or the JW's is ridiculous - "It's Mani's fault I did nothing" "It's the JW's fault I did nothing". Either way, it wouldn't have lasted no matter who or what she wants to blame.

She stood up to him only when her interests were involved - going for the D&C when her fertility was at stake, demanding more money only when she ran out, asking for the house in Spain because it was her "backyard", keeping his clothes in a controlled environment with future profit in mind and, now, writing this book to tell her story. And, like you say, turned her back on him because she was incapable of doing anything else and then spent years trying to get back in because nothing else had worked out for her to the same degree.

LBrent said:

bsprout said:

1Sasha said: Mayte did say in the book that she told Manuela something like, "if it wasn't you, it would have been someone else [for Prince]." I think this was Mayte's response to Manuela's apology.

Yup, that's what she said, but as I read it I remember feeling that while she fought WITH P against joining JWs, she ended up not foghting FOR P against Manuela.

I think he was waiting for her to fight for him and when she didn't he figured he was justified in leaving her cuz she must not love him anymore.

On her end, I think she didn't fight cuz she thought it was a phase, like in her parents' marraige, and he'd come back to her on his own so she didn't fight and rock the boat.

I think that was her biggest mistake. Leaving Minnesota and not fighting Manuela or whomever she needed to fight to keep him. I think her fighting would've made a huge difference.

The day she saw that damned handshake, she should've stepped to them both and told them that she didn't feel comfortable with what she saw and immediately fired Manuela IN FRONT OF P.

"It's nice to meet you, but I'm afraid your services won't be required anymore. Thank you for you help, but I'll be returning to Minnesota and taking over those duties now. Arrangements will be made for your final check. Please follow me to the accounting department. P, I'll see you at home. *kiss*"

I don't recall any woman P was linked to ever fighting, especially not publicly, to keep him.

Can anyone think of one?

I think if you listen to the lyrics to Man O' War that's what he's asking for, her to fight FOR him and "make him feel wanted again".

He was telling her that he was looking for proof from her that she could/did still love him despite the pain he felt he had caused her with failing to give her healthy babies and his growing attraction to Manuela. He felt himself being drawn to her and he wants Mayte to rescue him from that weakness.

I cry when I hear how plaintive he's being.

ETA:

As I relisten to the entire Rav Un2 album, it dawned on me that the entire thing seems to be a plea for Mayte to fight for him.

Am I imagining this?

[Edited 4/18/17 15:31pm]

It seems that the women that we know about all wanted something from Prince. They were not in it because they truely loved him. They were in for a career or money. It dawned on me that when he gave them what they wanted, they left and when they left he moved on to the next one.

PennyPurple said:

PennyPurple said:

So we are done with the book and here are some questions.

.

1. Did you all enjoy reading the book?

2. Did you learn anything new about Prince?

3. Do you think that this book hurt his legacy any?

1. I loved the book. I highly reccomend the audible version but as some have said, make sure you have a box of kleenex nearby.

.

2. I didn't really learn anything new other than Maytes description of Prince as a father. For years I saw him as this musical genious and sometimes, well for me at least, it's hard to see passed that. I know this sounds weird but she made him human lol

.

3. I do not think the book hurt his leagacy. I have read worse things about Prince.

.

I want to thank PennyPurple for this beautiful thread. I am happy you stayed on top of things and did your best to keep things civil. It seems as though some people are hell bent on discrediting Mayte and go through such length to do so. I, and I am sure there are many others on this site, can't enjoy some thread because of this. So again, thank you!!!

.

206Michelle, thank you for the awesome summaries! I don't have my book with me at work and they helped me to not only remember what I read (I'm getting old...I'm 45 LOL) but they also helped me to see certain things in a different perspective. Hope that makes sense.

The book was good, I don't think she slammed Prince what so ever. I don't see what all the uproar was about. Sometimes I think people just make stuff up, just to stir the pot. We know she didn't have an abortion, we know that she didn't steal Prince's clothes just so she could auction them off. We now know that Prince DID pursue her, and we also know for certainty that Mani was a bch.